Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/394

 mightest be  ready  for  such  a time  as  this?”  Esther,  therefore, praying fervently,  and  abstaining  from  food  and  drink  for  three days, resolved against  the  law,  to  go  in  to  the  king  without being called,  and  thus  expose  herself  to  the  danger  of  death.

On the  third  day  she  put  on  her  glorious  apparel  and  wore her glittering  robes,  and  passed  through  the  door  with  a smiling countenance which  hid  a mind  full  of  anguish  and  exceeding great fear. But when  the  king  had  lifted  up  his  face,  and  with burning eyes  had  shown  the  wrath  of  his  heart,  Esther  sank  down and rested  her  head  upon  her  handmaid. Then the  king  was seized with  pity. He leaped  from  his  throne,  upheld  her  in  his arms and  said:  “What  is  the  matter,  Esther? I am thy  brother, fear not! Thou shalt  not  die,  for  this  law  is  not  made  for  thee, but for  all  others. What wilt  thou,  queen  Esther?”  She,  recovering herself, answered: “If  it  please  the  king,  I beseech  thee  to  come to me  this  day,  and  Aman  with  thee,  to  the  banquet  which  I have  prepared.”

The king  acceded  to  her  wish;  and  during  the  repast  he desired  to  know  her  request. She answered:  “If  it  please  the king to  give  me  what  I ask,  and  to  fulfil  my  petition,  let  the king and  Aman  come  again  to  the  banquet  which  I have  prepared them,  and  to-morrow  I will  open  my  mind  to  the  king.” The king  promised  to  do  so,  and  Aman  left  the  palace  with  a joyful  heart. But in  going  out  he  saw  Mardochai  sitting  at  the door of  the  palace. And because  Mardochai  would  not  bow  down before him  like  the  others,  he  was  filled  with  rage;  and  going home to  his  house,  ordered  a gallows  fifty  cubits  high  to  be erected  whereon  to  hang  Mardochai  on  the  following  morning.

Now it  happened  that  the  king  could  not  sleep  that  night, and to  divert  his  mind  he  ordered  the  annals  of  his  reign  to  be read  to  him. When the  reader  came  to  the  place  which  related how Mardochai  had  discovered  the  plot  against  the  king’s  life, Assuerus suddenly  asked  what  reward  Mardochai  had  received  for