When she had carried her Point thus far, she sent a proper Message to the Judges of the Court, who had condemn'd _Zadig_, requesting that they would come to her House, that she might advise with them upon an Affair of the last Importance. They waited on her accordingly; she produc'd _Zadig's_ Discharge duly sign'd by four several Hands, and told them the Definitive Treaty between all the contracting Parties. Each of the pontifical Gallants observ'd their Summons to a Moment. Each was startled at the Sight of his Rival; but perfectly thunderstruck to see the Judges, before whom the Widow had laid open her Case. _Zadig_ procur'd an absolute Pardon, and _Setoc_ was so charm'd with the artful Address of _Almona_, that he married her the next Day. _Zadig_ went afterwards to throw himself at the Feet of his fair Benefactress. _Setoc_ and he took their Leave of each other with Tears in their Eyes, and vowing that an eternal mutual Friendship should be preserv'd between them; and, in short, should Fortune at any Time afterwards prove more propitious than could well be expected to either Party; the other should partake of an equal Share of his Success. _Zadig_ steer'd his Course towards _Syria_; forever pondering on the hard Fate of the justly-admir'd _Astarte_, and reflecting on his own Stars that so obstinately darted down their malignant Rays, and continu'd daily to torment him. What, said he! to pay four hundred Ounces of Gold for only seeing a Bitch pass by me; to be condemn'd to be beheaded for four witless Verses in Praise of the King; to be strangled to Death, because a Queen was pleas'd to look upon me; to be made a Prisoner, and sold as a Slave for saving a young Lady from being sorely abus'd by a Brute rather than a Man; and to be upon the Brink of being roasted alive, for no other Offence than saving for the future all the Widows in _Arabia_ from becoming idle Burnt-Offerings, and mingling their Ashes with those of their deceased worthless Husbands. CHAP. XIII. _The_ FREE-BOOTER.