As soon as Setoc arrived among his own tribe he demanded the payment of five hundred ounces of silver, which he had lent to a Jew in presence of two witnesses; but as the witnesses were dead, and the debt could not be proved, the Hebrew appropriated the merchant’s money to himself, and piously thanked God for putting it in his power to cheat an Arabian. Setoc imparted this troublesome affair to Zadig, who was now become his counsel.
 
“In what place,” said Zadig, “didst thou lend the five hundred ounces to this infidel?”
 
“Upon a large stone,” replied the merchant, “that lies near Mount Oreb.”
 
“What is the character of thy debtor?” said Zadig. “That of a knave,” returned Setoc.
 
“But I ask thee whether he is lively or phlegmatic, cautious or imprudent?”
 
“He is, of all bad payers,” said Setoc, “the most lively fellow I ever knew.”
 
“Well,” resumed Zadig, “allow me to plead thy cause.” In effect Zadig, having summoned the Jew to the tribunal, addressed the judge in the following terms: “Pillar of the throne of equity, I come to demand of this man, in the name of my master, five hundred ounces of silver, which he refuses to pay.”
 
“Hast thou any witnesses?” said the judge.
 
“No, they are dead; but there remains a large stone upon which the money was counted; and if it please thy grandeur to order the stone to be sought for, I hope that it will bear witness. The Hebrew and I will tarry here till the stone arrives; I will send for it at my master’s expense.”
 
“With all my heart,” replied the judge, and immediately applied himself to the discussion of other affairs.
 
When the court was going to break up, the judge said to Zadig. “Well, friend, is not thy stone come yet?”
 
The Hebrew replied with a smile, “Thy grandeur may stay here till the morrow, and after all not see the stone. It is more than six miles from hence; and it would require fifteen men to move it.”
 
“Well,” cried Zadig, “did not I say that the stone would bear witness? Since this man knows where it is, he thereby confesses that it was upon it that the money was counted.” The Hebrew was disconcerted, and was soon after obliged to confess the truth. The judge ordered him to be fastened to the stone, without meat or drink, till he should restore the five hundred ounces, which were soon after paid.
 
The slave Zadig and the stone were held in great repute in Arabia.
THE FUNERAL PILE
 
Setoc, charmed with the happy issue of this affair, made his slave his intimate friend. He had now conceived as great esteem for him as ever the King of Babylon had done; and Zadig was glad that Setoc had no wife. He discovered in his master a good natural disposition, much probity of heart, and a great share of good sense; but he was sorry to see that, according to the ancient custom of Arabia, he adored the host of heaven; that is, the sun, moon, and stars. He sometimes spoke to him on this subject with great prudence and discretion. At last he told him that these bodies were like all other bodies in the universe, and no more deserving of our homage than a tree or a rock.
 
“But,” said Setoc, “they are eternal beings; and it is from them we derive all we enjoy. They animate nature; they regulate the seasons; and, besides, are removed at such an immense distance from us that we cannot help revering them.”
 
“Thou receivest more advantage,” replied Zadig, “from the waters of the Red Sea, which carry thy merchandise to the Indies. Why may not it be as ancient as the stars? And if thou adorest what is placed at a distance from thee, thou oughtest to adore the land of the Gangarides, which lies at the extremity of the earth.”
 
“No,” said Setoc, “the brightness of the stars commands my adoration.”
 
At night Zadig lighted up a great number of candles in the tent where he was to sup with Setoc; and the moment his patron appeared, he fell on his knees before these lighted tapers, and said, “Eternal and shining luminaries! be ye always propitious to me.” Having thus said, he sat down at table, without taking the least notice of Setoc.
 
“What art thou doing?” said Setoc to him in amaze.
 
“I act like thee,” replied Zadig, “I adore these candles, and neglect their master and mine.” Setoc comprehended the profound sense of this apologue. The wisdom of his slave sunk deep into his soul; he no longer offered incense to the creatures, but adored the eternal Being who made them.
 
There prevailed at that time in Arabia a shocking custom, sprung originally from Leythia, and which, being established in the Indies by the credit of the Brah............