按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that is insolent or cruel to my subjects by such my power； but
have showed myself mild and gentle； by taking care of their peace
and good order； and have sought how they might enjoy those
blessings for all time to come。 And whereas I have been kindly
informed by Haman； who； on account of his prudence and justice；
is the first in my esteem； and in dignity； and only second to
myself； for his fidelity and constant good…will to me； that there
is an ill…natured nation intermixed with all mankind； that is
averse to our laws； and not subject to kings； and of a different
conduct of life from others； that hateth monarchy； and of a
disposition that is pernicious to our affairs； I give order that
all these men； of whom Haman our second father hath informed us；
be destroyed； with their wives and children； and that none of
them be spared； and that none prefer pity to them before
obedience to this decree。 And this I will to be executed on the
fourteenth day of the twelfth month of this present year； that so
when all that have enmity to us are destroyed； and this in one
day； we may be allowed to lead the rest of our lives in peace
hereafter。〃 Now when this decree was brought to the cities； and
to the country； all were ready for the destruction and entire
abolishment of the Jews； against the day before mentioned； and
they were very hasty about it at Shushan； in particular。
Accordingly； the king and Haman spent their time in feasting
together with good cheer and wine； but the city was in disorder。
7。 Now when Mordecai was informed of what was done； he rent his
clothes； and put on sackcloth； and sprinkled ashes upon his head；
and went about the city； crying out； that 〃a nation that had been
injurious to no man was to be destroyed。〃 And he went on saying
thus as far as to the king's palace； and there he stood； for it
was not lawful for him to go into it in that habit。 The same
thing was done by all the Jews that were in the several cities
wherein this decree was published； with lamentation and mourning；
on account of the calamities denounced against them。 But as soon
as certain persons had told the queen that Mordecai stood before
the court in a mourning habit； she was disturbed at this report；
and sent out such as should change his garments； but when he
could not be induced to put off his sackcloth； because the sad
occasion that forced him to put it on was not yet ceased； she
called the eunuch Acratheus； for he was then present； and sent
him to Mordecai； in order to know of him what sad accident had
befallen him； for which he was in mourning； and would not put off
the habit he had put on at her desire。 Then did Mordecai inform
the eunuch of the occasion of his mourning； and of the decree
which was sent by the king into all the country； and of the
promise of money whereby Haman brought the destruction of their
nation。 He also gave him a copy of what was proclaimed at
Shushan； to be carried to Esther； and he charged her to petition
the king about this matter； and not to think it a dishonorable
thing in her to put on a humble habit； for the safety of her
nation； wherein she might deprecate the ruin of the Jews； who
were in danger of it； for that Haman； whose dignity was only
inferior to that of the king； had accused the Jews； and had
irritated the king against them。 When she was informed of this；
she sent to Mordecai again； and told him that she was not called
by the king； and that he who goes in to him without being called；
is to be slain； unless when he is willing to save any one； he
holds out his golden scepter to him； but that to whomsoever he
does so； although he go in without being called； that person is
so far from being slain； that he obtains pardon； and is entirely
preserved。 Now when the eunuch carried this message from Esther
to Mordecai； he bade him also tell her that she must not only
provide for her own preservation； but for the common preservation
of her nation； for that if she now neglected this opportunity；
there would certainly arise help to them from God some other way；
but she and her father's house would be destroyed by those whom
she now despised。 But Esther sent the very same eunuch back to
Mordecai ＇to desire him＇ to go to Shushan； and to gather the Jews
that were there together to a congregation； and to fast and
abstain from all sorts of food； on her account； and ＇to let him
know that＇ she with her maidens would do the same： and then she
promised that she would go to the king； though it were against
the law； and that if she must die for it； she would not refuse
it。
8。 Accordingly； Mordecai did as Esther had enjoined him； and made
the people fast； and he besought God； together with them； not to
overlook his nation； particularly at this time； when it was going
to be destroyed； but that； as he had often before provided for
them； and forgiven； when they had sinned； so he would now deliver
them from that destruction which was denounced against them； for
although it was not all the nation that had offended； yet must
they so ingloriously be slain； and that he was himself the
occasion of the wrath of Haman； 〃Because；〃 said he； 〃I did not
worship him； nor could I endure to pay that honor to him which I
used to pay to thee； O Lord； for upon that his anger hath he
contrived this present mischief against those that have not
transgressed thy laws。〃 The same supplications did the multitude
put up； and entreated that God would provide for their
deliverance； and free the Israelites that were in all the earth
from this calamity which was now coming upon them； for they had
it before their eyes； and expected its coming。 Accordingly；
Esther made supplication to God after the manner of her country；
by casting herself down upon the earth； and putting on her
mourning garments； and bidding farewell to meat and drink； and
all delicacies； for three days' time； and she entreated God to
have mercy upon her； and make her words appear persuasive to the
king； and render her countenance more beautiful than it was
before； that both by her words and beauty she might succeed； for
the averting of the king's anger； in case he were at all
irritated against her； and for the consolation of those of her
own country； now they were in the utmost danger of perishing； as
also that he would excite a hatred in the king against the
enemies of the Jews； and those that had contrived their future
destruction； if they proved to be contemned by him。
9。 When Esther had used this supplication for three days； she put
off those garments； and changed her habit； and adorned herself as
became a queen； and took two of her handmaids with her； the one
of which supported her； as she gently leaned upon her； and the
other followed after； and lifted up her large train （which swept
along the ground） with the extremities of her fingers。 And thus
she came to the king； having a blushing redness in her
countenance； with a pleasant agreeableness in her behavior； yet
did she go in to him with fear； and as soon as she was come over
against him； as he was sitting on his throne； in his royal
apparel； which was a garment interwoven with gold and precious
stones； which made him seem to her more terrible； especially when
he looked at her somewhat severely； and with a countenance on
fire with anger； her joints failed her immediately； out of the
dread she was in； and she fell down sideways in a swoon： but the
king changed his mind； which happened； as I suppose； by the will
of God； and was concerned for his wife； lest her fear should
bring some very ill thing upon her； and he leaped from his
throne； and took her in his arms； and recovered her； by embracing
her； and speaking comfortably to her； and exhorting her to be of
good cheer； and not to suspect any thing that was sad on account
of her coming to him without being called； because that law was
made for subjects； but that she； who was a queen； as well as he a
king； might be entirely secure； and as he said this； he put the
scepter into her hand； and laid his rod upon her neck； on account
of the law； and so freed her from her fear。 And after she had
recovered herself by these encouragements； she said； 〃My lord； it
is not easy for me； on the sudden； to say what hath happened； for
as soon as I saw thee to be great； and comely； and terrible； my
spirit departed from me； and I had no soul left in me。〃 And while
it was with difficulty； and in a low voice； that she could say
thus much； the king was in a great agony and disorder； and
encouraged Esther to be of good cheer； and to expect better
fortune； since he was ready； if occasion should require it； to
grant her the half of his kingdom。 Accordingly； Esther desired
that he and his friend Haman would come to her to a banquet； for
she said she had prepared a supper for him。 He consented to it；
and when they were there； as they were drinking； he bid Esther to
let him know what she desired； for that she should not be
disappointed though she should desire the half of his kingdom。
But she put off the discovery of her petition till the next day；
if he would come again； together with Haman； to her banquet。
10。 Now when the king had promised so to do； Haman went away very
glad； be