艾斯德尔传 15

1And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the king, and petition for her people, and for her country.

2Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against us unto death.

3And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.

4And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put on her glorious apparel.

5And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her,

6And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body.

7And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing on the ground.

8But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and bright eyes, hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.

9So going in she passed through all the doors in order, and stood before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was terrible to behold.

10And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.

11And God changed the king’s spirit into mildness, and all in haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms, till she came to herself, caressed her with these words:

12What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.

13Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.

14Come near then, and touch the sceptre.

15And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to me?

16She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.

17For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy. face is full of graces.

18And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.

19But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.

1Et mandavit ei (haud dubium quin esset Mardochæus) ut ingrederetur ad regem, et rogaret pro populo suo et pro patria sua.

2Memorare, inquit, dierum humilitatis tuæ, quomodo nutrita sis in manu mea, quia Aman secundus a rege locutus est contra nos in mortem:

3et tu invoca Dominum, et loquere regi pro nobis, et libera nos de morte.

4Die autem tertio deposuit vestimenta ornatus sui, et circumdata est gloria sua.

5Cumque regio fulgeret habitu, et invocasset omnium rectorem et salvatorem Deum, assumpsit duas famulas,

6et super unam quidem innitebatur, quasi præ deliciis et nimia teneritudine corpus suum ferre non sustinens:

7altera autem famularum sequebatur dominam, defluentia in humum indumenta sustentans.

8Ipsa autem roseo colore vultum perfusa, et gratis ac nitentibus oculis, tristem celabat animum, et nimio timore contractum.

9Ingressa igitur cuncta per ordinem ostia, stetit contra regem, ubi ille residebat super solium regni sui, indutus vestibus regiis, auroque fulgens, et pretiosis lapidibus: eratque terribilis aspectu.

10Cumque elevasset faciem, et ardentibus oculis furorem pectoris indicasset, regina corruit, et in pallorem colore mutato, lassum super ancillulam reclinavit caput.

11Convertitque Deus spiritum regis in mansuetudinem, et festinus ac metuens exilivit de solio, et sustentans eam ulnis suis donec rediret ad se, his verbis blandiebatur:

12Quid habes, Esther? ego sum frater tuus: noli metuere.

13Non morieris: non enim pro te, sed pro omnibus hæc lex constituta est.

14Accede igitur, et tange sceptrum.

15Cumque illa reticeret, tulit auream virgam, et posuit super collum ejus, et osculatus est eam, et ait: Cur mihi non loqueris?

16Quæ respondit: Vidi te, domine, quasi angelum Dei, et conturbatum est cor meum præ timore gloriæ tuæ.

17Valde enim mirabilis es, domine, et facies tua plena est gratiarum.

18Cumque loqueretur, rursus corruit, et pene exanimata est.

19Rex autem turbabatur, et omnes ministri ejus consolabantur eam.

1And he entrusted her (there was no question but that it was Mordecai) to go in to the king, and to petition on behalf of her people and her native land.

2“Remember,” he said, “the days of your lowliness, how you were nurtured as if in my hand, because Haman, who is second after the king, has spoken against us to death.

3And you must call upon the Lord, and speak with the king on our behalf, and free us from death.”

4So, on the third day, she put away her ornate apparel, and surrounded herself with glory.

5And when she was shining in a royal manner, and had called upon God, the Guide and Savior of all, she took two maids with her.

6And she was leaning upon one of them, as if, out of delicateness and great tenderness, she were not able to bear carrying her own body.

7And the other maid followed her lady, carrying her garment flowing on the ground.

8Yet she had a rosy color pouring over her face, for, with gracious and bright eyes, she restrained a sorrowful soul and very great fear.

9And so, entering hesitantly through a series of doors, she stood opposite the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed in royal robes, and shining with gold and precious stones. And he was terrible to behold.

10And when he had lifted up his face, and with burning eyes had shown the fury of his heart, the queen collapsed, and her color turned pale, and she rested her exhausted head upon her handmaid.

11And God changed the king’s spirit into gentleness; quickly and apprehensively, he leapt from his throne, and lifting her up in his arms until she came to herself, he coaxed her with these words:

12“What is the matter, Esther? I am your brother, do not be afraid.

13You will not die. For this law has not been established for you, but for all others.

14So approach and touch the scepter.”

15And since she remained silent, he took the golden scepter and placed it on her neck, and he kissed her and said, “Why do you not speak to me?”

16She answered, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was disturbed for fear of your glory.

17For you, my lord, are great and wonderful, and your face is full of grace.”

18And while she was speaking, she collapsed again, because she was out of breath.

19But the king was troubled, and all his servants consoled her.