to see which sect Zadig would favor. All the world
had their eyes fixed on his two feet, and the whole city was in the
utmost suspense and perturbation. Zadig jumped into the temple with his
feet joined together, and afterwards proved, in an eloquent discourse,
that the Sovereign of heaven and earth, who accepted not the persons of
men, makes no distinction between the right and left foot. The envious
man and his wife alleged that his discourse was not figurative enough,
and that he did not make the rocks and mountains to dance with
sufficient agility.

"He is dry," said they, "and void of genius; he does not make the flea
to fly, and stars to fall, nor the sun to melt wax; he has not the true
Oriental style." Zadig contented himself with having the style of
reason. All the world favored him, not because he was in the right road
or followed the dictates of reason, or was a man of real merit, but
because he was prime vizier.

He terminated with the same happy address the grand difference between
the white and the black magi. The former maintained that it was the
height of impiety to pray to God with the face turned toward the east
in winter; the latter asserted that God abhorred the prayers of those
who turned toward the west in summer. Zadig decreed that every man
should be allowed to turn as he pleased.

Thus he found out the happy secret of finishing all affairs, whether of
a private or public nature, in the morning. The rest of the day he
employed in superintending and promoting the embellishments of Babylon.
He exhibited tragedies that drew tears from the eyes of the spectators,
and comedies that shook their sides with laughter; a custom which had
long been disused, and which his good taste now induced him to revive.
He never affected to be more knowing in the polite arts than the
artists themselves; he encouraged them by rewards and honors, and was
never jealous of their talents. In the evening the king was highly
entertained with his conversation, and the queen still more. "Great
minister!" said the king. "Amiable minister!" said the queen; and both
of them added, "It would have been a great loss to the state had such a
man been hanged."

Never was man in power obliged to give so many audiences to the ladies.
Most of them came to consult him about no business at all, that so they
might have some business with him. But none of them won his attention.

Meanwhile Zadig perceived that his thoughts were always di