I
Long centuries ago, a mighty King
Enthron’d within his palace, gave command
To summon all the nobles of his realm,
And princes of his provinces, to feast
With him and keep high festival ; and there,
Till half a year had run its dazzling course,
The riches of his kingdom were display’d,
The honour of his brilliant majesty,
And afterward came all the city there
To share his kingly hospitality.
The marble pillars in the open space
Held lat’ral poles, circled with silver rings,
To which were loop’d by white and purple cords,
The rustling walls of blue, and white, and green ;
The ground was paved with marble newly plac’d
To please the eye, in yellow, white, and black ;
Couches of gold and silver were display’d,
And royal wines that all who wish’d might drink,
Were served in golden cups of many forms.
The Queen, meanwhile, with grace that charm’d her guests,
And queenly mien, the women entertain’d
Within the palace of her lord, the King,
When, lo, the seven chamberlains convey’d
To her the wanton King’s command to come
And show before the crowd intoxicate,
Her unveil’d beauty and her peerless charm.
And when th’ indignant Queen refus’d, the King
Turn’d pale with anger, and his temper rag’d.
Yet sought he counsel of the men call’d wise,
Who stood before the King, and one replied
That Vashti had wrought ill throughout the realm,
For all would tell the thing the Queen had done,
And wives would hold their husbands in contempt ;
The King should therefore issue his decree
That Vashti come no more before his face,
And one more worthy take her royal state,
And that throughout all provinces, the King’s
Command be sent; so should he right the wrong,
And Persia’s women render honour due.
This the King did, commanding that henceforth
In every home, the husband should bear rule.
II
His anger cool’d, too late the King took thought
Of stately Vashti and the iron law
Which he had made, and had no power to change.
Then some who held high place advis’d the King :-
” Let officers in every province go
And gather all the virgins young and fair,
And bring them unto Shushan to the house
The women have, let every pleasant thing
Be given to each, till, one excelling all,
Shall please the King and be his chosen Queen.”
This counsel pleased and so command was giv’n.
Within the city, Mordecai the Jew
His work pursu’d, and waited in his place.
Born in captivity, a child of high
Degree, he kept his faith and pride of race,
And with dear care brought up his uncle’s child, –
Her father and her mother both were dead,
And as she grew her beauty claim’d his thought.
But when the maidens came, from whom the King
A Queen should choose, he caus’d the op’ning bud
To bloom transplanted ‘midst the other flowers,
And charged her not to make her kindred known.
The chamberlain who had the care of all,
Gave Esther speedily all pleasant things,
And the best place in all the spacious pile ;
And seven maidens to obey her word.
Twelve months went by the while the maidens all,
According to the law for women there, were purifi’d,
– Six months with oil of myrrh, and other six
With odours sweet, and every Orient charm, –
And when the time arriv’d, so long desir’d,
One pleased the King beyond his utmost hope,
And Esther reigned as Queen in that great land.
To mark the day the King proclaim’d a feast,
Arrears of taxes cancell’d, made rich gifts,
And gladden’d all the people of his realm.
But two who held high place, in discontent
Conspiring to assassinate the King,
Were heard by Mordecai, who told the Queen ;
She, naming Mordecai, inform’d the King ;
And when the plot was prob’d, and treason found,
The men were hang’d, and record made of all.
III
There stood before the King an Agagite,
Descended from the Kings of Amalek,
Of Israel the foe implacable ;
Haman his name, who had been far advanc’d
Before all other princes of the realm,
And all with lowly reverence must bow
When Haman pass’d their way, for so the King
Had said. But Mordecai no reverence did.
Then Haman was inform’d ; and seeing it,
His wicked heart conceiv’d a dark design ;
Not Mordecai alone, but every soul
Of all his hated race, for that affront
Should pay the penalty of death. He judg’d
It certain that the King would do his will,
And casting lots to find th’ auspicious day,
With hurried steps he sought the King, and said,
” In every province scattered through thy realm,
There is a people sep’rate from the rest,
Their laws they keep, the King’s they disobey ;
To suffer them must bring the kingdom harm ;
Let it be written that they be destroy ‘d,
And I will bring vast treasure to thy store.”
This heard, the King drew off his signet ring,
And handing it to wicked Haman, said,
” The treasure all is thine, the people too,
To do with them as seemeth good to thee.”
In haste the royal scribes were call’d to write
The fell decree as Haman told it them ;
Wherein command was giv’n to slay the Jews,
The young and old, the babes and mothers too,
On one appointed day, and all their goods
And treasure take, as spoil and lawful prey.
By special messengers the law went forth
Through all the seven- and six-score provinces.
The King and Haman then sat down to drink,
But all the city had perplexity.
IV
Now Mordecai, with breaking heart, his robes
All torn, with sackcloth cover’d o’er, and head
With ashes strewn, went wailing to the midst
Of Shushan, crying there most bitterly.
Then came he to the palace gate, where none
Might enter if in sackcloth clad, and stayed.
Then Esther’s chamberlains and maidens came,
And told how Mordecai wail’d at the gate.
She sent him robes, and when he took them not,
She sent the chief of all her chamberlains
To him, with charge to bring her all the truth.
And Mordecai kept nothing back, but told
How Haman had occasion for his plot.
He sent a copy of the seal’d decree,
And charg’d the Queen to supplicate the King
To save the nation of his royal spouse.
And Esther heard it all, and sent again
To Mordecai, and said that every one
In all the land knew well the law of death,
For woman as for man, if any went
Uncall’d before the King, unless indeed
The King held forth the golden sceptre then ;
“And I,” she said, “these thirty days have not
Been call’d to enter in to see the King.”
Then Mordecai returned for answer, this : –
” Think not within thine heart because thou art
The Queen, thou shalt escape though all the Jews
Be slain. But if thou speakest not, relief
Will surely come some other way, but thou
Shalt perish, and thy father’s house. And who
Can say thou hast not been advanc’d as Queen
For such a time as this ? ” Then Esther bade
Them take her answer back : – ” Go now at once,
Assemble all the Jews at Shushan, let
Them fast for me three days, and night and day
Eat not nor drink ; my maidens here and I
Will also fast, then go I to the King,
Despite the law, and if I die, I die.”
Then Mordecai went on, and did her word.
V
Although the fast was long, more beautiful
Had Esther never look’d, than when she stood
Uncall’d and unannounc’d, in silence there,
Array’d in royal robes, before the King.
His heart embrac’d her, and to her he held
The golden sceptre that was in his hand.
Then Esther nearer drew, and touch’d the wand ;
And ” What wilt thou, my Queen, what thy request ? “
For ev’n to half the kingdom, thou may’st ask,”
He said ; and she : – ” O that it please the King
To come this day to me, and Hainan too,
For I, a royal banquet have prepar’d.”
” Let Haman come with haste at Esther’s wish.”
The King’s word ran, and so together came
They to the banquet of the Queen. The King
Again ask’d Esther her petition and request,
Protesting it should be perform’d, although
The Queen should half the kingdom ask. Then she,
” If I have favour found before my lord,
And if it please the King to grant my prayer,
O that my heart may my petition bring
To-morrow at a second banquet here,
With Haman present, and myself, and thee.”
As Haman homeward went, it seem’d his cup
Were all too small for all his joy ; but when
He saw that Mordecai, before the gate,
No honour gave him, neither stood nor mov’d,
His joy diminish’d, and his anger brew’d.
But yet he deem’d the honour done him, great,
And he would tell his friends the man he was ;
So calling them, he boasted of his wealth,
His family, his place exalted high
Above all other princes of the realm ;
And ev’n more, the Queen had summon’d him
Alone to share her banquet with the King,
And on the morrow look’d for him again ;
But all his brightness tarnish’d was, and dim,
While Mordecai the Jew sat in the gate.
Then all that company, his wife and friends,
Gave counsel that he make a gallows high,
Yea, threescore feet and ten, and let him ask
The King, thereon to hang the Jew. Then might
He merrily go in to Esther’s feast.
He pictur’d Mordecai as hanging there,
And forthwith caus’d the gallows to be made.
VI
Desired sleep that night fled from the King,
And he commanded that the chronicles
Of State be brought and read to him.
” Ah, what is this ! ” he said ; ” did Mordecai
Frustrate that dastard plot to take my life ?
What honour then, and dignity hath been
Conferred on him?” And when they answered, ” There
Is nothing done for him,” the King said, ” Who
Is in the Court ? ” Now Haman had come there
To ask the King to hang his enemy ;
And when the King knew Haman stood without,
” Let him come in,” he said ; so Haman came.
The King then asked him what ’twere right to do
To one the King would honour with delight.
And Haman, self-absorb’d, infatuate,
And certain that he was himself the man
The King would further honour, answer’d, ” For
The man the King delights to honour, let
There be royal apparel brought – the robes
The King himself doth wear – and let the King’s
Own horse be brought, and let the royal crown
Be brought to set upon his head, and let
The robes and horse be given to the hand
Of some most noble prince ; let him array
The man the King takes pleasure in, and lead
Him riding royally along the street,
Proclaiming as he leads, ‘ Thus is it done
Unto the man the King delights to honour ! ‘ “
” Make haste,” the King replied. ” Take thou the robes
And horse, as thou hast said, and do
It all thyself to Mordecai the Jew.
Let nothing fail of all that thou hast said.”
Then Haman took th’ apparel and the horse,
And Mordecai array ‘d, and led the horse
With Mordecai thereon, the crowded street
Along, proclaiming strangely as he went,
The King’s delight to honour him who rode.
When all was done, in haste went Haman home,
In heaviness of heart, with cover’d head,
And pitifully told his wife and friends ;
And these no comfort gave him, while they said,
” If Mordecai before whom thou hast now
Begun to fall, be of the Hebrew race,
Against him thou shalt not prevail ; before
Him shalt thou fall.” While yet they talk’d, came men
To hasten Haman to the feast prepar’d.
VII
To banquet with the Queen, again the King
And Haman came. And now the King with more
Anxiety and tenderness than he
Before had shown, desir’d the trembling Queen
To tell him her petition and request.
Then Esther said, ” If I have in thine eyes,
O King, some favour found, and if it please
The King, O let my life be granted me,
And let my people live at my request.
For we are sold to be destroy’d, yea, slain,
To perish from the earth ; and if as slaves
We had been sold, I could have held my peace,
But even then the damage to the King
The adversary could not compensate.”
Then in astonishment the King replied,
” But who is he, and where is he that durst
Presume to think this thing ? ” And Esther said,
” An adversary and an enemy,
This wicked Haman here.” Then Haman quail’d
Before them, and the King in wrath, arose,
And to the garden went, and Haman stood
And crav’d for very life before the Queen,
For he perceiv’d the King was hot with wrath.
In agonising pleading Haman fell
Upon the couch whereon Queen Esther lay,
And when the King came in and saw him there,
His anger blaz’d, and loudly he call’d out
” Will this man even force the Queen, before
Me, in this house ? ” The chamberlains rush’d in
And cover’d Haman’s face, and one then said,
” Behold the gallows high which Haman made
For Mordecai, who sav’d the King, stands now
At Haman’s house ! ” ” Hang him thereon,” he said.
They hang’d him on the gallows he had made
For Mordecai. This pacified the King.
VIII
The house of Haman now became the Queen’s,
And Esther told the King how Mordecai
Had brought her up, and what he was to her.
When Mordecai before him came, the King
Took off his ring which Haman had misus’d,
And gave to him.
And Esther yet again
Besought the King, low at his feet, with tears,
To save the Jews from pending massacre.
The despot, impotent to change a law
Once made, told Esther then and Mordecai
To use the royal power as they thought well ;
A law might by another law be met,
And countervailed.
In haste the scribes were call’d
To write the words which Mordecai pronounc’d,
Whereby all Jews, lieutenants, deputies,
Princes, and all authorities throughout
The realm, were giv’n to know the new decree
Which granted to the Jews in every place,
The King’s authority to arm themselves
And come together in defence of life ;
To slay and cause to perish from the earth,
All that in any place would do them harm ;
To take from them their spoil as lawful prey.
The day appointed was the self-same day
Decreed already for their massacre.
This new decree, in Shushan given out,
Was sent through every province of the realm.
In royal vesture rob’d, of blue and white,
Purple and linen fine, crown’d with a crown
Of gold, resplendent then was Mordecai,
As from the presence of the King he went.
The city Shushan shouted in its joy,
And all the Jews had honour, joy and light.
IX
The red day dawn’d, ah me ! the day was sad,
When both opposing laws might be obey’d ;
The Jews in strength assembl’d in their towns,
Prepar’d to slay the men who sought their hurt ;
That day the King’s lieutenants help’d the Jews,
Constrain’d by fear of mighty Mordecai ;
The sons of Haman, ten in number, fell,
And all who rose against the Jews were slain ;
No spoil was taken, none offenceless, slain.
That night when men reported to the King,
He told the Queen, and ask’d her further will.
Then Esther ask’d that when the morrow dawn’d,
The Jews in Shushan only, might have leave
Again, to slay their foes ; and Haman ‘s sons
Be on their father’s lofty gallows hang’d.
Ah, lovely Esther ! sad it were to say
This were a blot unseemly on thy fame ;
Whatever cause thou hadst for it, thy life
Was liv’d in days when Jesus had not come
To teach men magnanimity and love.
The day that follow’d, all the Jews rejoic’d,
Feasting and sending one another gifts,
Remembering especially the poor.
One day was in the villages observed,
In Susa where the palace was, the next;
And Mordecai and Esther now decreed
With words of gratitude, and peace, and truth,
That these two days should always be observ’d
With memory of their fastings, and their cry.
They call’d them days of Purim, from the name
Of Pur, the lot, which Haman cast, to find
Th’ auspicious day for his fell massacre.
X
Then Mordecai remain’d next to the King,
Advanc’d in greatness, great among the Jews,
Seeking their good, and speaking peace to all.
(Gerard Addington D Arcy Irvine)
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