Otamus rises in a violent passion, and draws his sword; Zadig leaps from his horse with his saber in his hand.  Both of them are now on the ground, engaged in a new combat, where strength and agility triumph by turns.  The plumes of their helmets, the studs of their bracelets, the rings of their armor, are driven to a great distance by the violence of a thousand furious blows.  They strike with the point and the edge; to the right, to the left, on the head, on the breast; they retreat; they advance; they measure swords; they close; they seize each other; they bend like serpents; they attack like lions; and the fire every moment flashes from their blows.

At last Zadig, having recovered his spirits, stops; makes a feint; leaps upon Otamus; throws him on the ground and disarms him; and Otamus cries out, “It is thou alone, O white knight, that oughtest to reign over Babylon!” The queen was now at the height of her joy.  The knight in blue armor and the knight in white were conducted each to his own apartment, as well as all the others, according to the intention of the law.  Mutes came to wait upon them and to serve them at table.  It may be easily supposed that the queen’s little mute waited upon Zadig.  They were then left to themselves to enjoy the sweets of repose till next morning, at which time the conqueror was to bring his device to the grand magi, to compare it with that which he had left, and make himself known.

Zadig though deeply in love, was so much fatigued that he could not help sleeping.  Itobad, who lay near him, never closed his eyes.  He arose in the night, entered his apartment, took the white arms and the device of Zadig, and put his green armor in their place.  At break of day he went boldly to the grand magi to declare that so great a man as he was conqueror.  This was little expected; however, he was proclaimed while Zadig was still asleep.  Astarte, surprised and filled with despair, returned to Babylon.  The amphitheater was almost empty when Zadig awoke; he sought for his arms, but could find none but the green armor.  With this he was obliged to cover himself, having nothing else near him.  Astonished and enraged, he put it on in a furious passion, and advanced in this equipage.

The people that still remained in the amphitheater and the circus received him with hoots and hisses.  They surrounded him and insulted him to his face.  Never did man suffer such cruel mortifications.  He lost his patience; with his saber he dispersed such of the populace as dared to affront him; but he knew not what course to take.  He could not see the queen; he could not claim the white armor she had sent him without exposing her; and thus, while she was plunged in grief, he was filled with fury and distraction.  He walked on the banks of the Euphrates, fully persuaded that his star had destined him to inevitable misery, and resolving in his own mind all his misfortunes, from the adventure of the woman who hated one-eyed men to that of his armor.