r, "When thou eatest, give to the dogs,
should they even bite thee." He was as wise as it is possible for man
to be, for he sought to live with the wise.

Instructed in the sciences of the ancient Chaldeans, he understood the
principles of natural philosophy, such as they were then supposed to
be; and knew as much of metaphysics as hath ever been known in any age,
that is, little or nothing at all. He was firmly persuaded,
notwithstanding the new philosophy of the times, that the year
consisted of three hundred and sixty-five days and six hours, and that
the sun was in the center of the world. But when the principal magi
told him, with a haughty and contemptuous air, that his sentiments were
of a dangerous tendency, and that it was to be an enemy to the state to
believe that the sun revolved round its own axis, and that the year had
twelve months, he held his tongue with great modesty and meekness.

Possessed as he was of great riches, and consequently of many friends,
blessed with a good constitution, a handsome figure, a mind just and
moderate, and a heart noble and sincere, he fondly imagined that he
might easily be happy. He was going to be married to Semira, who, in
point of beauty, birth, and fortune, was the first match in Babylon. He
had a real and virtuous affection for this lady, and she loved him with
the most passionate fondness.

The happy moment was almost arrived that was to unite them forever in
the bands of wedlock, when happening to take a walk together toward one
of the gates of Babylon, under the palm trees that adorn the banks of
the Euphrates, they saw some men approaching, armed with sabers and
arrows. These were the attendants of young Orcan, the minister's
nephew, whom his uncle's creatures had flattered into an opinion that
he might do everything with impunity. He had none of the graces nor
virtues of Zadig; but thinking himself a much more accomplished man, he
was enraged to find that the other was preferred before him. This
jealousy, which was merely the effect of his vanity, made him imagine
that he was desperately in love with Semira; and accordingly he
resolved to carry her off. The ravishers seized her; in the violence of
the outrage they wounded her, and made the blood flow from a person,
the sight of which would have softened the tigers of Mount Imaus. She
pierced the heavens with her complaints. She cried out, "My dear
husband! they tear me from the man I adore." Regardless of her ow