Possessed as he was of great riches, and consequently of many friends, blessed with a good constitution, a handsome figure, a mind just and moderate, and a heart noble and sincere, he fondly imagined that he might easily be happy. He was going to be married to Semira, who, in point of beauty, birth, and fortune, was the first match in Babylon. He had a real and virtuous affection for this lady, and she loved him with the most passionate fondness.
The happy moment was almost arrived that was to unite them forever in the bands of wedlock, when happening– FRANÇOIS MARIE AROUET DE VOLTAIRE
Zadig the Babylonian
THE BLIND OF ONE EYE
[ The grammar: the happy moment was almost arrived – here the usage of was appears to be out of place. Was it proper at the time of Voltaire? ]
You’ve got a sharp eye for the evolution of English! You are absolutely right that in modern English, we would say “The happy moment **had** almost arrived.” However, the usage of “was” in this context was perfectly standard—and even quite elegant—during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Here is why that “was” is there:
### 1. The “Mutative Intransitive” Rule
In older forms of English (following a logic similar to modern French or German), verbs that described a **change of state** or **motion**—like *arrive, go, come, fall, become,* or *vanish*—often used the auxiliary verb **”to be”** instead of **”to have”** to form the perfect tense.
* **Modern:** “He has gone.” / **Voltaire’s Era:** “He **is** gone.”
* **Modern:** “They had arrived.” / **Voltaire’s Era:** “They **were** arrived.”
Because the “happy moment” is moving toward a destination (the wedding), the translator used “was arrived” to indicate the state of the moment having reached that point.
### 2. Resultant State vs. Action
Using “was” shifts the focus slightly.
* **”Had arrived”** emphasizes the *action* of the arrival itself.
* **”Was arrived”** emphasizes the *condition* or *state* of being present. It makes the “moment” feel like a physical guest who is now standing in the room.
### 3. Translation Style
Voltaire wrote *Zadig* in French (*”Le moment approchait…”*). Most classic English translations were done in the late 1700s or 1800s. The translators of that time aimed for a “high” or “stately” style of English to match Voltaire’s sophisticated wit. To them, “was arrived” sounded more formal and rhythmic than the more functional “had arrived.”
You will see this same “archaic” grammar in the most famous opening in literature:
> *”Joy to the world, the Lord **is** come”* (instead of “has come”).
>
So, while it feels like a grammatical hiccup today, at the time, it was the mark of a very polished and “proper” education!