Chapter 19: The Combats
Original French
Les combats.
La reine avait été reçue à Babylone avec les transports qu'on a toujours pour une belle princesse qui a été malheureuse. Babylone alors paraissait être plus tranquille. Le prince d'Hyrcanie avait été tué dans un combat. Les Babyloniens vainqueurs déclarèrent qu'Astarté épouserait celui qu'on choisirait pour souverain. On ne voulut point que la première place du monde, qui serait celle de mari d'Astarté et de roi de Babylone, dépendît des intrigues et des cabales. On jura de reconnaître pour roi le plus vaillant et le plus sage. Une grande lice, bordée d'amphithéâtres magnifiquement ornés, fut formée à quelques lieues de la ville. Les combattants devaient s'y rendre armés de toutes pièces. Chacun d'eux avait derrière les amphithéâtres un appartement séparé, où il ne devait être vu ni connu de personne. Il fallait courir quatre lances. Ceux qui seraient assez heureux pour vaincre quatre chevaliers devaient combattre ensuite les uns contre les autres; de façon que celui qui resterait le dernier maître du camp serait proclamé le vainqueur des jeux. Il devait revenir quatre jours après avec les mêmes armes, et expliquer les énigmes proposées par les mages. S'il n'expliquait point les énigmes, il n'était point roi, et il fallait recommencer à courir des lances, jusqu'à ce qu'on trouvât un homme qui fût vainqueur dans ces deux combats; car on voulait absolument pour roi le plus vaillant et le plus sage. La reine, pendant tout ce temps, devait être étroitement gardée: on lui permettait seulement d'assister aux jeux, couverte d'un voile; mais on ne souffrait pas qu'elle parlât à aucun des prétendants, afin qu'il n'y eût ni faveur ni injustice.
Voilà ce qu'Astarté fesait savoir à son amant, espérant qu'il montrerait pour elle plus de valeur et d'esprit que personne. Il partit, et pria Vénus de fortifier son courage et d'éclairer son esprit. Il arriva sur le rivage de l'Euphrate, la veille de ce grand jour. Il fit inscrire sa devise parmi celles des combattants, en cachant son visage et son nom, comme la loi l'ordonnait, et alla se reposer dans l'appartement qui lui échut par le sort. Son ami Cador, qui était revenu à Babylone, après l'avoir inutilement cherché en Egypte, fit porter dans sa loge une armure complète que la reine lui envoyait. Il lui fit amener aussi de sa part le plus beau cheval de Perse. Zadig reconnut Astarté à ces présents: son courage et son amour en prirent de nouvelles forces et de nouvelles espérances.
Le lendemain la reine étant venue se placer sous un dais de pierreries, et les amphithéâtres étant remplis de toutes les dames et de tous les ordres de Babylone, les combattants parurent dans le cirque. Chacun d'eux vint mettre sa devise aux pieds du grand-mage. On tira au sort les devises; celle de Zadig fut la dernière. Le premier qui s'avança était un seigneur très riche, nommé Itobad, fort vain, peu courageux, très maladroit, et sans esprit. Ses domestiques l'avaient persuadé qu'un homme comme lui devait être roi; il leur avait répondu: Un homme comme moi doit régner; ainsi on l'avait armé de pied en cap. Il portait une armure d'or émaillée de vert, un panache vert, une lance ornée de rubans verts. On s'aperçut d'abord, à la manière dont Itobad gouvernait son cheval, que ce n'était pas un homme comme lui à qui le ciel réservait le sceptre de Babylone. Le premier chevalier qui courut contre lui le désarçonna; le second le renversa sur la croupe de son cheval, les deux jambes en l'air et les bras étendus. Itobad se remit, mais de si mauvaise grâce que tout l'amphithéâtre se mit à rire. Un troisième ne daigna pas se servir de sa lance; mais en lui fesant une passe, il le prit par la jambe droite, et lui fesant faire un demitour, il le fit tomber sur le sable: les écuyers des jeux accoururent à lui en riant, et le remirent en selle. Le quatrième combattant le prend par la jambe gauche, et le fait tomber de l'autre côté. On le conduisit avec des huées à sa loge, où il devait passer la nuit selon la loi; et il disait en marchant à peine: Quelle aventure pour un homme comme moi!
Les autres chevaliers s'acquittèrent mieux de leur devoir. Il y en eut qui vainquirent deux combattants de suite; quelques uns allèrent jusqu'à trois. Il n'y eut que le prince Otame qui en vainquit quatre. Enfin Zadig combattit à son tour: il désarçonna quatre cavaliers de suite avec toute la grâce possible. Il fallut donc voir qui serait vainqueur d'Otame ou de Zadig. Le premier portait des armes bleues et or, avec un panache de même; celles de Zadig étaient blanches. Tous les voeux se partageaient entre le chevalier bleu et le chevalier blanc. La reine, à qui le coeur palpitait, fesait des prières au ciel pour la couleur blanche. Les deux champions firent des passes et des voltes avec tant d'agilité, ils se donnèrent de si beaux coups de lance, ils étaient si fermes sur leurs arçons, que tout le monde, hors la reine, souhaitait qu'il y eût deux rois dans Babylone. Enfin, leurs chevaux étant lassés et leurs lances rompues, Zadig usa de cette adresse: il passe derrière le prince bleu, s'élance sur la croupe de son cheval, le prend par le milieu du corps, le jette à terre, se met en selle à sa place, et caracole autour d'Otame étendu sur la place. Tout l'amphithéâtre crie: Victoire au chevalier blanc! Otame indigné se relève, tire son épée; Zadig saute de cheval, le sabre à la main. Les voilà tous deux sur l'arène, livrant un nouveau combat, où la force et l'agilité triomphent tour-à-tour. Les plumes de leur casque, les clous de leurs brassards, les mailles de leur armure sautent au loin sous mille coups précipités. Ils frappent de pointe et de taille, à droite, à gauche, sur la tête, sur la poitrine; ils reculent, ils avancent, ils se mesurent, ils se rejoignent, ils se saisissent, ils se replient comme des serpents, ils s'attaquent comme des lions; le feu jaillit à tout moment des coups qu'ils se portent. Enfin Zadig ayant un moment repris ses esprits s'arrête, fait une feinte, passe sur Otame, le fait tomber, le désarme, et Otame s'écrie: O chevalier blanc! c'est vous qui devez régner sur Babylone. La reine était au comble de la joie. On reconduisit le chevalier bleu et le chevalier blanc chacun à leur loge, ainsi que tous les autres, selon ce qui était porté par la loi. Des muets vinrent les servir et leur apporter à manger. On peut juger si le petit muet de la reine ne fut pas celui qui servit Zadig. Ensuite on les laissa dormir seuls jusqu'au lendemain matin, temps où le vainqueur devait apporter sa devise au grand-mage, pour la confronter et se faire reconnaître.
Zadig dormit, quoique amoureux, tant il était fatigué. Itobad, qui était couché auprès de lui, ne dormit point. Il se leva pendant la nuit, entra dans sa loge, prit les armes blanches de Zadig avec sa devise, et mit son armure verte à la place. Le point du jour étant venu, il alla fièrement au grand-mage, déclarer qu'un homme comme lui était vainqueur. On ne s'y attendait pas; mais il fut proclamé pendant que Zadig dormait encore. Astarté surprise, et le désespoir dans le coeur, s'en retourna dans Babylone. Tout l'amphithéâtre était déjà presque vide, lorsque Zadig s'éveilla; il chercha ses armes, et ne trouva que cette armure verte. Il était obligé de s'en couvrir, n'ayant rien autre chose auprès de lui. Etonné et indigné, il les endosse avec fureur, il avance dans cet équipage.
Tout ce qui était encore sur l'amphithéâtre et dans le cirque le reçut avec des huées. On l'entourait; on lui insultait en face. Jamais homme n'essuya des mortifications si humiliantes. La patience lui échappa; il écarta à coups de sabre la populace qui osait l'outrager; mais il ne savait quel parti prendre. Il ne pouvait voir la reine; il ne pouvait réclamer l'armure blanche qu'elle lui avait envoyée; c'eût été la compromettre: ainsi, tandis qu'elle était plongée dans la douleur, il était pénétré de fureur et d'inquiétude. Il se promenait sur les bords de l'Euphrate, persuadé que son étoile le destinait à être malheureux sans ressource, repassant dans son esprit toutes ses disgrâces depuis l'aventure de la femme qui haïssait les borgnes, jusqu'à celle de son armure. Voilà ce que c'est, disait-il, de m'être éveillé trop tard; si j'avais moins dormi, je serais roi de Babylone, je posséderais Astarté. Les sciences, les moeurs, le courage, n'ont donc jamais servi qu'à mon infortune. Il lui échappa enfin de murmurer contre la Providence, et il fut tenté de croire que tout était gouverné par une destinée cruelle qui opprimait les bons et qui fesait prospérer les chevaliers verts. Un de ses chagrins était de porter cette armure verte qui lui avait attiré tant de huées. Un marchand passa, il la lui vendit à vil prix, et prit du marchand une robe et un bonnet long. Dans cet équipage, il côtoyait l'Euphrate, rempli de désespoir, et accusant en secret la Providence qui le persécutait toujours.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from Voltaire’s French in Beuchot’s 1829 edition: Approbation, dedicatory epistle and all twenty-one chapters, including The Dance and Blue Eyes. Voltaire’s notes are retained; later editors’ notes are omitted. Source-language review is recorded with the source witness.
The Combats.
The queen had been welcomed in Babylon with the raptures always bestowed on a beautiful princess who has suffered misfortune. Babylon now seemed more peaceful. The prince of Hyrcania had been killed in battle. The victorious Babylonians declared that Astarté should marry whoever was chosen sovereign. They would not let the highest position in the world—that of Astarté's husband and king of Babylon—depend on intrigues and factions. They swore to recognize the bravest and wisest man as king. A great tournament ground, bordered by magnificently decorated amphitheaters, was laid out a few leagues from the city. The contestants were to appear fully armed. Each had a separate lodging behind the amphitheaters, where no one was to see or recognize him. Each had to ride four jousts. Those fortunate enough to defeat four knights were then to fight one another, so that the last man left master of the field would be proclaimed victor of the games. Four days later he was to return in the same armor and solve the riddles proposed by the magi. If he failed to solve them, he would not be king, and the jousting would begin again until a man was found who could win both contests; for they were determined to have the bravest and wisest man as king. Throughout this time the queen was to be closely guarded. She was permitted only to attend the games, veiled; she was not allowed to speak to any claimant, so that there could be neither favoritism nor injustice.
This was what Astarté made known to her lover, hoping he would show more courage and intelligence for her sake than anyone else. He set out, praying to Venus to strengthen his courage and enlighten his mind. He reached the bank of the Euphrates on the eve of the great day. Concealing his face and name as the law required, he had his device entered among those of the contestants and went to rest in the lodging assigned him by lot. His friend Cador, who had returned to Babylon after searching for him in Egypt without success, had a complete suit of armor sent to his lodging from the queen. On her behalf he also had the finest horse in Persia brought to him. Zadig recognized Astarté in these gifts: his courage and his love drew fresh strength and hope from them.
The next day, when the queen had taken her place beneath a canopy of precious stones and the amphitheaters were filled with all the ladies and all the orders of Babylon, the contestants appeared in the arena. Each laid his device at the feet of the chief magus. Lots were drawn for the devices; Zadig's came last. The first man to advance was a very rich lord named Itobad, exceedingly vain, not very brave, most unskillful, and without intelligence. His servants had persuaded him that a man like him ought to be king; he had answered, "A man like me ought to reign," and so they had armed him from head to foot. He wore golden armor enameled in green, a green plume, and a lance adorned with green ribbons. The way Itobad handled his horse showed at once that heaven had not reserved Babylon's scepter for a man like him. The first knight to ride against him unseated him; the second knocked him backward onto his horse's rump, his legs in the air and his arms outstretched. Itobad recovered his seat, but so gracelessly that the whole amphitheater burst out laughing. A third did not deign to use his lance, but as he rode past caught Itobad by the right leg, spun him halfway around, and sent him sprawling onto the sand. The tournament squires ran up laughing and put him back in the saddle. The fourth contestant seized his left leg and threw him off the other side. He was escorted amid jeers to his lodging, where the law required him to spend the night, and as he limped along he said, "What an adventure for a man like me!"
The other knights acquitted themselves better. Some defeated two contestants in succession; a few reached three. Only Prince Otame defeated four. At last Zadig fought in his turn, unseating four riders in succession with all possible grace. It remained to discover whether Otame or Zadig would prevail. The former wore blue and gold armor with a matching plume; Zadig's armor was white. Every wish was divided between the blue knight and the white. The queen, her heart pounding, prayed to heaven for the color white. The two champions made their passes and turns with such agility, struck such splendid blows with their lances, and sat so firmly in their saddles that everyone except the queen wished Babylon might have two kings. At last, their horses exhausted and their lances broken, Zadig used this stratagem: he rides behind the blue prince, leaps onto his horse's rump, catches him around the waist, throws him to the ground, takes his place in the saddle, and prances around Otame as he lies there. The whole amphitheater cries, "Victory to the white knight!" Otame rises in fury and draws his sword; Zadig springs from the horse, saber in hand. There they stand in the arena, fighting a new battle in which strength and agility triumph by turns. The plumes of their helmets, the studs of their armguards, and the links of their armor fly far under a thousand rapid blows. They thrust and slash, right and left, at head and chest; they retreat, advance, size each other up, close, grapple, coil back like serpents, and attack like lions; sparks leap continually from the blows they exchange. At last Zadig, collecting himself for a moment, stops, feints, bears down on Otame, throws him, and disarms him. Otame cries, "White knight! You are the man who must reign over Babylon." The queen's joy knew no bounds. The blue knight and the white were led back to their separate lodgings, like all the others, as the law prescribed. Mute servants came to wait on them and bring them food. One can judge whether the queen's little mute was the one who waited on Zadig. Then they were left to sleep alone until the next morning, when the victor was to bring his device to the chief magus to have it matched and his identity established.
Lover though he was, Zadig slept, so great was his exhaustion. Itobad, lodged beside him, did not sleep. He rose in the night, entered Zadig's lodging, took his white armor and device, and left his own green armor in their place. At daybreak he went proudly to the chief magus to announce that a man like him was the victor. No one had expected it; but he was proclaimed while Zadig still slept. Astarté, astonished and with despair in her heart, returned to Babylon. Almost the whole amphitheater had emptied by the time Zadig awoke. He searched for his armor and found only the green suit. He was obliged to put it on, having nothing else at hand. Astonished and indignant, he donned it in fury and came out dressed in it.
Everyone still in the amphitheater and the arena greeted him with jeers. They crowded around and insulted him to his face. No man had ever suffered such humiliating mortification. His patience gave way; he scattered the rabble who dared abuse him with blows of his saber, but he did not know what course to take. He could not see the queen; he could not claim the white armor she had sent him, for that would compromise her. Thus, while she was plunged in grief, he was filled with fury and anxiety. He walked along the banks of the Euphrates, convinced that his star had doomed him to misery without remedy, reviewing all his misfortunes from the affair of the woman who hated one-eyed men to the affair of his armor. "This is what comes," he said, "of waking too late. Had I slept less, I would be king of Babylon; I would have Astarté. Learning, good conduct, courage—have they served only to make me wretched?" At last he let himself murmur against Providence, and was tempted to believe that everything was ruled by a cruel destiny that oppressed the good and made green knights prosper. One of his sorrows was wearing the green armor that had brought him so many jeers. A merchant passed; he sold it to him for a pittance and took a robe and a tall cap in exchange. Dressed in these, he followed the bank of the Euphrates in despair, secretly accusing the Providence that never ceased to persecute him.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the French, in separate source-only translation tasks, not from the Musean edition or a published English translation. Same complete scope and author’s notes; later editors’ notes are omitted. Source-language review is recorded with the source witness.
The Combats.
The queen had been welcomed in Babylon with the enthusiasm people always show for a beautiful princess who has suffered. Babylon now seemed calmer. The prince of Hyrcania had been killed in battle. The victorious Babylonians declared that Astarté would marry the man chosen as their ruler. They refused to let the world's highest position—husband to Astarté and king of Babylon—depend on plots and factions. They swore to recognize the bravest and wisest man as king. A large tournament ground was laid out a few leagues from the city, surrounded by magnificently decorated stands. The contestants were to arrive in full armor. Behind the stands, each had a separate room where no one was to see him or learn who he was. Each had to fight four jousts. Those lucky enough to defeat four knights would then fight one another. The last man left in control of the field would be declared the winner of the games. Four days later, he had to return in the same armor and solve the riddles set by the priests. If he couldn't solve them, he wouldn't be king. The jousting would have to start again until a man won both contests. They were absolutely determined to have the bravest and wisest man as king. Throughout this time, the queen was to be closely guarded. She was allowed only to attend the games, wearing a veil. She wasn't allowed to speak to any of the candidates, so there could be no favoritism or unfairness.
This was the news Astarté sent her lover, hoping he would show more courage and intelligence for her sake than anyone else. He set off, asking Venus to strengthen his courage and sharpen his mind. He reached the bank of the Euphrates on the eve of the great day. He had his identifying motto entered among those of the contestants, keeping his face and name hidden as the rules required. Then he went to rest in the room assigned to him by lot. His friend Cador had returned to Babylon after searching for him in Egypt in vain. He had a full suit of armor sent to Zadig's room, a gift from the queen. On her behalf, he also had the finest horse in Persia brought to him. Zadig recognized Astarté's hand in these gifts. They gave fresh strength and hope to his courage and his love.
The next day, the queen took her place under a canopy covered in jewels. The stands filled with all the ladies and all the ranks of Babylon, and the contestants appeared in the arena. Each came forward to lay his motto at the high priest's feet. The mottos were drawn by lot. Zadig's came last. The first man to advance was a very rich lord named Itobad. He was extremely vain, not very brave, very clumsy, and unintelligent. His servants had persuaded him that a man like him ought to be king. He had answered, "A man like me must rule." So they had armed him from head to foot. He wore gold armor enameled in green, with a green plume and a lance decorated with green ribbons. From the way Itobad handled his horse, it was immediately clear that heaven hadn't reserved the scepter of Babylon for a man like him. The first knight who charged him knocked him out of the saddle. The second tipped him back onto his horse's rump, with both legs in the air and his arms spread out. Itobad got himself upright again, but so awkwardly that the whole crowd burst out laughing. A third knight didn't bother to use his lance. As he rode past, he grabbed Itobad's right leg, spun him halfway around, and dropped him onto the sand. The tournament squires ran up laughing and put him back in the saddle. The fourth contestant grabbed his left leg and made him fall off the other side. He was led back amid jeers to his room, where the rules required him to spend the night. Barely able to walk, he said, "What a thing to happen to a man like me!"
The other knights did better. Some defeated two opponents in a row, and a few managed three. Only Prince Otame defeated four. At last it was Zadig's turn. He unhorsed four riders in a row with perfect grace. Now they had to see which would win, Otame or Zadig. Otame wore blue and gold armor with a matching plume. Zadig's armor was white. Everyone's hopes were divided between the blue knight and the white knight. With her heart pounding, the queen prayed to heaven for white. The two champions wheeled and charged so nimbly, struck such fine blows with their lances, and held their saddles so firmly that everyone except the queen wished Babylon could have two kings. At last their horses were tired and their lances broken. Zadig used this trick: he rode behind the blue prince, jumped onto his horse's rump, grabbed him around the waist, and threw him to the ground. He took Otame's place in the saddle and pranced around him as he lay in the arena. The whole crowd shouted, "Victory to the white knight!" Furious, Otame got up and drew his sword. Zadig jumped from the horse with his saber in his hand. Now they were both on the ground, fighting a new battle in which strength and agility gained the upper hand in turn. The plumes on their helmets, the studs on their arm guards, and the links of their armor flew off under a thousand rapid blows. They thrust and slashed, right and left, at head and chest. They moved back and forward, sized each other up, closed in, grappled, twisted like snakes, and attacked like lions. Their blows kept striking sparks. At last Zadig took a moment to collect himself. He stopped, feinted, rushed Otame, knocked him down, and disarmed him. Otame cried, "White knight! You're the one who should rule Babylon." The queen was overjoyed. The blue knight and the white knight were led back to their separate rooms, like all the others, as the rules required. Mute servants came to wait on them and bring them food. You can imagine whether it was the queen's little mute servant who waited on Zadig. Then they were left to sleep alone until the next morning. That was when the winner had to bring his motto to the high priest to have it matched and his identity established.
Although he was in love, Zadig was so tired that he slept. Itobad, who lay in the next room, didn't sleep. During the night he got up, entered Zadig's room, took his white armor and his motto, and left his own green armor in their place. At dawn, he proudly went to the high priest to declare that a man like him had won. No one expected it, but he was proclaimed the winner while Zadig was still asleep. Shocked and heartbroken, Astarté went back to Babylon. The stands were already almost empty when Zadig woke up. He looked for his armor and found only the green suit. He had to put it on, since he had nothing else with him to wear. Astonished and outraged, he angrily dressed in it and went out.
Everyone still in the stands and the arena greeted him with jeers. They surrounded him and insulted him to his face. No man had ever suffered such humiliating treatment. He lost his patience and used blows of his saber to drive away the mob that dared abuse him. But he didn't know what to do. He couldn't see the queen. He couldn't claim the white armor she had sent him, because that would compromise her. So while she was sunk in grief, he was filled with anger and anxiety. He walked along the banks of the Euphrates, convinced his star had doomed him to hopeless misery. He went back over all his troubles, from the affair of the woman who hated one-eyed men to the affair of his armor. "This is what comes of waking up too late," he said. "If I'd slept less, I'd be king of Babylon, and Astarté would be mine. So learning, good character, and courage have only ever brought me misfortune." At last he let himself complain against Providence. He was tempted to believe that everything was ruled by a cruel fate that oppressed good people and made green knights prosper. One of his troubles was having to wear the green armor that had brought him so many jeers. A merchant passed by. Zadig sold him the armor for next to nothing and took a robe and a tall cap from him. Dressed this way, he followed the Euphrates in despair, secretly blaming the Providence that never stopped persecuting him.
About this section
Chapter 19: The Combats is part of Zadig, or Destiny by Voltaire. This page sets the French original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is chapter 21 of 23 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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