Esther 1
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces: )
In diebus Assueri, qui regnavit ab India usque Æthiopiam super centum viginti septem provincias,
2 that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
quando sedit in solio regni sui, Susan civitas regni ejus exordium fuit.
3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
Tertio igitur anno imperii sui fecit grande convivium cunctis principibus et pueris suis, fortissimis Persarum, et Medorum inclytis, et præfectis provinciarum coram se,
4 when he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
ut ostenderet divitias gloriæ regni sui, ac magnitudinem atque jactantiam potentiæ suæ, multo tempore, centum videlicet et octoginta diebus.
5 And when these days were fulfilled, he king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;
Cumque implerentur dies convivii, invitavit omnem populum, qui inventus est in Susan, a maximo usque ad minimum: et jussit septem diebus convivium præparari in vestibulo horti, et nemoris quod regio cultu et manu consitum erat.
6 [There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.
Et pendebant ex omni parte tentoria ærii coloris et carbasini ac hyacinthini, sustentata funibus byssinis atque purpureis, qui eburneis circulis inserti erant, et columnis marmoreis fulciebantur. Lectuli quoque aurei et argentei, super pavimentum smaragdino et pario stratum lapide, dispositi erant: quod mira varietate pictura decorabat.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another, ) and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
Bibebant autem qui invitati erant aureis poculis, et aliis atque aliis vasis cibi inferebantur. Vinum quoque, ut magnificentia regia dignum erat, abundans, et præcipuum ponebatur.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
Nec erat qui nolentes cogeret ad bibendum, sed sicut rex statuerat, præponens mensis singulos de principibus suis ut sumeret unusquisque quod vellet.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Vasthi quoque regina fecit convivium feminarum in palatio, ubi rex Assuerus manere consueverat.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
Itaque die septimo, cum rex esset hilarior, et post nimiam potationem incaluisset mero, præcepit Maumam, et Bazatha, et Harbona, et Bagatha, et Abgatha, et Zethar, et Charchas, septem eunuchis qui in conspectu ejus ministrabant,
11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the peoples and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
ut introducerent reginam Vasthi coram rege, posito super caput ejus diademate, ut ostenderet cunctis populis et principibus pulchritudinem illius: erat enim pulchra valde.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Quæ renuit, et ad regis imperium quod per eunuchos mandaverat, venire contempsit. Unde iratus rex, et nimio furore succensus,
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;
interrogavit sapientes, qui ex more regio semper ei aderant, et illorum faciebat cuncta consilio, scientium leges, ac jura majorum
14 and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom: )
(erant autem primi et proximi, Charsena, et Sethar, et Admatha, et Tharsis, et Mares, et Marsana, et Mamuchan, septem duces Persarum, atque Medorum, qui videbant faciem regis, et primi post eum residere soliti erant):
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
cui sententiæ Vasthi regina subjaceret, quæ Assueri regis imperium, quod per eunuchos mandaverat, facere noluisset.
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
Responditque Mamuchan, audiente rege atque principibus: Non solum regem læsit regina Vasthi, sed et omnes populos et principes qui sunt in cunctis provinciis regis Assueri.
17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
Egredietur enim sermo reginæ ad omnes mulieres, ut contemnant viros suos, et dicant: Rex Assuerus jussit ut regina Vasthi intraret ad eum, et illa noluit.
18 And this day shall the princesses of Persia and Media which have heard of the deed of the queen say [the like] unto all the king’s princes, So [shall there arise] much contempt and wrath.
Atque hoc exemplo omnes principum conjuges Persarum atque Medorum parvipendent imperia maritorum: unde regis justa est indignatio.
19 If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
Si tibi placet, egrediatur edictum a facie tua, et scribatur juxta legem Persarum atque Medorum, quam præteriri illicitum est, ut nequaquam ultra Vasthi ingrediatur ad regem, sed regnum illius altera, quæ melior est illa, accipiat.
20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, (for it is great, ) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
Et hoc in omne (quod latissimum est) provinciarum tuarum divulgetur imperium, et cunctæ uxores, tam majorum quam minorum, deferant maritis suis honorem.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
Placuit consilium ejus regi et principibus: fecitque rex juxta consilium Mamuchan,
22 for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should publish it according to the language of his people.
et misit epistolas ad universas provincias regni sui, ut quæque gens audire et legere poterat, diversis linguis et litteris, esse viros principes ac majores in domibus suis: et hoc per cunctos populos divulgari.
