These particulars Astarte communicated to her lover, hoping that in order to obtain her he would show himself possessed of greater courage and wisdom than any other person.  Zadig set out on his journey, beseeching Venus to fortify his courage and enlighten his understanding.  He arrived on the banks of the Euphrates on the eve of this great day.  He caused his device to be inscribed among those of the combatants, concealing his face and his name, as the law ordained; and then went to repose himself in the apartment that fell to him by lot.  His friend Cador, who, after the fruitless search he had made for him in Egypt, was now returned to Babylon, sent to his tent a complete suit of armor, which was a present from the queen; as also, from himself, one of the finest horses in Persia.  Zadig presently perceived that these presents were sent by Astarte; and from thence his courage derived fresh strength, and his love the most animating hopes.

Next day, the queen being seated under a canopy of jewels, and the amphitheaters filled with all the gentlemen and ladies of rank in Babylon, the combatants appeared in the circus.  Each of them came and laid his device at the feet of the grand magi.  They drew their devices by lot; and that of Zadig was the last.  The first who advanced was a certain lord, named Itobad, very rich and very vain, but possessed of little courage, of less address, and hardly of any judgment at all.  His servants had persuaded him that such a man as he ought to be king; he had said in reply, “Such a man as I ought to reign”; and thus they had armed him for a cap-a-pie.  He wore an armor of gold enameled with green, a plume of green feathers, and a lance adorned with green ribbons.  It was instantly perceived by the manner in which Itobad managed his horse, that it was not for such a man as he that Heaven reserved the scepter of Babylon.  The first knight that ran against him threw him out of his saddle; the second laid him flat on his horse’s buttocks, with his legs in the air, and his arms extended.  Itobad recovered himself, but with so bad a grace that the whole amphitheater burst out a-laughing.  The third knight disdained to make use of his lance; but, making a pass at him, took him by the right leg and, wheeling him half round, laid him prostrate on the sand.  The squires of the game ran to him laughing, and replaced him in his saddle.  The fourth combatant took him by the left leg, and tumbled him down on the other side.  He was conducted back with scornful shouts to his tent, where, according to the law, he was to pass the night; and as he limped along with great difficulty he said, “What an adventure for such a man as I!”

The other knights acquitted themselves with greater ability and success.  Some of them conquered two combatants; a few of them vanquished three; but none but Prince Otamus conquered four.  At last Zadig fought him in his turn.  He successively threw four knights off their saddles with all the grace imaginable.  It then remained to be seen who should be conqueror, Otamus or Zadig.  The arms of the first were gold and blue, with a plume of the same color; those of the last were white.  The wishes of all the spectators were divided between the knight in blue and the knight in white.  The queen, whose heart was in a violent palpitation, offered prayers to Heaven for the success of the white color.