Esther 5

1 die autem tertio induta est Hester regalibus vestimentis et stetit in atrio domus regiae quod erat interius contra basilicam regis at ille sedebat super solium in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on [her] royal [apparel], and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

2 cumque vidisset Hester reginam stantem placuit oculis eius et extendit contra eam virgam auream quam tenebat manu quae accedens osculata est summitatem virgae eius

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

3 dixitque ad eam rex quid vis Hester regina quae est petitio tua etiam si dimidiam regni partem petieris dabitur tibi

And the king said, What wilt thou, Esther? and what is thy request? [ask] even to the half of my kingdom, and it shall be thine.

4 at illa respondit si regi placet obsecro ut venias ad me hodie et Aman tecum ad convivium quod paravi

And Esther said, To-day is my great day: if then it seem good to the king, let both him and Aman come to the feast which I will prepare this day.

5 statimque rex vocate inquit cito Aman ut Hester oboediat voluntati venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium quod eis regina paraverat

And the king said, Hasten Aman hither, that we may perform the word of Esther. So they both come to the feast of which Esther had spoken.

6 dixitque ei rex postquam vinum biberat abundanter quid petis ut detur tibi et pro qua re postulas etiam si dimidiam partem regni mei petieris inpetrabis

And at the banquet the king said to Esther, What is [thy request], queen Esther? [speak], and thou shalt have all that thou requirest.

7 cui respondit Hester petitio mea et preces istae sunt

And she said, My request and my petition [are]:

8 si inveni gratiam in conspectu regis et si regi placet ut det mihi quod postulo et meam impleat petitionem veniat rex et Aman ad convivium quod paravi eis et cras regi aperiam voluntatem meam

if I have found favour in the sight of the king, let the king and Aman come again to-morrow to the feast which I shall prepare for them, and to-morrow I will do the same.

9 egressus est itaque illo die Aman laetus et alacer cumque vidisset Mardocheum sedentem ante fores palatii et non solum non adsurrexisse sibi sed nec motum quidem de loco sessionis suae indignatus est valde

So Aman went out from the king very glad [and] merry: but when Aman saw Mardochæus the Jew in the court, he was greatly enraged.

10 et dissimulata ira reversus in domum suam convocavit ad se amicos et Zares uxorem suam

And having gone into his own house, he called his friends, and his wife Zosara.

11 et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum filiorumque turbam et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset

And he shewed them his wealth, and the glory with which the king had invested him, and how he had caused him to take precedence and bear chief rule in the kingdom.

12 et post haec ait regina quoque Hester nullum alium vocavit cum rege ad convivium praeter me apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum

And Aman said, The queen has called no one to the feast with the king but me, and I am invited to-morrow.

13 et cum haec omnia habeam nihil me habere puto quamdiu videro Mardocheum Iudaeum sedentem ante fores regias

But these things please me not, while I see Mardochæus the Jew in the court.

14 responderuntque ei Zares uxor eius et ceteri amici iube parari excelsam trabem habentem altitudinem quinquaginta cubitos et dic mane regi ut adpendatur super eam Mardocheus et sic ibis cum rege laetus ad convivium placuit ei consilium et iussit excelsam parari crucem

And Zosara his wife and his friends said to him, Let there be a gallows made for thee of fifty cubits, and in the morning do thou speak to the king, and let Mardochæus be hanged on the gallows: but do thou go in to the feast with the king, and be merry. And the saying pleased Aman, and the gallows was prepared.