Zadig

People from around the world congregate in Babylon for the celebration of generosity, which occurs every five years. In front of the crown and delegates from every nation, the chief satrap (mayor) of Babylon “loudly proclaim[s]” the deeds nominated for the prize of a bejeweled golden chalice awarded to the most generous person (69). The nominees include a judge who gave all of his property to a plaintiff he wrongfully sentenced, a young man who married his mistress to his friend and provided her dowry because the friend was in love with her, and a soldier who while defending his mistress from capture abandoned her to save his mother.

The judges intend to award the chalice to the soldier, but the king intervenes, proclaiming that while all of the nominees were generous, none of their deeds surprised him. He had read of similar things happening frequently in history. What surprised him was Zadig’s defense of the chief minister, whom the king and all his courtiers hate. For his courage and integrity in defending the man, the king awards the chalice to Zadig and 20,000 gold pieces to the nominees. Everyone praises the king, and the celebrations last longer than required by law.