2 — Esther

1After this, when the wrath of king Assuerus was appeased, he remembered Vasthi, and what she had done and what she had suffered:Dopo tali cose calmato essendo lo sdegno del re, egli si ricordò di Vasthi, e di quel che ella avea fatto, e della sua punizione:THESE thinges so done, after the indignation of king Assuerus was asswaged, he remembred Vasthi, and what she had done, or what she had suffered:His ita gestis, postquam regis Assueri indignatio deferbuerat, recordatus est Vasthi, et quæ fecisset, vel quæ passa esset: 2And the king’s servants and his officers said: Let young women be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful,E i servi, e i ministri del re dissero: Si cerchino pel re delle fanciulle vergini, e avvenenti,and the kings seruantes and his ministers said: Let there be maydens sought for the king, virgins and beautiful,dixeruntque pueri regis ac ministri ejus: Quærantur regi puellæ virgines ac speciosæ, 3And let some persons be sent through all the provinces to look for beautiful maidens and virgins: and let them bring them to the city of Susan, and put them into the house of the women under the hand of Egeus the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king’s women: and let them receive women’s ornaments, and other things necessary for their use.E si spedisca gente per tutte le Provincie a scegliere delle fanciulle vergini dotate di bellezza per condurle a Susa, e metterle nella casa delle donne sotto la cura dell'eunuco Egeo, governatore, e custode delle donne del re, e sia dato loro tutto quello, che si richiede pe' loro abbigliamenti, e tutto il necessario pe' loro bisogni:and let there be sent that may viewe through al prouinces beautiful maydens and virgins: and let them bring them to the citie of Susan, and deliuer them into the house of wemen vnder the hand of Egeus the eunuch, who is ouerseer of the kings wemen: and let them receiue wemens ornamentes, and other things necessarie to be vsed.et mittantur qui considerent per universas provincias puellas speciosas et virgines: et adducant eas ad civitatem Susan, et tradant eas in domum feminarum sub manu Egei eunuchi, qui est præpositus et custos mulierum regiarum: et accipiant mundum muliebrem, et cetera ad usus necessaria. 4And whosoever among them all shall please the king’s eyes, let her be queen instead of Vasthi. The word pleased the king: and he commanded it should be done as they had suggested.E quella, che darà più nel genio al re sarà regina in luogo di Vasthi. Il re approvò la proposizione, e comandò, che si facesse, come quegli avean consigliato.And which so euer among al shal please the kings eies, let her reigne for Vasthi. The word pleased the king: and so as they had suggested, he commanded to be done.Et quæcumque inter omnes oculis regis placuerit, ipsa regnet pro Vasthi. Placuit sermo regi: et ita, ut suggesserant, jussit fieri.

5There was a man in the city of Susan, a Jew, named Mardochai, the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the race of Jemini,Era in Susa un uomo Giudeo per nome Mardocheo, figliuolo di Jair, figliuolo di Semei, figliuolo di Cis, della stirpe di Jemini,There was a man in the citie of Susan a Iew, named Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis, of the stocke of Iemini,Erat vir Judæus in Susan civitate, vocabulo Mardochæus filius Jair, filii Semei, filii Cis, de stirpe Jemini, 6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away Jechonias king of Juda,Il quale era stato menato via da Gerusalemme in quel tempo, in cui Nabucodonosor re di Babilonia avea trasportato Jechonia, re di Giuda,who had beene transported from Ierusalem the same time, that Nabucodonosor the king of Babylon transported Iechonias the king of Iuda,qui translatus fuerat de Jerusalem eo tempore quo Jechoniam regem Juda Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis transtulerat, 7And he had brought up his brother’s daughter Edissa, who by another name was called Esther: now she had lost both her parents: and was exceeding fair and beautiful. And her father and mother being dead, Mardochai adopted her for his daughter.Ed egli aveva educata la figliuola di suo fratello Edissa chiamata con altro nome Esther, la quale avea perduti i suoi genitori, ed era oltre modo bella, e di aspetto grazioso: e morti che furono il padre, e la madre, Mardocheo l'aveva adottata in figliuola.who was the foster father of his brothers daughter Edissa, which by an other name was called Esther: and she had lost both her parentes: exceeding beautiful, and of comely face. And her father and mother being dead, Mardocheus adopted her for his daughter.qui fuit nutritius filiæ fratris sui Edissæ, quæ altero nomine vocabatur Esther, et utrumque parentem amiserat: pulchra nimis, et decora facie. Mortuisque patre ejus ac matre, Mardochæus sibi eam adoptavit in filiam. 8And when the king’s ordinance was noised abroad, and according to his commandment many beautiful virgins were brought to Susan, and were delivered to Egeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the maidens was delivered to him to be kept in the number of the women.Ed essendosi divulgato l'ordine del re, e conducendosi a Susa secondo il comando di lui molte belle vergini, e consegnandosi queste all'eunuco Egeo, fu a lui rimessa tralle altre fanciulle anche Esther, per essere serbata colle altre donne.And when the kings commandment was bruited abrode, and according to his commandement many fayre virgins were brought to Susan, and were deliuered to Fgeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the maydens was deliuered to him, that she might be kept in the number of the wemen.Cumque percrebruisset regis imperium, et juxta mandatum illius multæ pulchræ virgines adducerentur Susan, et Egeo traderentur eunucho, Esther quoque inter ceteras puellas ei tradita est, ut servaretur in numero feminarum.

9And she pleased him, and found favour in his sight. And he commanded the eunuch to hasten the women’s ornaments, and to deliver to her her part, and seven of the most beautiful maidens of the king’s house, and to adorn and deck out both her and her waiting maids.Ed ella piacque a lui, e trovò grazia negli occhi di lui; ed egli comandò a un eunuco, che mettesse presto in ordine il suo corredo, e di darle la sua Porzione di vitto, e sette figlie delle più elle della casa del re, e che ornasse, e abbigliasse tanto lei, come le sue cameriere.Who pleased him, and found grace in his sight. And he commanded the eunuch, that he should hasten the wemens ornamentes, and should deliuer her, her partes, & seuen the most beautiful maydens of the kings house, and should adorne and decke both her and her wayting maydes.Quæ placuit ei, et invenit gratiam in conspectu illius. Et præcepit eunucho, ut acceleraret mundum muliebrem, et traderet ei partes suas, et septem puellas speciosissimas de domo regis, et tam ipsam quam pedissequas ejus ornaret atque excoleret. 10And she would not tell him her people nor her country. For Mardochai had charged her to say nothing at all of that:Ma ella non volle far sapere a lui di qual gente, e di qual patria ella fosse; perocché Mardocheo le aveva ordinato, che nulla di questo dicesse:Who would not tel him her people and countrie. For Mardocheus had commanded her, that of this thing she should altogether keepe silence:Quæ noluit indicare ei populum et patriam suam: Mardochæus enim præceperat ei, ut de hac re omnino reticeret: 11And he walked every day before the court of the house, in which the chosen virgins were kept, having a care for Esther’s welfare, and desiring to know what would befall her.Or egli passeggiava tutti i giorni dinanzi al vestibolo della casa, dove erano in serbo le vergini elette, sollecito della salute di Esther, e bramoso di sapere quel, che si fosse di lei.who walked daily before the entrance of the house, wherin the chosen virgins were kept, taking care of Esthers welfare, and desirous to know what should chance vnto her.qui deambulabat quotidie ante vestibulum domus, in qua electæ virgines servabantur, curam agens salutis Esther, et scire volens quid ei accideret. 12Now when every virgin’s turn came to go in to the king, after all had been done for setting them off to advantage, it was the twelfth month: so that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for other six months they used certain perfumes and sweet spices.E quando fu venuto il tempo, in cui ciascheduna delle fanciulle doveva essere l'una dopo l'altra presentata al re, essendo già fatto tutto quel, che richiedeasi per metterle in ordine di tutto punto, correva già il duodecimo mese; perocché per sei mesi si ungevano con olio di mirra, e per altri sei facevano uso di certi unguenti, e aromati.And when the time of euerie virgin in order was come, that they should goe in to the king, al things accomplished that perteyned to wemens ornamentes, it was the twelfth moneth: yet so, that for six monethes they were anoynted with oyle of myrtle, and other six monethes they vsed certayne payntings and sweete spices.Cum autem venisset tempus singularum per ordinem puellarum ut intrarent ad regem, expletis omnibus quæ ad cultum muliebrem pertinebant, mensis duodecimus vertebatur: ita dumtaxat, ut sex mensibus oleo ungerentur myrrhino, et aliis sex quibusdam pigmentis et aromatibus uterentur.

13And when they were going in to the king, whatsoever they asked to adorn themselves they received: and being decked out, as it pleased them, they passed from the chamber of the women to the king’s chamber.E quando andavano a presentarsi al re, era dato ad esse tutto quello, che domandavano per abbigliarsi; e ornati in quel modo, che lor piaceva, dall'appartamento delle donne passavano nella camera del re.And going in to the king, what soeuer they asked that perteyned to adorning they receiued: and being trimmed, as it pleased them, they passed from the chamber of the wemen to the kings chamber.Ingredientesque ad regem, quidquid postulassent ad ornatum pertinens, accipiebant: et ut eis placuerat, compositæ de triclinio feminarum ad regis cubiculum transibant. 14And she that went in at evening, came out in the morning, and from thence she was conducted to the second house, that was under the hand of Susagaz the eunuch, who had the charge over the king’s concubines: neither could she return any more to the king, unless the king desired it, and had ordered her by name to come.E quella, che vi era andata la sera, ne usciva la mattina, e di lì era condotta in un altro appartamento, del quale avea la custodia l'eunuco Susagazi, il quale era governatore delle concubine del re; ed ella non avea permissione di tornare di nuovo dal re, se il re non la desiderava, e non comandava, che dessa nominatamente venisse.And she that went in at euening, came out in the morning, and from thence she was brought to the second house, that was vnder the hand of Susagazus the cunuch, who was chiefe ouer the kings concubines: neither had she power to returne any more to the king, vnlesse the king had willed, and had commanded her to come by name.Et quæ intraverat vespere, egrediebatur mane, atque inde in secundas ædes deducebatur, quæ sub manu Susagazi eunuchi erant, qui concubinis regis præsidebat: nec habebat potestatem ad regem ultra redeundi, nisi voluisset rex, et eam venire jussisset ex nomine. 15And as the time came orderly about, the day was at hand, when Esther, the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardochai, whom he had adopted for his daughter, was to go in to the king. But she sought not women’s ornaments, but whatsoever Egeus the eunuch the keeper of the virgins had a mind, he gave her to adorn her. For she was exceeding fair, and her incredible beauty made her appear agreeable and amiable in the eyes of all.Or dopo un certo spazio di tempo era imminente il giorno, in cui veniva il turno di dover essere presentata al re, Esther figliuola di Abihail fratello di Mardocheo, adottata da questo per sua figliuola: ed ella non cercò ornamenti donneschi, ma l'eunuco Egeo custode delle vergini le diede quello, che a lui parve per abbigliarsi; perocché ella era molto avvenente, e di beltà incredibile, e agli occhi di tutti compariva graziosa, e amabile.And the time by order coming about, the day was at hand, that Esther the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardocheus, whom he had adopted for his daughter, should goe in to the king. Who sought not wemens ornamentes, but whatsoeuer Egeus the eunuch the keper of the virgins would, those things he gaue her to her adorning. For she was exceding fayre, and of incredible beautie, she semed to al mens eies gratious and amiable.Evoluto autem tempore per ordinem, instabat dies quo Esther filia Abihail fratris Mardochæi, quam sibi adoptaverat in filiam, deberet intrare ad regem. Quæ non quæsivit muliebrem cultum, sed quæcumque voluit Egeus eunuchus custos virginum, hæc ei ad ornatum dedit. Erat enim formosa valde, et incredibili pulchritudine: omnium oculis gratiosa et amabilis videbatur. 16So she was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.Ella fu adunque condotta nella camera del re Assuero il decimo mese chiamato Tebeth, l'anno settimo del suo regno.She therfore was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth moneth, which is called Tebeth, in the seuenth yeare of his reigne.Ducta est itaque ad cubiculum regis Assueri mense decimo, qui vocatur Tebeth, septimo anno regni ejus.

17And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favour and kindness before him above all the women, and he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vasthi.E il re la amò più di tutte le altre donne, ed ella trovò grazia, e favore dinanzi a lui sopra tutte le donne; ed ei le pose in testa il diadema reale, e la fece regina in luogo di Vasthi.And the king loued her more then al the wemen, and she had grace and mercie before him aboue al the wemen, and he put the crowne of the kingdom on her head, and made her reigne in steede of Vasthi.Et adamavit eam rex plus quam omnes mulieres, habuitque gratiam et misericordiam coram eo super omnes mulieres: et posuit diadema regni in capite ejus, fecitque eam regnare in loco Vasthi. 18And he commanded a magnificent feast to be prepared for all the princes, and for his servants, for the marriage and wedding of Esther, And he gave rest to all the provinces, and bestowed gifts according to princely magnificence.E ordinò, che si facesse un magnificentissimo convito a tutti i principi, e a tutti i servi suoi a causa del matrimonio, e delle nozze di Esther: concedette immunità a tutte le Provincie, e distribuì doni con magnificenza da principe.And he commanded a verie magnifical feast to be prepared to al the princes, and to his seruantes, for the coniunction, and mariage of Esther. And he gaue rest to al the prouinces, and bestowed giftes according to princely magnificence.Et jussit convivium præparari permagnificum cunctis principibus et servis suis pro conjunctione et nuptiis Esther. Et dedit requiem universis provinciis, ac dona largitus est juxta magnificentiam principalem. 19And when the virgins were sought the second time, and gathered together, Mardochai stayed at the king’s gate,Or mentre per la seconda volta si cercavano, e si radunavano delle vergini pel re, Mardocheo se ne stava presso alla porta del re:And when virgins were sought the second time and gathered together, Mardocheus taried at the kings gate,Cumque secundo quærerentur virgines et congregarentur, Mardochæus manebat ad januam regis: 20Neither had Esther as yet declared her country and people, according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at that time when he brought her up a little one.Ma Esther secondo l'ordine di lui non aveva ancora manifestata la sua patria, e la sua nazione. Perocché Esther faceva puntualmente tutto quello, ch'ei le prescriveva; e in tutte le cose si di portava, come era solita di fare nel tempo, ch'egli da piccolina la educava.neither had Esther as yet vttered her countrie, & people, according to his cōmandment. For what soeuer he commanded, Esther obserued: and she did al thinges so as she was wont at that time, when he nourished her a litle one.necdum prodiderat Esther patriam et populum suum, juxta mandatum ejus. Quidquid enim ille præcipiebat, observabat Esther: et ita cuncta faciebat ut eo tempore solita erat, quo eam parvulam nutriebat.

21At that time, therefore, when Mardochai abode at the king’s gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were porters, and presided in the first entry of the palace, were angry: and they designed to rise up against the king, and to kill him.Nel tempo adunque, che Mardocheo stava alla porta del re, Bagathan e Thares due eunuchi del re, che erano anche custodi della porta, e presedevano al primo ingresso del palazzo, malcontenti del re pensarono di ribellarsegli, e ucciderlo.At that time therfore, when Mardocheus abode at the kings gate, Bagathan, and Thares were angrie, two of the kings eunuches, that were porters, and were chiefe in the first entrie of the palace: and they would make insurrection against the king, and kil him.Eo igitur tempore, quo Mardochæus ad regis januam morabatur, irati sunt Bagathan et Thares duo eunuchi regis, qui janitores erant, et in primo palatii limine præsidebant: volueruntque insurgere in regem, et occidere eum. 22And Mardochai had notice of it, and immediately he told it to queen Esther: and she to the king in Mardochai’s name, who had reported the thing unto her.E Mardocheo scoperse la cosa, e la fece subito sapere ad Esther regina, ed ella la disse al re per parte di Mardocheo, che a lei l'avea indicata.Wherof Mardocheus gotte notice, and immediatly he told it to queene Esther: and she to the king in the name of Mardocheus, who had reported the thing vnto her.Quod Mardochæum non latuit, statimque nuntiavit reginæ Esther: et illa regi ex nomine Mardochæi, qui ad se rem detulerat. 23It was inquired into, and found out: and they were both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and recorded in the chronicles before the king.Si fecero perquisizioni, e la cosa fu messa in chiaro; e furono appesi ambedue ad un patibolo. E fu ciò registrato nelle storie, e posto negli annali in presenza del re.It was examined, and found: and they were both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and registred in the cronicles before the king.Quæsitum est, et inventum: et appensus est uterque eorum in patibulo. Mandatumque est historiis, et annalibus traditum coram rege.