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

And it came to pass, on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the house of the king, over against the house of the king, —and, the king, was sitting upon his royal seat, in the royal house, over against the opening 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 came to pass, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his eyes, —and the king held out to Esther, the golden sceptre which 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

Then said the king unto her, What aileth thee, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? Unto the half of the kingdom, shall it be given thee.

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

Then said Esther, If, unto the king, it seem good, let the king with Haman come in this day, unto the banquet which I have prepared for him.

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 ye Haman, to perform the word of Esther. So the king with Haman came in, unto the banquet which Esther had prepared,

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

Then said the king unto Esther, during the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, that it may be granted thee?—and what is thy request—unto the half of the kingdom—that it may be performed?

7 cui respondit Hester petitio mea et preces istae sunt

Then answered Esther, and said, —As touching my petition and my request,

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 eyes of the king, and if, unto the king, it seem good, to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king with Haman come in unto the banquet which I will prepare for them, and, to-morrow, I will do according to the word of the king.

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

Then went Haman forth on that day, joyful and of a merry heart, —but, when Haman saw Mordecai in the gate of the king, that he rose not up nor moved because of him, then was Haman filled with wrath against Mordecai.

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

Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and came into his own house, —and sent and brought in his friends, and Zeresh his wife;

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

and Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, —and all the things wherein the king had promoted him to power, and how he had advanced him, above the rulers and the servants of the king.

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 Haman said, Moreover Esther the queen did bring in no one with the king into the banquet which she had prepared, saving myself, —yea moreover, even for to-morrow, I, am invited unto her, with the king.

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

Yet, all this, sufficeth me not, —so long as, I, see Mordecai the Jew, sitting in the gate of the king.

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

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let them make ready a gallows, of the height of fifty cubits, and, in the morning, speak thou unto the king, that they hang Mordecai thereon, then go with the king into the banquet joyfully. And the thing seemed good before Haman, and he made ready the gallows.