is you alone who have done an Action of Generosity, never heard of
before; since you, who are King of Kings, wasn't exasperated against
your Slave, when he contradicted you in the Heat of your Passion.
Every Body gaz'd with Eyes of Admiration on the King and _Zadig_.
The Judge, who had generously made Restitution for his Error; the
Lover, who had married his Mistress to his Friend; the Soldier, who
had preferr'd the Welfare of his Mother to that of his Mistress;
received the promis'd Donation from the Monarch, and saw their Names
register'd in the Book of _Fame_: But _Zadig_ had the Cup. The King
got the universal Character of a good Prince, which he did not long
preserve. This joyful Day was solemniz'd with Festivals beyond the
Time by Law establish'd. Tragedies were acted there that drew Tears
from the Spectators; and Comedies that made them laugh; Entertainments,
that the _Babylonians_ were perfect Strangers to: The Commemoration
of it is still preserv'd in _Asia_. Now, said _Zadig_, I am happy at
last; but he was grosly mistaken.

CHAP VI.

_The_ JUDGMENTS.

Young as _Zadig_ was, he was constituted chief Judge of all the
Tribunals throughout the Empire. He fill'd the Place, like one, whom
the Gods had endow'd with the strictest Justice, and the most solid
Wisdom. It was to him, the Nations round about were indebted for
that generous Maxim; _that 'tis much more Prudence to acquit two
Persons, tho' actually guilty, than to pass Sentence of Condemnation
in one that is virtuous and innocent_. It was his firm Opinion, that
the Laws were intended to be a Praise to those who did well, as much
as to be a Terror to Evildoers. It was his peculiar Talent to render
Truth as obvious as possible: Whereas most Men study to render it
intricate and obscure. On the very first Day of his Entrance into
his High Office, he exerted this peculiar Talent. A rich Merchant,
and a Native of _Babylon_, died in the _Indies_. He had made his
Will, and appointed his two Sons Joint-Heirs of his Estate, as soon
as they had settled their Sister, and married her with their mutual
Approbation. Moreover, he left a specific Legacy of 30,000 Pieces of
Gold to that Son, who should, after his Decease, be prov'd to love
him best. The Eldest erected to his Memory a very costly Monument:
The Youngest appropriated a considerable Part of his Bequest to the
Augmentation of his Sister's Fortune: Every one, without Hesitation,
gave the Preference to th