knights," said Zadig, "but another
here wears my arms; and while I wait for the honor of proving the truth
of my assertion, I demand the liberty of presenting myself to explain
the enigmas." The question was put to the vote, and his reputation for
probity was still so deeply impressed in their minds, that they
admitted him without scruple.

The first question proposed by the grand magi was: "What, of all things
in the world, is the longest and the shortest, the swiftest and the
slowest, the most divisible and the most extended, the most neglected
and the most regretted, without which nothing can be done, which
devours all that is little, and enlivens all that is great?"

Itobad was to speak. He replied that so great a man as he did not
understand enigmas, and that it was sufficient for him to have
conquered by his strength and valor. Some said that the meaning of the
enigmas was Fortune; some, the Earth; and others the Light. Zadig said
that it was Time. "Nothing," added he, "is longer, since it is the
measure of eternity; nothing is shorter, since it is insufficient for
the accomplishment of our projects; nothing more slow to him that
expects, nothing more rapid to him that enjoys; in greatness, it
extends to infinity; in smallness, it is infinitely divisible; all men
neglect it; all regret the loss of it; nothing can be done without it;
it consigns to oblivion whatever is unworthy of being transmitted to
posterity, and it immortalizes such actions as are truly great." The
assembly acknowledged that Zadig was in the right.

The next question was: "What is the thing which we receive without
thanks, which we enjoy without knowing how, which we give to others
when we know not where we are, and which we lose without perceiving
it?"

Everyone gave his own explanation. Zadig alone guessed that it was
Life, and explained all the other enigmas with the same facility.
Itobad always said that nothing was more easy, and that he could have
answered them with the same readiness had he chosen to have given
himself the trouble. Questions were then proposed on justice, on the
sovereign good, and on the art of government. Zadig's answers were
judged to be the most solid. "What a pity is it," said they, "that such
a great genius should be so bad a knight!"

"Illustrious lords," said Zadig, "I have had the honor of conquering in
the tournaments. It is to me that the white armor belongs. Lord Itobad
took possession of it during my s