The happy moment was almost arrived that was to unite them forever in the bands of wedlock, when happening to take a walk together toward one of the gates of Babylon, under the palm trees that adorn the banks of the Euphrates, they saw some men approaching, armed with sabers and arrows.  These were the attendants of young Orcan, the minister’s nephew, whom his uncle’s creatures had flattered into an opinion that he might do everything with impunity.  He had none of the graces nor virtues of Zadig; but thinking himself a much more accomplished man, he was enraged to find that the other was preferred before him.  This jealousy, which was merely the effect of his vanity, made him imagine that he was desperately in love with Semira; and accordingly he resolved to carry her off.  The ravishers seized her; in the violence of the outrage they wounded her, and made the blood flow from her person, the sight of which would have softened the tigers of Mount Imaus.  She pierced the heavens with her complaints.  She cried out, “My dear husband! they tear me from the man I adore.”  Regardless of her own danger, she was only concerned for the fate of her dear Zadig, who, in the meantime, defended himself with all the strength that courage and love could inspire.  Assisted only by two slaves, he put the ravishers to flight and carried home Semira, insensible and bloody as she was.

On opening her eyes and beholding her deliverer.  “O Zadig!” said she, “I loved thee formerly as my intended husband; I now love thee as the preserver of my honor and my life.”  Never was heart more deeply affected than that of Semira.  Never did a more charming mouth express more moving sentiments, in those glowing words inspired by a sense of the greatest of all favors, and by the most tender transports of a lawful passion.

Her wound was slight and was soon cured.  Zadig was more dangerously wounded; an arrow had pierced him near his eye, and penetrated to a considerable depth.  Semira wearied Heaven with her prayers for the recovery of her lover.  Her eyes were constantly bathed in tears; she anxiously awaited the happy moment when those of Zadig should be able to meet hers; but an abscess growing on the wounded eye gave everything to fear.  A messenger was immediately dispatched to Memphis for the great physician Hermes, who came with a numerous retinue.  He visited the patient and declared that he would lose his eye.  He even foretold the day and hour when this fatal event would happen.  “Had it been the right eye,” said he, “I could easily have cured it; but the wounds of the left eye are incurable.”  All Babylon lamented the fate of Zadig, and admired the profound knowledge of Hermes.