Esther standing in the kings sight he calleth her, 4. she requesteth that he and Aman wil dine with her. 7. Againe she inuiteth them. 9. Aman is more incensed against Mardocheus, prepareth high gallowes to hang him on.
1And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s hall: now he sat upon his throne in the hall of the palace, over against the door of the house.Il terzo giorno si vestì Esther del manto reale, e andò nell'atrio interiore dell'appartamento del re, e si fermò dirimpetto alla sala del re. Egli era assiso sul suo trono nel fondo del palazzo dirimpetto alla porta della sala.AND the third day Esther put on royal garmentes, and stood in the court of the kings house, which was the inner agaynst the kings hal: but he sate vpon his throne in the consistorie of the palace, against the doore of the house.Die autem tertio induta est Esther regalibus vestimentis, et stetit in atrio domus regiæ, quod erat interius, contra basilicam regis: at ille sedebat super solium suum in consistorio palatii contra ostium domus. 2And when he saw Esther the queen standing, she pleased his eyes, and he held out toward her the golden sceptre, which he held in his hand and she drew near, and kissed the top of his sceptre.Or quando egli ebbe veduta la regina Esther, che si era soffermata, ella piacque a' suoi occhi, e le presentò il bastone di oro, che aveva in mano; ed ella si appressò, e baciò la punta del bastone.And when he had seene Esther the queene standing, she pleased his eies, and he put forth toward her the golden rod, which he held in his hand: who going neere, kissed the top of his rod.Cumque vidisset Esther reginam stantem, placuit oculis ejus, et extendit contra eam virgam auream, quam tenebat manu: quæ accedens, osculata est summitatem virgæ ejus. 3And the king said to her: What wilt thou, queen Esther? what is thy request? if thou shouldst even ask one half of the kingdom, it shall be given to thee.E dissele il re: Che vuoi tu, regina Esther? che domandi? Quand'anche tu chiedessi la metà del regno, ti sarà data.And the king said to her: What wilt thou queene Esther? what is thy request? yea if thou wilt aske the halfe part of the kingdom, it shal be geuen thee.Dixitque ad eam rex: Quid vis, Esther regina ? quæ est petitio tua ? etiam si dimidiam partem regni petieris, dabitur tibi. 4But she 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.Ed ella rispose: Se così piace al re, io supplico, che tu venga oggi da a me, al convito da me preparato, e teco Aman.But she answered: If it please the king, I beseech thee that thou come to me this day, and Aman with thee to a banket, which I haue prepared.At illa respondit: Si regi placet, obsecro ut venias ad me hodie, et Aman tecum, ad convivium quod paravi.
5And the king said forthwith: Call ye Aman quickly, that he may obey Esther’s will. So the king and Aman came to the banquet which the queen had prepared for them.E subito il re disse: Si chiami Aman, affinchè faccia quello, che Esther vuole. Così il re, e Aman andarono al convito preparato dalla regina.And the king forthwith, cal ye Aman, quoth he, quickly, that he may obey Esthers wil. The king therfore and Aman came to the banket, which the queene had prepared for them.Statimque rex: Vocate, inquit, cito Aman ut Esther obediat voluntati. Venerunt itaque rex et Aman ad convivium, quod eis regina paraverat. 6And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine plentifully: What dost thou desire should be given thee? and for what thing askest thou? although thou shouldst ask the half of my kingdom, thou shalt have it.E il re dopo che ebbe bevuto del vino in copia, le disse: Che vuoi tu ch'io ti faccia dare? e che domandi tu? è Quand'anche tu chiedessi la metà del mio regno, la otterrai.And the king said to her, after that he had drunke wine aboundantly. What doest thou desire to be geuen thee? and for what thing askest thou? although thou aske the half part of my kingdom, thou shalt obteyne.Dixitque ei rex, postquam vinum biberat abundanter: Quid petis ut detur tibi ? et pro qua re postulas ? etiam si dimidiam partem regni mei petieris, impetrabis. 7And Esther answered: My petition and request is this:Risposegli Esther: La mia domanda, e le mie preghiere son queste:To whom Esther answered: My petition, and requestes are these:Cui respondit Esther: Petitio mea, et preces sunt istæ: 8If I have found favour in the king’s sight, and if it please the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfil my petition: let the king and Aman come to the banquet which I have prepared them, and to morrow I will open my mind to the king.Se io ho trovato grazia dinanzi a te, e se al re piace di concedermi quello, ch'io domando, e di esaudire la mia preghiera, venga il re, e Aman al convito, che io ho lor preparato, e domane svelerò al re le mie brame.If I haue found grace in the kings sight, and if it please the king to geue that which I aske, and to fulfil my petition: let the king and Aman come to the banket, which I haue prepared them, and to morrow I wil open my wil to the king.si inveni in conspectu regis gratiam, et si regi placet ut det mihi quod postulo, et meam impleat petitionem: veniat rex et Aman ad convivium quod paravi eis, et cras aperiam regi voluntatem meam.
9So Aman went out that day joyful and merry. And when he saw Mardochai sitting before the gate of the palace, and that he not only did not rise up to honour him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was exceedingly angry:Se n'andò dunque quel giorno Aman lieto, e festante. Ma avendo veduto Mardocheo, che sedeva dinanzi alle porte del palazzo, e che non solamente non si era alzato per salutarlo, ma neppur si era mosso dal posto, ove sedeva, ne prese ira grande:Aman therfore went forth that day ioyful and merie. And when he had seene Mardocheus sitting before the doores of the palace, and not onlie not to haue risen vp to him, but not so much as to haue moued from the place where he sate, he was wrath excedingly:Egressus est itaque illo die Aman lætus et alacer. Cumque vidisset Mardochæum sedentem ante fores palatii, et non solum non assurrexisse sibi, sed nec motum quidem de loco sessionis suæ, indignatus est valde: 10But dissembling his anger, and returning into his house, he called together to him his friends, and Zares his wife:Ma dissimulando lo sdegno se ne tornò a casa sua, e convocò i suoi amici con Zares sua moglie:and dissembling his anger, and returning into his house, he called together vnto him his freindes, and Zares his wife:et dissimulata ira reversus in domum suam, convocavit ad se amicos suos, et Zares uxorem suam, 11And he declared to them the greatness of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and with how great glory the king had advanced him above all his princes and servants.E rammentò loro le sue grandi ricchezze, la turba de' figliuoli, e a quanta gloria lo avesse innalzato il re sopra tutti i principi, e cortigiani suoi.and he declared to them the greatnesse of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and with how great glorie the king had aduanced him aboue al his princes and seruantes.et exposuit illis magnitudinem divitiarum suarum, filiorumque turbam, et quanta eum gloria super omnes principes et servos suos rex elevasset. 12And after this he said: Queen Esther also hath invited no other to the banquet with the king, but me: and with her I am also to dine to morrow with the king:E poscia disse: Anche la regina Esther nissun altro ha chiamato col re al convito fuori di me, e da lei desinerò anche domani col re.And after these things he said. Queene Esther also hath called none other to the banket with the king, but me: with whom to morow also I shal dine with the king.Et post hæc ait: Regina quoque Esther nullum alium vocavit ad convivium cum rege præter me: apud quam etiam cras cum rege pransurus sum.
13And whereas I have all these things, I think I have nothing, so long as I see Mardochai the Jew sitting before the king’s gate.E contuttoché io mi abbia tante cose, non mi pare di aver nulla, fino a tanto che io vedrò il Giudeo Mardocheo a sedere dinanzi alla porta reale.And wheras I haue al these things, I thinke I haue nothing so long as I shal see Mardocheus the Iew sitting before the kings doores.Et cum hæc omnia habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochæum Judæum sedentem ante fores regias. 14Then Zares his wife, and the rest of his friends answered him: Order a great beam to be prepared, fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, that Mardochai may be hanged upon it, and so thou shalt go full of joy with the king to the banquet. The counsel pleased him, and he commanded a high gibbet to be prepared.Ma Zares sua moglie, e gli amici tutti gli risposero: Ordina che si ammannisca una gran trave alta cinquanta cubiti; e domattina di' al re, che sia fatto ad essa appiccar Mardocheo, e così andrai contento al convito. Piacque a lui questo consiglio, e ordinò, che fosse preparata la trave.And Zares his wife, & the rest of his frendes answered him: Cōmand a great beame to be prepared, hauing fiftie cubites in height, and speake in the morning to the king, that Mardocheus may be hanged vpon it, and so thou shalt goe ioyful with the king to the banket. The counsel pleased him, and he commanded an high gallowes to be prepared.Responderuntque ei Zares uxor ejus, et ceteri amici: Jube parari excelsam trabem, habentem altitudinis quinquaginta cubitos, et dic mane regi ut appendatur super eam Mardochæus, et sic ibis cum rege lætus ad convivium. Placuit ei consilium, et jussit excelsam parari crucem.
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Year of the World 3495.
Calmet
And. Instead of these two verses, the Septuagint place (Haydock) what we have [in] Esther 15., with some small variation from the present account in Hebrew. But there is nothing incompatible with the truth. (Calmet)
Tirinus
The king might be at first displeased; but, seeing the effect which it had upon Esther, he might feel his former sentiments of love rekindle. (Calmet) (Tirinus)
Calmet
House, or inner apartment, Esther 4:11. The throne was surprizingly magnificent, yet inferior to that of Solomon, 3 Kings 10:18. (Calmet)
It was formed of gold and precious stones, with a curtain over it of purple and other colours. (Athen. 11:2.)
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Calmet
Golden. "It is not this golden sceptre which saves the kingdom," said Cyrus, "but faithful friends are the most true and secure sceptre for kings." (Cyrop. viii.) (Calmet)
Haydock
Kissed. Hebrew, "touched." (Haydock)
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Kingdom. Esther 7:2. This compliment only (Calmet) meant, that every rational (Haydock) request should be granted, Mark. 6:23.
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Menochius
Prepared. It was not prudent to declare her request, when many improper persons were present; and Aman was not there. (Menochius)
Menochius
She thought that the hilarity, occasioned by innocent feasting, (Haydock) might be a means of obtaining more effectually what she wanted. (Menochius)
Worthington
If the prudence of this world suggest much address, why may not virtue employ the same arts for good purposes? Esther had to obtain two great points; to make the king retract his edict, and to abandon his favourite. She is afraid therefore of being too hasty, (Calmet) and invites the king again, to increase by this delay his desire of knowing her request, and that he might bind himself to grant it more effectually. (Worthington)
Tirinus
She invites Aman alone, who would thus be more envied by the other courtiers; (Lyranus) while she manifested an open dispostion, and disdained to accuse the absent. (Tirinus)
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Aelian
Wine. The Persians did not drink till the end of the feast, (as the Turks are said to do at present. Tavernier) when they fall upon wine without any moderation. (Aelian, Hist. 12:1.)
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Children. After military glory, this was deemed the greatest. The king sent presents yearly to those who had most children. (Herodotus 1:136.)
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Plut
But me. It was thought very singular, when Artaxerxes invited his own brothers. (Plut.)
Athen. i
But when he also admitted a foreigner, the nobility became jealous, as that honour was reserved for the king's relations. (Athen. i.)
Calmet
Dine, or feast. Only one meal was taken, (Herodotus 7:120.) and that in the evening. (Calmet)
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Haydock
Whereas. Septuagint, "all these things do not satisfy me, while I behold," etc. Such is the insatiable nature of ambition! (Haydock)
Menochius
Gate. He does not clearly mention that he wanted to be adored. (Menochius)
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Suetonius ix
High. This was to increase the shame. Hence Galba condemned a Roman citizen to be hung on a high white cross. (Suetonius ix.)
Calmet
The Jews formerly burned a man in effigy with a cross, pretending to do it in detestation of Aman, but in reality to deride our Saviour, till the emperors forbade the custom, Esther 9:21. (Calmet) (Just. and Theodos.) (Calmet)
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H
I ch. 15. v. 4.
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K
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This prudence in delaying to propose her petition, increased the kings desire to know it, moued him to promise more assuredly, & so bond him the more to accomplish it.
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sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin 1.25
… and the queen was afraid, and her colour changed as she fainted, and she bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before her;
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1. STETIT IN ATRIO DOMUS REGIAE, QUOD ERAT INTERIUS, CONTRA BASILICAM REGIS. Basilica hic vocatur aula regia; puta intimum regis cubiculum aulaeis pretiosis circumdatum, ubi erat aureus thronus, in quo rex considebat, auro gemmisque coruscans, habens aureum in manu sceptrum; Basilica enim Graece est domus regis; βασιλεύς enim est rex. Eadem etiam vocatur «consistorium palatii;» ita ex Dione, Philostrato, Apuleio et Aeschylo, Serario. In ea enim circa regem consistebant Principes et Palatini. Esther ergo non ingressa est hoc intimum regis cubiculum, sed atrium interius illi vicinum, ita ut a rege considente in intimo cubiculo per ostium videri posset. Sedebat enim rex «contra ostium domus.»
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2. CUMQUE VIDISSET ESTHER REGINAM STANTEM, PLACUIT OCULIS EJUS. Hic supplendum et anteponendum est ex cap. xv, vers. 9, regem primo aspectu furibundis et scintillantibus oculis aspexisse et terruisse Estherem, eo quod non vocata ad se accessisset: Estherem vero perculsam semel et iterum deliquium animae passam corruisse, mox regem accurrisse, et extenso in eam sceptro, illi blanditum fuisse, illamque sibi restituisse, de quibus dicendum cap. xv. ET EXTENDIT CONTRA EAM VIRGAM AUREAM, puta sceptrum aureum, quod manu gestabat, hac extensione significans suam erga ipsam clementiam et benevolentiam, ut tuto contra legem non vocata ad se accederet. Allegorice virga aurea est B. Virgo, per quam Deus toti humano generi offensus, eidem reconciliatus est, de qua Balaam vaticinatus est, Num. cap. xxiv, sub fine dicens: «Orietur stella (B. Virgo, quae vera Esther, et ἀστήρ) ex Jacob, et consurget virga de Israel, et percutiet duces Moab, vastabitque omnes filios Seth.» «Haec est, inquit B. Petrus Damianus, serm. De Assumpt. virga illa, qua retunduntur impetus adversantium daemoniorum, virga Aaron per quam fiunt et mirabilia. Baculum autem Crucis intelligi, quo non solum verberatus est, sed occisus ille insatiabilis homicida, qui mortibus hominum pascitur et nutritur. In Virgine virga, et baculo cruce miserorum spes et consolatio continetur, sicut sublimis Propheta clara voce declarat: Virga, ait, tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt.»
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6. ETIAMSI DIMIDIAM PARTEM REGNI MEI PETIERIS, IMPETRABIS. Liberalior Assuero fuit Deus in B. Virginem, qui eidem totam regni sui, puta coeli imperium, concessit. Unde Angeli ei quasi reginae suae accinuerunt Romae ad castellum S. Angeli: «Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia,» uti fusius alibi narravi. Illi enim quasi matri suae Christus nihil negare potest: quare summum Dei in homines post Verbum incarnatum beneficium est B. Virgo; hanc enim nobis dedit, ut per eam omnia ab ipso impetremus, ut ipsa nobis omnes clementiae, omnipotentiae et divinitatis thesauros aperiat omnesque gratias in eis reconditas elargiatur per filium suum.
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8. VENIAT REX ET AMAN AD CONVIVIUM QUOD PARAVI EIS. Graeca addunt Estherem causam invitationis addidisse, dicendo: «Dies mea insignis est hodie;» q. d. Hodie mihi festum est, ideoque laetandum et convivium instruendum; voco ergo regem, ut illud sua praesentia cohonestet. Prudenter Esther regem secundo invitavit ad convivium, ut in eo suam petitionem salutis Judaeorum regi exponeret. Primo, ut sensim regem magis in sui amorem accenderet, adeo ut nihil ei negare posset. Erat enim res ardua et perdifficilis petere a rege, ut suum edictum de nece Judaeorum jam latum et promulgatum, contra morem regum Persarum et Medorum, revocaret. Secundo, quia non audebat publice in tanta adstantium procerum turba id petere, eo quod ipsi dixissent legem latam ex more regum, revocari non posse. Secreto ergo in convivio a rege idipsum petiit et impetravit; secreto indicans se esse Judaeam, quod publice coram principibus facere fuisset periculosum. Tertio, solum Aman cum rege invitavit, ut eum in reliquorum Satraparum invidiam et odium induceret, ait Lyranus. Quarto, quia sciebat in convivio regem largiori potu exhilarandum, liberaliorem fore ad postulata concedenda. Sic etiamnum viri prudentes, cum quid ab aliquo duriore petunt, non mane, cum ex jejunio austerior est mens et vultus, sed post prandium et convivium, cum cum mero hilarem reddiderunt, flagitant et impetrant. Addunt aliqui, regibus Persarum in more fuisse, ut in convivio nil cuipiam negarent. Certe Herodotus libro nono scribit, apud Persas nefas esse regem quicquam abnuere in convivio, quod quotannis eo die quo rex creatus erat, instituere solebat.
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9. CUMQUE VIDISSET MARDOCHAEUM SEDENTEM ANTE FORES PALATII, ET NON SOLUM NON ASSURREXISSE SIBI, SED NEC MOTUM QUIDEM DE LOCO SESSIONIS SUAE, INDIGNATUS EST VALDE. Magnae hoc erat constantiae Mardochaei, quod Amano hosti scelestissimo toti genti Judaeorum exitium machinanti, ne quidem assurrexerit, ut suam in Deo fiduciam ostenderet, et Amano ipso facto superbiam suam et crudelitatem exprobraret.
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13. ET CUM HAEC OMNIA HABEAM, NIHIL ME HABERE PUTO, QUAMDIU VIDERO MARDOCHAEUM. Magis ergo te, o Aman, cruciat Mardochaeus, quam in ipsum crucies: nihil igitur habes sine Mardochaeo, quia Mardochaeus habet omnia, ideoque tu nihil. Jure exclamat S. Bernardus, lib. I De consider.: «Ambitio ambientium crux, quomodo omnes torquens, omnibus places? Nihil acerbius cruciat, nil molestius inquietat, nil tamen apud miseros mortales celebrius negotiis ejus,» et ser. IV De Ascens. «Iste est mons in quem ascendit Angelus, et diabolus factus.» Festive S. Anselmus, lib. De similit. cap. LXXVII, honorem comparat papilioni: «Sic, inquit, agunt illi, qui mundi hujus honores appetunt, quomodo pueri qui sequuntur papilionem. Papiliones enim, cum volant, tramitem rectum nunquam tenent: sed huc illucque se agitant; cum alicubi residere videantur, nec ibi diu morantur. Hos autem sequentes dum pueri capere volunt, cito post eos currere satagunt, et quia non ad suos pedes, sed ad papiliones intendunt, aliquando in foveam cadunt. Plerumque cum caute accedunt, et eos apprehendere tentant, papiliones avolant: quando eos apprehenderint, exultant de nihilo, quasi magnum quid fuerint adepti. Similiter faciunt, qui mundi hujus honores appetunt. Honores enim hujus mundi nunquam certam tenent viam, sed incestis diverticulis de uno ad alium transvolant.»
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14. JUSSIT EXCELSAM PARARI CRUCEM. Sed quam Mardochaeo parasti, o Aman, tibi ipsi fixisti. In illa enim mox suspenderis, juxta illud Eccli. capite xxvii, vers. 29: «Qui foveam fodit, incidet in eam, et qui statuit lapidem proximo, offendet in eo; et qui laqueum aliis ponit, peribit in illo.» Vide ibi dicta. Porro crucem potius quam rogum, gladium, aliudve tormentum parari jussit, quia crux apud Persas erat usitata, eratque ignominiosissima. Aliam causam ex Rabbinis dat Chaldaeus Manuscriptus, quem audi: «Dixit (Zares uxor ad Aman maritum): in ignem non poteris mittere Mardochaeum, quia liberatus est Abraham pater ejus ab eo. In aquis non poteris suffocare eum, quoniam liberati sunt ab eo Moyses et filii Israel. In lacum leonis non poteris immittere eum, quia liberatus est ab eo Daniel Propheta. Verumtamen faciant patibulum in altitudinem quinquaginta cubitorum, et mane dic Regi, ut suspendatur Mardochaeus super eum; quia in hoc nunquam probatus est unus ex his, qui liberetur in patibulo ligni.» Verum haec Rabbinici cerebri solita sunt figmenta.
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ANTIPA (ANTIPAS: FORMA CONTRATTA DI ANTIPATER, ἈΝΤΊΠΑΤΡΟΣ), JULIUS HERODES
Per divergenze di dettaglio nei confronti di Flavio Giuseppe (nome del marito di Erodiade, Erode-Filippo [Mc. 6, 17], età di Salome, motivo dell'uccisione) e per la somiglianza del racconto di Esth. 5, 6, M. Dibelius (Die urchristliche Überlieferung von Johannes dem Täufer, in Forschungen zur Rel. u. Lit. des A. u. N. Test., 15 [1911], pp. 123-29), e A. Loisy (Les évangiles synoptiques, …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.