Liber Esther

In diebus Assueri, qui regnavit ab India usque Æthiopiam super centum viginti septem provincias,

In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty seven provinces:

In dies de Assuro, qui regna ab India usque Aethiopia super cento viginti septeme provincia,

quando sedit in solio regni sui, Susan civitas regni ejus exordium fuit.

When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.

Quando sede in solio de regno suo, Susan civitate de regno de illo exordio es.

Tertio igitur anno imperii sui fecit grande convivium cunctis principibus et pueris suis, fortissimis Persarum, et Medorum inclytis, et præfectis provinciarum coram se,

Now 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,

Tertio ergo anno de imperio suo fac grandi convivio cuncta principes et pueros suo, forti de Persas, et de Medios inclyta, et praefectos de provincias coram se,

ut ostenderet divitias gloriæ regni sui, ac magnitudinem atque jactantiam potentiæ suæ, multo tempore, centum videlicet et octoginta diebus.

That 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.

Ut ostende divitias de gloria de regno suo, et magnitudine et iactantia de potentia suo, multo tempore, cento videlicet et octoginta dies.

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.

And 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.

Cumque dies de convivio imple, invita omni populo, qui inveni es in Susan, ab magna usque ad minimo: et iube septeme die convivio praepara in vestibulo de horto, et de nemore quod regione cultu et manu consere es.

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.

And 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.

Et tentorias ex omni parte aerio de colore et de carbasinos et de hyacinthino pende, sustenta funes byssinas et purpurea, qui eburneos circulos insere es, et columnas marmoreos fulcie. Lectulos etiam aurea et argenteo, super pavimento smaragdino et pario sterne lapide, dispone es: quod mira varietate pictura decora.

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.

And 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.

Bibe autem qui invita es aurea poculos, et ad alio et alio vases de cibo infer. Vino etiam, ut magnificentia regia digna es, abunda, et praecipo pone.

Nec erat qui nolentes cogeret ad bibendum, sed sicut rex statuerat, præponens mensis singulos de principibus suis ut sumeret unusquisque quod vellet.

Neither 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.

Nec es qui ne vol coge ad bibe, sed sicut rege statue, praepone menses singulo de principes suo ut sume et unusquis quod vol.

Vasthi quoque regina fecit convivium feminarum in palatio, ubi rex Assuerus manere consueverat.

Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.

Vastho etiam regina fac convivio de feminas in palatio, ubi rege Assuero mane consuesce.

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,

Now 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,

Itaque die septimo, cum rege es hilariore, et post nimia potatione incalesce mero, praecipie Mauma, et Bazatha, et ad Harbonase, et Bagatha, et Abgatha, et Zethare, et Charchase, septeme eunucho qui in conspectu de illo ministra,

ut introducerent reginam Vasthi coram rege, posito super caput ejus diademate, ut ostenderet cunctis populis et principibus pulchritudinem illius: erat enim pulchra valde.

To 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.

Ut introduce regina de Vasthi coram rege, pone super capite de illo diademate, ut ostende cuncta ad populos et ad principes pulchritudine de illo: es nam pulcherrimo valde.

Quæ renuit, et ad regis imperium quod per eunuchos mandaverat, venire contempsit. Unde iratus rex, et nimio furore succensus,

But 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,

Que renue, et ad rege imperio quod per eunuchos manda, venire contemne. Unde irascor rege, et nimia furore succense,

interrogavit sapientes, qui ex more regio semper ei aderant, et illorum faciebat cuncta consilio, scientium leges, ac jura majorum

Asked 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:

Interroga sape, qui ex more regione semper ad illo ades, et de illos fac cuncta consilio, sci leges, et iures magna

(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):

(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:)

(Es autem primo et proximo, Charsena, et Sethare, et Admatha, et Tharsis, et Maris, et Marsana, et Mamuchase, septeme duce de Persas, et de Medios, qui vide facie de rege, et primo post illo reside sole es):

cui sententiæ Vasthi regina subjaceret, quæ Assueri regis imperium, quod per eunuchos mandaverat, facere noluisset.

What 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?

Ad que de sententia Vastho regina subiace, que de Assuro de rege imperio, quod per eunuchos manda, facere ne vol.

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.

And 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.

Et Mamuchase responde, audi rege et principes: non solo rege laede regina de Vasthi, sed et omni populos et principes qui es in cuncta provincias de rege de Assuro.

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.

For 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.

Sermone nam de regina egredior ad omni mulieres, ut contemne viros suo, et dic: rege Assuero iube ut regina de Vasthi intra ad illo, et illa ne vol.

Atque hoc exemplo omnes principum conjuges Persarum atque Medorum parvipendent imperia maritorum: unde regis justa est indignatio.

And 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.

Et hoc exemplo omni de principes coniunces de Persas et de Medios parvipende imperios de maritos: unde de rege iusto es indignatione.

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.

If 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.

Si ad te place, edicto egredior ab facie tuo, et scribe juxta lege de Persas et de Medios, quam praeteri illicito es, ut nequaquam ultra Vastho ingredior ad rege, sed regno de illo altero, que bono es illa, accipe.

Et hoc in omne (quod latissimum est) provinciarum tuarum divulgetur imperium, et cunctæ uxores, tam majorum quam minorum, deferant maritis suis honorem.

And 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.

Et hoc in omni (quod latere es) de provincias tuo divulga imperio, et cuncta uxores, tam magna quam minimo, defer mares suo honore.

Placuit consilium ejus regi et principibus: fecitque rex juxta consilium Mamuchan,

His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.

Consilio de illo place ad rege et ad principes: et rege fac juxta consilio Mamuchase,

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.

And 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.

Et mitte epistolas ad universa provincias de regno suo, ut omni gente audire et lege pote, diverso linguas et litteras, es viros principes et magna in domos suo: et hoc per cuncta populos divulga.