1 — Esther

1In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty seven provinces:A' tempi del re Assuero, il quale regnò dall'India sino all'Etiopia sopra cento ventisette provincie,IN the daies of Assuerus, who reigned from India vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred twentie seuen prouinces:In diebus Assueri, qui regnavit ab India usque Æthiopiam super centum viginti septem provincias, 2When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.Quando egli si assise sul trono del suo reame, la città capitale del suo impero fu Susa.when he sate in the throne of his kingdō, the citie Susá was in the begynning of his kingdom.quando sedit in solio regni sui, Susan civitas regni ejus exordium fuit. 3Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,Egli adunque l'anno terzo del suo regno fece in sua presenza un gran convito a tutti i principi, e a tutti i suoi cortigiani, ai più valorosi Persiani, e ai principali tra i Medi, e ai prefetti delle Provincie,In the third yeare therfore of his empyre he made a great feast to al the princes, and to his seruantes, to the most valiant of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the rulers of the prouinces in his sight,Tertio igitur anno imperii sui fecit grande convivium cunctis principibus et pueris suis, fortissimis Persarum, et Medorum inclytis, et præfectis provinciarum coram se, 4That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.(Per dar a conoscere la dovizia, e la magnificenza del suo regno, e la grandezza, e il fasto di sua possanza); convito di molto tempo, cioè di centoottanta giorni.that he might shew the riches of the glorie of his kingdom, and the greatnes, & vaunting of his might, a great time, to witte, an hundred & foure score dayes.ut ostenderet divitias gloriæ regni sui, ac magnitudinem atque jactantiam potentiæ suæ, multo tempore, centum videlicet et octoginta diebus. 5And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.E quando fu sul finire il tempo di questo convito, egli invitò tutto il popolo, che trovavasi in Susa, grandi, e piccoli, e comandò, che si ammannisse un convito nell'atrio del giardino, e del bosco, il quale era stato piantato da mano regia, e con magnificenza da re.And when the daies of the feast were accomplished, he inuited al people, that was found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded seuen daies a feast to be prepared in the entrance of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted with royal garnishing and with hand.Cumque implerentur dies convivii, invitavit omnem populum, qui inventus est in Susan, a maximo usque ad minimum: et jussit septem diebus convivium præparari in vestibulo horti, et nemoris quod regio cultu et manu consitum erat.

6And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.E pendevano da tutti i lati le tende di color celeste, e bianco, e di giacinto sostenute da funi di bisso, e di scarlatto passate in anelli di avorio, e attaccate alle colonne di marmo: e insiememente i letti di oro, e di argento erano posti ordinatamente sopra il pavimento lastricato di smeraldi, e di marmo di Paros, e pitturato con varietà ammirabile.And there hong on euerie side hangings of skie colour, and grene, and hyacinthine colour, held vp with cordes of silke, and of purple, which were put into rings of yuorie, and were held vp with marble pillers. Beddes also of gold and siluer, were placed in order vpon the floore paued with the emerauld, and the touch stone: which paynting adorned with meruelous varietie.Et pendebant ex omni parte tentoria ærii coloris et carbasini ac hyacinthini, sustentata funibus byssinis atque purpureis, qui eburneis circulis inserti erant, et columnis marmoreis fulciebantur. Lectuli quoque aurei et argentei, super pavimentum smaragdino et pario stratum lapide, dispositi erant: quod mira varietate pictura decorabat. 7And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king’s magnificence.E i convitati beveano in tazze d'oro, e in vasi sempre differenti erano portate le vivande: il vino ancora, che si mesceva (come si conveniva alla magnificenza del re) era squisito, e in gran copia.And they that were inuited, dranke in golden cuppes, and the meates were brought in change of vessels. Wine also plenteous and the best was set downe, as was worthie of a kings magnificence.Bibebant autem qui invitati erant aureis poculis, et aliis atque aliis vasis cibi inferebantur. Vinum quoque, ut magnificentia regia dignum erat, abundans, et præcipuum ponebatur. 8Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.E nissuno forzava a bere chi non voleva; ma ciascuno ne prendeva quanto gli pareva, secondo l'ordine del re il quale avea preposto ad ogni tavola uno de' suoi grandi.Neither was there that compelled them to drinke that would not, but as the king had appointed, making ech of his princes ouerseer of euerie table, that euerie man might take what he would.Nec erat qui nolentes cogeret ad bibendum, sed sicut rex statuerat, præponens mensis singulos de principibus suis ut sumeret unusquisque quod vellet. 9Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.Similmente la regina Vasthi fece un convito alle donne nel palazzo, dove il re Assuero soleva dimorare.Vasthi also the queene made a feast for the wemen in the palace, where king Assuerus had accustomed to remayne.Vasthi quoque regina fecit convivium feminarum in palatio, ubi rex Assuerus manere consueverat.

10Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,Or il settimo giorno essendo il re più allegro del solito, ed essendo pel troppo bere riscaldato dal vino, ordinò ai sette eunuchi Maumau, e Bazatha, e Harbona, e Bagatha, e Abgatha, e Zetar, e Charchas, i quali gli stavano attorno servendolo,Therfore the seuenth day, when the king was merier, and after very much drinking was wel warmed with wine, he commanded M•umam, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charchas, the seuen eunuches, that ministred in his sight,Itaque die septimo, cum rex esset hilarior, et post nimiam potationem incaluisset mero, præcepit Maumam, et Bazatha, et Harbona, et Bagatha, et Abgatha, et Zethar, et Charchas, septem eunuchis qui in conspectu ejus ministrabant, 11To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.Che conducesser davanti a se la regina Vasthi col diadema in capo, per far vedere a tutto il popolo, e ai signori la sua bellezza; perocché ella era bella sommamente.that they should bring in queene Vasthi before the king, the crowne set vpon her head, that he might shew her beautie to al the peoples and princes: for she was exceding beautiful.ut introducerent reginam Vasthi coram rege, posito super caput ejus diademate, ut ostenderet cunctis populis et principibus pulchritudinem illius: erat enim pulchra valde. 12But she refused, and would not come at the king’s commandment, which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,Ed ella disse di no: e con tutto il comando del re intimatole dagli eunuchi non si degnò di andare: per la qualcosa sdegnato il re, e acceso di terribil furore,Who refused, and contemned to come at the kings commandment, which he had commanded by the eunuches. Wherupon the king being wrath, and chaffed with exceding furie, (Quæ renuit, et ad regis imperium quod per eunuchos mandaverat, venire contempsit. Unde iratus rex, et nimio furore succensus, 13Asked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:Interrogò i sapienti (i quali secondo, il costume dei re stavan sempre intorno a lui, e col consiglio de' quali faceva tutte le cose, essendo essi informati delle leggi, e de' costumi de' maggiori;asked the wisemen, which after the manner of a king were alwayes present with him, and he did al thinges by their counsel, which knew the lawes, and rightes of the elders:interrogavit sapientes, qui ex more regio semper ei aderant, et illorum faciebat cuncta consilio, scientium leges, ac jura majorum

14(Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him:)Or i principali, e più vicini a lui erano Charsena, e Sethar, e Adamatha, e Tharsis, e Mares, e Marsana, e Mamuchan, sette signori Persiani, e Medi, i quali vedevano la faccia del re, e solevano sedere a' primi posti dopo di lui).(and the chiefe and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seuen dukes of the Persians, and of the Medes, which saw the face of the king, and were wont to sitt first after him)(erant autem primi et proximi, Charsena, et Sethar, et Admatha, et Tharsis, et Mares, et Marsana, et Mamuchan, septem duces Persarum, atque Medorum, qui videbant faciem regis, et primi post eum residere soliti erant): 15What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?A qual pena dovesse soggiacere la regina Vasthi, la quale non avea voluto ubbidire al comando del re fattole per mezzo degli eunuchi.to what sentence Vasthi the queene should be subiect, that would not do Assuerus the kings commandment, which he had commanded by •he eunuches.cui sententiæ Vasthi regina subjaceret, quæ Assueri regis imperium, quod per eunuchos mandaverat, facere noluisset. 16And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus.E Mamuchan alla presenza del re, e dei principi rispose: La regina Vasthi ha offeso non solo il re, ma anche tutti i popoli, e i signori, che sono in tutte le Provincie del re Assuero.And Mamuchan answered, the king hearing, and the princes: Queene Vasthi hath not only hurt the king, but also al peoples, and princes, that are in al the prouinces of king Assuerus.Responditque Mamuchan, audiente rege atque principibus: Non solum regem læsit regina Vasthi, sed et omnes populos et principes qui sunt in cunctis provinciis regis Assueri. 17For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.Imperocché quello, che ha fatto la regina si saprà da tutte le donne, onde queste disprezzeranno i loro mariti, e diranno: Il re Assuero ha comandato, che la regina Vasthi si presentasse a lui, ed ella ha disubbidito.For the word of the queene wil goe forth to al wemen, that they wil contemne their husbands, and wil say: King Assuerus commanded that the queene Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.Egredietur enim sermo reginæ ad omnes mulieres, ut contemnant viros suos, et dicant: Rex Assuerus jussit ut regina Vasthi intraret ad eum, et illa noluit.

18And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just.E su questo esempio tutte le mogli dei principi Persiani, e Medi non faran conto degli ordini de' mariti: per la qual cosa giusto è lo sdegno del re.And by this example al the wiues of the princes of the Persians and the Medes, wil little esteeme the commandmentes of their husbandes: wherfore the kings indignation is iust.Atque hoc exemplo omnes principum conjuges Persarum atque Medorum parvipendent imperia maritorum: unde regis justa est indignatio. 19If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.Se così a te piace, sia pubblicato da te un editto, e sia scritto secondo la legge de' Persiani, e de' Medi (la quale non è lecito, che sia trasgredita), che la regina Vasthi non comparisca mai più dinanzi al re, ma il suo diadema lo abbia un'altra migliore di lei.If it please thee, let an edict goe forth from thy face, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of Medes, which is not lawful to be transgressed, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but an other, that is better then she, take her kingdome.Si tibi placet, egrediatur edictum a facie tua, et scribatur juxta legem Persarum atque Medorum, quam præteriri illicitum est, ut nequaquam ultra Vasthi ingrediatur ad regem, sed regnum illius altera, quæ melior est illa, accipiat. 20And let this be published through all the provinces of thy empire, (which is very wide,) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.E questo si notifichi in tutte le Provincie del tuo impero quanto egli è vasto, e tutte le mogli e de' grandi, ed e' piccoli onoreranno i loro mariti.And let this be published into al the empire of thy prouinces (which is most large) and let al the wiues, as wel of the greater as of the lesser geue honour to their husbandes.Et hoc in omne (quod latissimum est) provinciarum tuarum divulgetur imperium, et cunctæ uxores, tam majorum quam minorum, deferant maritis suis honorem. 21His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.Il consiglio di lui piacque al re, e ai principi, e il re fece come avea detto Mamuchan.His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan,Placuit consilium ejus regi et principibus: fecitque rex juxta consilium Mamuchan,

22And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, as every nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses: and that this should be published to every people.E scrisse lettere a tutte le provincie del suo impero in diverse lingue, e caratteri, affinchè fosser lette, e intese da ciascheduna nazione, contenenti, che i mariti sono principi, e superiori nelle case loro; e che ciò si facesse noto a tutti i popoli.and he sent letters to al the prouinces of his kingdome, as euerie nation could heare and reade, in diuers languages and characters, that the husbandes should be princes and maisters in their houses: and that this should be published through al peoples.et misit epistolas ad universas provincias regni sui, ut quæque gens audire et legere poterat, diversis linguis et litteris, esse viros principes ac majores in domibus suis: et hoc per cunctos populos divulgari.