Her Neck, her large black, sparkling Eyes, that languishingly roll'd, and seem'd as 'twere, on Fire; her lovely Cheeks, glowing with White and Red, her Nose, that was not unlike the Tower of Mount _Lebanon_, her Lips, which were like two Borders of Coral, inclosing two Rows of the best Pearls in the _Arabian_ Sea; such a Combination, I say, of Charms, made the old Pontiff judge she was scarce twenty Years of Age; and in a kind of Flutter, to make her a Declaration of his tender Regard for her. _Almona_, perceiving him enamour'd, begg'd his Interest in Favour of _Zadig_. Alas! my dear Charmer, my Interest alone, when you request the Favour, would be but a poor Compliment; I'll take care his Acquittance shall be signed by three more of my Brother Priests. Do you sign first, however, said _Almona_. With all my Soul, said the amorous Pontiff, provided----you'll be kind, my dearest. You do me too much Honour, said _Almona_; but should you give your self the Trouble to pay me a Visit after Sunset, and as soon as the Star _Sheat_ twinkles on the Horizon, you shall find me, most venerable Father, repos'd upon a rosy-colour'd silver Sopha, where you shall use your Pleasure with your humble Servant. With that she made him a low Courtesy; took up _Zadig's_ general Release as soon as duely sign'd, and left the old Doatard all over Love, tho' somewhat diffident of his own Abilities. The Residue of the Day he spent in his Bagnio; he drank large enlivening Draughts of a Water distill'd from the Cinnamon of _Ceilan_, and the costly Spices of _Tidor_ and _Ternate_, and waited with the utmost Impatience for the up-rising of the brilliant _Sheat_. In the mean time _Almona_ went to the second Pontiff. He assur'd her that the Sun, Moon, and all the starry Host of Heav'n, were but languid Fires to her bright Eyes. He put the Question to her, in short, at once, and agreed to sign upon her Compliance. She suffer'd herself to be over-persuaded, and made an Assignation to meet him at a certain Place, as soon as the Star _Algenib_ should make its Appearance. From him she repair'd to the third and fourth Pontiff, taking care, wherever she went, to see _Zadig's_ Acquittance duely sign'd, and made fresh Appointments at the Rising of Star after Star.