s of health; and
that the art of reconciling intemperance and health is as chimerical as
the philosopher's stone, judicial astrology, or the theology of the
magi."

Ogul's first physician, observing how dangerous this man might prove to
the medical art, formed a design, in conjunction with the apothecary,
to send Zadig to search for a basilisk in the other world. Thus, having
suffered such a long train of calamities on account of his good
actions, he was now upon the point of losing his life for curing a
gluttonous lord. He was invited to an excellent dinner and was to have
been poisoned in the second course, but, during the first, he happily
received a courier from the fair Astarte. "When one is beloved by a
beautiful woman," says the great Zoroaster, "he hath always the good
fortune to extricate himself out of every kind of difficulty and
danger."

THE COMBATS

The queen was received at Babylon with all those transports of joy
which are ever felt on the return of a beautiful princess who hath been
involved in calamities. Babylon was now in greater tranquillity. The
Prince of Hircania had been killed in battle. The victorious
Babylonians declared that the queen should marry the man whom they
should choose for their sovereign. They were resolved that the first
place in the world, that of being husband to Astarte and King of
Babylon, should not depend on cabals and intrigues. They swore to
acknowledge for king the man who, upon trial, should be found to be
possessed of the greatest valor and the greatest wisdom. Accordingly,
at the distance of a few leagues from the city, a spacious place was
marked out for the list, surrounded with magnificent amphitheaters.
Thither the combatants were to repair in complete armor. Each of them
had a separate apartment behind the amphitheaters, where they were
neither to be seen nor known by anyone. Each was to encounter four
knights, and those that were so happy as to conquer four were then to
engage with one another; so that he who remained the last master of the
field would be proclaimed conqueror at the games.

Four days after he was to return with the same arms and to explain the
enigmas proposed by the magi. If he did not explain the enigmas he was
not king; and the running at the lances was to be begun afresh till a
man would be found who was conqueror in both these combats; for they
were absolutely determined to have a king possessed of the greatest
wisdom and the mos