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

… So he bade her claim audience with the king, and intercede for her people and for her country.

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

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

Remember, said he, the days of thy humbler fortunes, and how it was my care nurtured thee. Now thou art matched against Aman, that is next to the king’s person; he pleads for our overthrow, and it is thine to plead for our preservation.

Remember, (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.

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

Ask aid of the Lord, and seek the king’s audience ….

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

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

When the third day came, she laid aside the garb of prayer, and put on all her fine array,

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

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

queenly robes that dazzled the eye. One prayer she offered to the God who alone rules, alone can save; then bade two of her waiting-maids bear her company.

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

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

On one she leant, as though her dainty form must needs be supported;

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

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

the other followed her mistress as train-bearer.

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

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

Alluring beauty of flushed cheek and shining eye hid a heart grief-stricken, a heart chilled with an overwhelming fear.

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

Ingressa 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.

Door after door she passed, till she reached the king’s presence, where he sat on his royal throne, royally clad, amid a glitter of gold and jewels; terrible of mien.

So 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.

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

No sooner had he looked up, his fiery glance betraying his angry humour, than the queen swooned away; white went her cheeks, as she leaned her head, fainting, on the maid that stood by.

And 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.

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

And now God changed the king’s mood all at once to mildness; he started from his throne in trembling haste, and was fain to hold her in his arms till she came to herself; and still with soothing words he reassured her:

And 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:

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

Esther, what is amiss with thee? Were I thy own brother, thou hadst not less cause to fear.

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

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

Thy life is safe; to others the law forbids entry, never to thee;

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

Accede igitur, et tange sceptrum.

thou hast but to come near, and touch my sceptre.

Come near then, and touch the sceptre.

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

And with that, for she was voiceless still, he raised his golden sceptre and touched her neck with it; then kissed her, and asked, What, hast thou no word for me?

And 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?

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

My lord, she said, the sight of thee overawed me, as if I had seen one of God’s angels; such reverence does thy majesty inspire.

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

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

For indeed, my lord, there is nothing about thee but must be admired, nothing in thy looks but is gracious.

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

Cumque loqueretur, rursus corruit, et pene exanimata est.

Even as she spoke, once again her strength failed her; and she was near to fainting;

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

Rex autem turbabatur, et omnes ministri ejus consolabantur eam.

the king was all anxiety, and his courtiers must needs come about him, seeking to allay her fears.

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