Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-01-25

While Zadig Nilfully closed his eyes TO |
the love which he felt more and more each |
day fer the princess of Babylon, Astaite |
was even more ignorant of the state OF her
own heart. Remembering always the Dig |
nifty of her rank which forbade an alliance
with a subject as the greatest Of crimes,
she persuaded herself that the esteem she
Glt for Zadig was merely that due to the
fn,orlte of her father, and to a sensible
and amiable man. She scrupled not toex-
press this esteem TO othels and to Ladig
himself, believing that she spoke as royal
princess satisfied with his services, when
htr expressions were those OF feeling
woman. Often when pronouncing the
name of Zadig a rosy flush would mount
TO her fair forehead. Sometimes she was
animated, sometimes had fits Of silence,
and even inthe presence of the king she
would fall into profound reyeries never
witnessed In her before. Moabdar noticed
these symptoms in his daughter and was
troubled though he knew not their cause.
Zndig no longer dared speak to Aetarte
with the sweet freedom which had been 30
dear to both. His discourse was con-
st aimed and disjonted his tyesi in her
presence, were turned towards the ground,
ut when, IN spite of himself, they encOun-
cred those of the princess the glanees OF
both seemed at once TO swim with tears
and to sparkle with fire. Only touch
was wanting TO open the whole truth 10
Zadig, 10 Astarte, and-Alas to the ty-
rannical and Jealous king.
IL was the wife of Arimaze who, strong
in her envy and jealousy and encouraged
by her husband, dared to awaken the sus-
picions of the king, or rather to change
his vague suspicious to certainty. She
made him notice that Zadlg always wore
the princess'. colors, ehe asserted that he
carried her'pOrttait always hidden In his
bosom, and she induced the king to believe
thata plot had already been formed against
his dignity and his life, with Intent to
elevate Zadig and Astarte to his vacant
throne.
Moabdar was furious he waited for no
proof. but determined in his blind wrath
20 sacrifice not only his presumptuous
prime minister but his offending daughter.
lie resolved to secretly poison Aslarte,
and to have Zadig put TO death by the cord
at the break of day. The order was given
to pltiless eunuch, the executor OF Ills
vengeance. There was present In the
chamber a little dwarf who was mute but
not deaf. He was allowed to go where he
would and to witness whatever passed,
even the most secret, as If he had been
only domestic animal. This little mute
was much attached to the princess and Ia
Zadig. He heard with as much surprise
as horror the order given for their death
but what could he do TO prevent the exeeu
tlon of this frightful baTbarity which wa'
10 take place IN so few hours
He could not write but he knew how
TO paint, and above all to make true like
nesses. He passed part of the night IL
drawing what he wished the princess Il
understand. His d, sign represented The
king, aeitated and furious, in one corne
OF the picture, giving orders to his eunuch
cord and vase were on the table, ant
portrait suspended from sea-green rib
bun. On the other side of the picture wa
Zadig strangled; and in the middle tn
princess dying in the arms of her women
The horizon represented the rising sun, 4
show that this horrible execution was 4
aake place at the first rays of morning
When he had finished this work lie ran T.
one of the princess's women, wakened heI
and made her understand that she mus
that very instant carry ii TO her mistresi
In the middle Of the night Zadig wa
awakened by violent knocking ut hi
door, aud a messenger delivered to him
letter from the princess he doubted If
we're not a dream, and opened the preciou
missiye with trembling hand. VIII
was his surprise, what his horror and de-
pair when he read these words.
'Fly, fly, this instant, or they.wil tai
your life Fly Zadig, | command you
the name Of the love feel for you, au
which believe you feel for me. am N
culpable, but l feel am to die as
criminal"
Zadig had hardly the power to speal
He ordered that one should bring to hi
his faithful friend CadOr, and without
word he gave him the billet. CHdor fsre
him to obey the command of the princes
aud to take Immediately the route
Memphis.
"Ify you dare TO go to fnd the princess
said he, ''you will only hasten her deaf
II you speak to the king You are lost.
charge myself with her destiny, roll'
you yours. | will spread the report u
you have taken the route to the Indies.
will soon 20 TO find you, and VIII fl
means TO let you know all that passes
Babslon."
CadOr then made them bring IN gr'
haste two of the swiftest dromedarles T.
aeeret door Of the palace. He forced Lat
to mount, but he almost had to carry Il
to the place, scarcely knowing whether
he was lying or dying. A single domel
accompanied him; and soon Cad
plunged 10 astonishment and sorrow,
his friend from his sight.
The illustrious fugitive, reaching
base of hill from which the last view
B,bylon could be obtained, turned 10 l.
upon the palace of the princess, and
looking swooned he only recovered se
10 burst into tears and to wish for dea
AT last, after being occupied solely "
the thought of the deplorable destiny
ahe most lovable of women and the gr
est princess In the world, bis thought
moment returned TO himself and
c led:
''What then Is human lifel o Writ
how have you served me two woi
have unwoTthily deceived me the th
who is not culpable, and who surpa
tie others In beauty as in goodness, Ii
suffer death All that / have done
has ever been to me fountain Of euI
II had been evil as others, might
haps have been fortunate like ihem."
Possessed with these sad reflections
eyes dim with the veil of his sorrow,
p llor Of death upon his face, and his
swallowed up In an abyss Of sombre
pair, he continued his course tow
Egypt.
CHAPTER VIII.