¹In diebus Assueri,In the days of Artaxerxes,qui regnavit ab India usque Æthiopiam super centum viginti septem provincias,who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,

¹In diebus Assueri,In the days of Artaxerxes,qui regnavit ab India usque Æthiopiam super centum viginti septem provincias,who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,

²quando sedit in solio regni sui,when he sat on the throne of his kingdom,Susan civitas regni ejus exordium fuit.the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.

²quando sedit in solio regni sui,when he sat on the throne of his kingdom,Susan civitas regni ejus exordium fuit.the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.

³Tertio igitur anno imperii sui fecit grande convivium cunctis principibusAnd so,et pueris suis,in the third year of his reign,fortissimis Persarum,he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants,et Medorum inclytis,for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes,et præfectis provinciarum coram se,and for the rulers of the provinces before him,

³Tertio igitur anno imperii sui fecit grande convivium cunctis principibusAnd so,et pueris suis,in the third year of his reign,fortissimis Persarum,he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants,et Medorum inclytis,for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes,et præfectis provinciarum coram se,and for the rulers of the provinces before him,

⁴ut ostenderet divitias gloriæ regni sui,so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom,ac magnitudinemas well as its greatness,atque jactantiam potentiæ suæ,and so boast of his power,multo tempore,for a long time,centum videlicetnamely,et octoginta diebus.one hundred and eighty days.

⁴ut ostenderet divitias gloriæ regni sui,so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom,ac magnitudinemas well as its greatness,atque jactantiam potentiæ suæ,and so boast of his power,multo tempore,for a long time,centum videlicetnamely,et octoginta diebus.one hundred and eighty days.

⁵Cumque implerentur dies convivii, invitavit omnem populum,And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people,qui inventus est in Susan,who had been found in Susa,a maximo usque ad minimum:from the greatest even to the least,et jussit septem diebus convivium præparari in vestibulo horti,and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum,et nemoris quod regio cultu et manu consitum erat.which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.

⁵Cumque implerentur dies convivii, invitavit omnem populum,And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people,qui inventus est in Susan,who had been found in Susa,a maximo usque ad minimum:from the greatest even to the least,et jussit septem diebus convivium præparari in vestibulo horti,and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum,et nemoris quod regio cultu et manu consitum erat.which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.

⁶Et pendebant ex omni parte tentoria ærii coloris et carbasini ac hyacinthini,And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up,sustentata funibus byssinis atque purpureis,suspended by cords of linen and even purple,qui eburneis circulis inserti erant, et columnis marmoreis fulciebantur.which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns.Lectuli quoque aurei et argentei,The couches also, of gold and silver,super pavimentum smaragdino et pario stratum lapide, dispositi erant:had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels,quod mira varietate pictura decorabat.which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.

⁶Et pendebant ex omni parte tentoria ærii coloris et carbasini ac hyacinthini,And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up,sustentata funibus byssinis atque purpureis,suspended by cords of linen and even purple,qui eburneis circulis inserti erant, et columnis marmoreis fulciebantur.which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns.Lectuli quoque aurei et argentei,The couches also, of gold and silver,super pavimentum smaragdino et pario stratum lapide, dispositi erant:had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels,quod mira varietate pictura decorabat.which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.

⁷Bibebant autem qui invitati erant aureis poculis,Moreover,et aliis atque aliis vasis cibi inferebantur.those who had been invited drank from golden cups,Vinum quoque,and dishes of foods were brought in one after another.ut magnificentia regia dignum erat,Likewise,abundans,choice wine was presented in abundance,et præcipuum ponebatur.as was worthy of royal magnificence.

⁷Bibebant autem qui invitati erant aureis poculis,Moreover,et aliis atque aliis vasis cibi inferebantur.those who had been invited drank from golden cups,Vinum quoque,and dishes of foods were brought in one after another.ut magnificentia regia dignum erat,Likewise,abundans,choice wine was presented in abundance,et præcipuum ponebatur.as was worthy of royal magnificence.

⁸Nec erat qui nolentes cogeret ad bibendum,Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but,sed sicut rex statuerat,just as the king had appointed,præponens mensis singulos de principibus suis ut sumeret unusquisque quod vellet.one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.

⁸Nec erat qui nolentes cogeret ad bibendum,Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but,sed sicut rex statuerat,just as the king had appointed,præponens mensis singulos de principibus suis ut sumeret unusquisque quod vellet.one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.

⁹Vasthi quoque regina fecit convivium feminarum in palatio,Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women,ubi rex Assuerus manere consueverat.in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.

⁹Vasthi quoque regina fecit convivium feminarum in palatio,Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women,ubi rex Assuerus manere consueverat.in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.

¹⁰Itaque die septimo,And so, on the seventh day,cum rex esset hilarior,when the king was more cheerful,et post nimiam potationem incaluisset mero,and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine,præcepit Maumam,he ordered Mehuman,et Bazatha,and Biztha,et Harbona,and Harbona,et Bagatha,and Bigtha,et Abgatha,and Abagtha,et Zethar,and Zethar,et Charchas,and Charkas,septem eunuchis qui in conspectu ejus ministrabant,seven eunuchs who served in his presence,

¹⁰Itaque die septimo,And so, on the seventh day,cum rex esset hilarior,when the king was more cheerful,et post nimiam potationem incaluisset mero,and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine,præcepit Maumam,he ordered Mehuman,et Bazatha,and Biztha,et Harbona,and Harbona,et Bagatha,and Bigtha,et Abgatha,and Abagtha,et Zethar,and Zethar,et Charchas,and Charkas,septem eunuchis qui in conspectu ejus ministrabant,seven eunuchs who served in his presence,

¹¹ut introducerent reginam Vasthi coram rege,to bring in queen Vashti before the king,posito super caput ejus diademate,with the crown set upon her head,ut ostenderet cunctis populis et principibus pulchritudinem illius:to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders,erat enim pulchra valde.for she was very beautiful.

¹¹ut introducerent reginam Vasthi coram rege,to bring in queen Vashti before the king,posito super caput ejus diademate,with the crown set upon her head,ut ostenderet cunctis populis et principibus pulchritudinem illius:to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders,erat enim pulchra valde.for she was very beautiful.

¹²Quæ renuit,She refused,et ad regis imperium quod per eunuchos mandaverat,and she showed contempt towards the king’s command,venire contempsit.which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.Unde iratus rex,Whereupon the king,et nimio furore succensus,being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,

¹²Quæ renuit,She refused,et ad regis imperium quod per eunuchos mandaverat,and she showed contempt towards the king’s command,venire contempsit.which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.Unde iratus rex,Whereupon the king,et nimio furore succensus,being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,

¹³interrogavit sapientes,questioned the wise men,qui ex more regio semper ei aderant,who,et illorum faciebat cuncta consilio,according to royal custom were always near himscientium leges,and all he did was by their counsel,ac jura majorumwho knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,

¹³interrogavit sapientes,questioned the wise men,qui ex more regio semper ei aderant,who,et illorum faciebat cuncta consilio,according to royal custom were always near himscientium leges,and all he did was by their counsel,ac jura majorumwho knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,

¹⁴(erant autem primi et proximi, Charsena,(but first and foremost were Carshena,et Sethar,and Shethar,et Admatha,and Admatha,et Tharsis,and Tarshish,et Mares,and Meres,et Marsana,and Marsena,et Mamuchan,and Memucan,septem duces Persarum, atque Medorum,seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes,qui videbant faciem regis, et primi post eum residere soliti erant):who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him,)

¹⁴(erant autem primi et proximi, Charsena,(but first and foremost were Carshena,et Sethar,and Shethar,et Admatha,and Admatha,et Tharsis,and Tarshish,et Mares,and Meres,et Marsana,and Marsena,et Mamuchan,and Memucan,septem duces Persarum, atque Medorum,seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes,qui videbant faciem regis, et primi post eum residere soliti erant):who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him,)

¹⁵cui sententiæ Vasthi regina subjaceret,as to what sentence should fall upon Vashti the queen,quæ Assueri regis imperium,who had refused to do the commandment of king Artaxerxes,quod per eunuchos mandaverat, facere noluisset.which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.

¹⁵cui sententiæ Vasthi regina subjaceret,as to what sentence should fall upon Vashti the queen,quæ Assueri regis imperium,who had refused to do the commandment of king Artaxerxes,quod per eunuchos mandaverat, facere noluisset.which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.

¹⁶Responditque Mamuchan, audiente rege atque principibus:And Memucan answered, in the hearing of the king as well as the rulers,Non solum regem læsit regina Vasthi,“Queen Vashti has wounded not only the king,sed et omnes populos et principes qui sunt in cunctis provinciis regis Assueri.but also all the people and the leaders, who are in all the provinces of king Artaxerxes.

¹⁶Responditque Mamuchan, audiente rege atque principibus:And Memucan answered, in the hearing of the king as well as the rulers,Non solum regem læsit regina Vasthi,“Queen Vashti has wounded not only the king,sed et omnes populos et principes qui sunt in cunctis provinciis regis Assueri.but also all the people and the leaders, who are in all the provinces of king Artaxerxes.

¹⁷Egredietur enim sermo reginæ ad omnes mulieres,For word about the queen will go out to all the women,ut contemnant viros suos,so that they will show contempt for their husbands,et dicant:and they will say,Rex Assuerus jussit ut regina Vasthi intraret ad eum,‘King Artaxerxes ordered that queen Vashti should enter before him,et illa noluit.and she would not.’

¹⁷Egredietur enim sermo reginæ ad omnes mulieres,For word about the queen will go out to all the women,ut contemnant viros suos,so that they will show contempt for their husbands,et dicant:and they will say,Rex Assuerus jussit ut regina Vasthi intraret ad eum,‘King Artaxerxes ordered that queen Vashti should enter before him,et illa noluit.and she would not.’

¹⁸Atque hoc exemplo omnes principum conjuges Persarum atque Medorum parvipendent imperia maritorum:And so, by this example all the wives of the leaders of the Persians and the Medes will belittle the authority of their husbands;unde regis justa est indignatio.therefore, the indignation of the king is just.

¹⁸Atque hoc exemplo omnes principum conjuges Persarum atque Medorum parvipendent imperia maritorum:And so, by this example all the wives of the leaders of the Persians and the Medes will belittle the authority of their husbands;unde regis justa est indignatio.therefore, the indignation of the king is just.

¹⁹Si tibi placet,If it pleases you,egrediatur edictum a facie tua,let an edict be sent out from your presence,et scribatur juxta legem Persarum atque Medorum,and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and the Medes,quam præteriri illicitum est,which it is forbidden to disregard,ut nequaquam ultra Vasthi ingrediatur ad regem,that Vashti shall no longer enter before the king,sed regnum illius altera,but let another,quæ melior est illa,who is better than her,accipiat.receive her queenship.

¹⁹Si tibi placet,If it pleases you,egrediatur edictum a facie tua,let an edict be sent out from your presence,et scribatur juxta legem Persarum atque Medorum,and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and the Medes,quam præteriri illicitum est,which it is forbidden to disregard,ut nequaquam ultra Vasthi ingrediatur ad regem,that Vashti shall no longer enter before the king,sed regnum illius altera,but let another,quæ melior est illa,who is better than her,accipiat.receive her queenship.

²⁰Et hoc in omne (quod latissimum est) provinciarum tuarum divulgetur imperium,And let this be published in all the provinces of your empire, (which is very wide,)et cunctæ uxores,and let all wives,tam majorum quam minorum,the greater as much as the lesser,deferant maritis suis honorem.give honor to their husbands.”

²⁰Et hoc in omne (quod latissimum est) provinciarum tuarum divulgetur imperium,And let this be published in all the provinces of your empire, (which is very wide,)et cunctæ uxores,and let all wives,tam majorum quam minorum,the greater as much as the lesser,deferant maritis suis honorem.give honor to their husbands.”

²¹Placuit consilium ejus regi et principibus:His counsel pleased the king and the rulers,fecitque rex juxta consilium Mamuchan,and the king acted according to the counsel of Memucan,

²¹Placuit consilium ejus regi et principibus:His counsel pleased the king and the rulers,fecitque rex juxta consilium Mamuchan,and the king acted according to the counsel of Memucan,

²²et misit epistolas ad universas provincias regni sui,and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom,ut quæque gens audire et legere poterat,so that every nation was able to hear and to read,diversis linguis et litteris,in various languages and letters,esse viros principes ac majores in domibus suis:that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses,et hoc per cunctos populos divulgari.and that this should be published to every people.

²²et misit epistolas ad universas provincias regni sui,and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom,ut quæque gens audire et legere poterat,so that every nation was able to hear and to read,diversis linguis et litteris,in various languages and letters,esse viros principes ac majores in domibus suis:that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses,et hoc per cunctos populos divulgari.and that this should be published to every people.