Zadig, who had been silent during the whole dispute, arose at last. He first addressed himself to the Celtic, as the most furious of the disputants. He told him that he had reason on his side, and begged a few mistletoes. He then praised the Greek for his eloquence, and softened all their exasperated spirits. He said but little to the man of Cathay, because he had been the most reasonable of them all. At last he said: "You were going, my friends, to quarrel about nothing; for you are all of one mind." At this assertion they all cried out in dissent. "Is it not true," said he to the Celtic, "that you adore not this mistletoe, but him that made both the mistletoe and the oak?" "Most undoubtedly," replied the Celtic. "And thou, Mr. Egyptian, dost not thou revere, in a certain bull, him who created the bulls?" "Yes," said the Egyptian. "The fish Oannes," continued he, "must yield to him who made the sea and the fishes. The Indian and the Cathaian," added he, "acknowledge a first principle. I did not fully comprehend the admirable things that were said by the Greek; but I am sure he will admit a superior being on whom form and matter depend." The Greek, whom they all admired, said that Zadig had exactly taken his meaning. "You are all then," replied Zadig, "of one opinion and have no cause to quarrel." All the company embraced him. Setoc, after having sold his commodities at a very high price, returned to his own tribe with his friend Zadig; who learned, upon his arrival, that he had been tried in his absence and was now going to be burned by a slow fire. XIII. THE RENDEZVOUS.