Zadig; Or, The Book of Fate

that they might restore her _Zadig_. Her Eyes were Night and Day overwhelm'd with Tears. She waited with Impatience for the happy Moment, when those of _Zadig_ might dart their Fires upon her; but alas! the wounded Eye grew so inflam'd and swell'd, that she was terrified to the last Degree. She sent as far as _Memphis_ for _Hermes_, the celebrated Physician there, who instantly attended his new Patient with a numerous Retinue. Upon his first Visit, he peremptorily declared that _Zadig_ would lose his Eye; and foretold not only the Day, but the very Hour when that woful Disaster would befal him. Had it been, said that Great Man, his right Eye, I could have administred an infallible Specific; but as it is, his Misfortune is beyond the Art of Man to cure. Tho' all _Babylon_ pitied the hard Case of _Zadig_, they equally stood astonish'd at the profound Penetration of _Hermes_. Two Days after the Imposthume broke, without any Application, and _Zadig_ soon after was perfectly recover'd. _Hermes_ thereupon wrote a very long and elaborate Treatise, to prove that his Wound ought not to have been heal'd. _Zadig_, however, never thought it worth his while to peruse his learned Lucubrations; but, as soon as ever he could get abroad, determin'd to pay the Lady a Visit, who had testified such uncommon Concern for his Welfare, and for whose Sake alone he wish'd for the Restoration of his Sight. _Semira_ he found had been out of Town for three Days; but was inform'd, by the bye, that his intended Spouse, having conceived an implacable Aversion to a one-ey'd Man, was that very Night to be married to _Orcan_. At this unexpected ill News, poor _Zadig_ was perfectly thunder-struck: He laid his Disappointment so far to Heart, that in a short Time he was become a mere Skeleton, and was sick almost to death for some Months afterwards.…