¹Et mandavit ei (haud dubium quin esset Mardochæus) ut ingrederetur ad regem,And he entrusted her (there was no question but that it was Mordecai) to go in to the king,et rogaret pro populo suo et pro patria sua.and to petition on behalf of her people and her native land.

¹Et mandavit ei (haud dubium quin esset Mardochæus) ut ingrederetur ad regem,And he entrusted her (there was no question but that it was Mordecai) to go in to the king,et rogaret pro populo suo et pro patria sua.and to petition on behalf of her people and her native land.

²Memorare,“Remember,”inquit,he said,dierum humilitatis tuæ,“the days of your lowliness,quomodo nutrita sis in manu mea,how you were nurtured as if in my hand,quia Aman secundus a rege locutus est contra nos in mortem:because Haman, who is second after the king, has spoken against us to death.

²Memorare,“Remember,”inquit,he said,dierum humilitatis tuæ,“the days of your lowliness,quomodo nutrita sis in manu mea,how you were nurtured as if in my hand,quia Aman secundus a rege locutus est contra nos in mortem:because Haman, who is second after the king, has spoken against us to death.

³et tu invoca Dominum,And you must call upon the Lord,et loquere regi pro nobis,and speak with the king on our behalf,et libera nos de morte.and free us from death.”

³et tu invoca Dominum,And you must call upon the Lord,et loquere regi pro nobis,and speak with the king on our behalf,et libera nos de morte.and free us from death.”

⁴Die autem tertio deposuit vestimenta ornatus sui,So, on the third day, she put away her ornate apparel,et circumdata est gloria sua.and surrounded herself with glory.

⁴Die autem tertio deposuit vestimenta ornatus sui,So, on the third day, she put away her ornate apparel,et circumdata est gloria sua.and surrounded herself with glory.

⁵Cumque regio fulgeret habitu,And when she was shining in a royal manner,et invocasset omnium rectoremand had called upon God,et salvatorem Deum,the Guide and Savior of all,assumpsit duas famulas,she took two maids with her.

⁵Cumque regio fulgeret habitu,And when she was shining in a royal manner,et invocasset omnium rectoremand had called upon God,et salvatorem Deum,the Guide and Savior of all,assumpsit duas famulas,she took two maids with her.

⁶et super unam quidem innitebatur,And she was leaning upon one of them, as if,quasi præ deliciis et nimia teneritudine corpus suum ferre non sustinens:out of delicateness and great tenderness, she were not able to bear carrying her own body.

⁶et super unam quidem innitebatur,And she was leaning upon one of them, as if,quasi præ deliciis et nimia teneritudine corpus suum ferre non sustinens:out of delicateness and great tenderness, she were not able to bear carrying her own body.

⁷altera autem famularum sequebatur dominam,And the other maid followed her lady,defluentia in humum indumenta sustentans.carrying her garment flowing on the ground.

⁷altera autem famularum sequebatur dominam,And the other maid followed her lady,defluentia in humum indumenta sustentans.carrying her garment flowing on the ground.

⁸Ipsa autem roseo colore vultum perfusa,Yet she had a rosy color pouring over her face,et gratis ac nitentibus oculis,for,tristem celabat animum,with gracious and bright eyes,et nimio timore contractum.she restrained a sorrowful soul and very great fear.

⁸Ipsa autem roseo colore vultum perfusa,Yet she had a rosy color pouring over her face,et gratis ac nitentibus oculis,for,tristem celabat animum,with gracious and bright eyes,et nimio timore contractum.she restrained a sorrowful soul and very great fear.

⁹Ingressa igitur cuncta per ordinem ostia,And so,stetit contra regem,entering hesitantly through a series of doors,ubi ille residebat super solium regni sui,she stood opposite the king,indutus vestibus regiis,where he sat upon his royal throne,auroque fulgens,clothed in royal robes,et pretiosis lapidibus:and shining with gold and precious stones.eratque terribilis aspectu.And he was terrible to behold.

⁹Ingressa igitur cuncta per ordinem ostia,And so,stetit contra regem,entering hesitantly through a series of doors,ubi ille residebat super solium regni sui,she stood opposite the king,indutus vestibus regiis,where he sat upon his royal throne,auroque fulgens,clothed in royal robes,et pretiosis lapidibus:and shining with gold and precious stones.eratque terribilis aspectu.And he was terrible to behold.

¹⁰Cumque elevasset faciem,And when he had lifted up his face,et ardentibus oculis furorem pectoris indicasset,and with burning eyes had shown the fury of his heart,regina corruit,the queen collapsed,et in pallorem colore mutato,and her color turned pale,lassum super ancillulam reclinavit caput.and she rested her exhausted head upon her handmaid.

¹⁰Cumque elevasset faciem,And when he had lifted up his face,et ardentibus oculis furorem pectoris indicasset,and with burning eyes had shown the fury of his heart,regina corruit,the queen collapsed,et in pallorem colore mutato,and her color turned pale,lassum super ancillulam reclinavit caput.and she rested her exhausted head upon her handmaid.

¹¹Convertitque Deus spiritum regis in mansuetudinem,And God changed the king’s spirit into gentleness;et festinusquickly and apprehensively,ac metuens exilivit de solio,he leapt from his throne,et sustentans eam ulnis suis donec rediret ad se,and lifting her up in his arms until she came to herself,his verbis blandiebatur:he coaxed her with these words:

¹¹Convertitque Deus spiritum regis in mansuetudinem,And God changed the king’s spirit into gentleness;et festinusquickly and apprehensively,ac metuens exilivit de solio,he leapt from his throne,et sustentans eam ulnis suis donec rediret ad se,and lifting her up in his arms until she came to herself,his verbis blandiebatur:he coaxed her with these words:

¹²Quid habes,“What is the matter,Esther?Esther?ego sum frater tuus:I am your brother,noli metuere.do not be afraid.

¹²Quid habes,“What is the matter,Esther?Esther?ego sum frater tuus:I am your brother,noli metuere.do not be afraid.

¹³Non morieris:You will not die.non enim pro te,For this law has not been established for you,sed pro omnibus hæc lex constituta est.but for all others.

¹³Non morieris:You will not die.non enim pro te,For this law has not been established for you,sed pro omnibus hæc lex constituta est.but for all others.

¹⁴Accede igitur,So approachet tange sceptrum.and touch the scepter.”

¹⁴Accede igitur,So approachet tange sceptrum.and touch the scepter.”

¹⁵Cumque illa reticeret,And since she remained silent,tulit auream virgam,he took the golden scepteret posuit super collum ejus,and placed it on her neck,et osculatus est eam,and he kissed heret ait:and said,Cur mihi non loqueris?“Why do you not speak to me?”

¹⁵Cumque illa reticeret,And since she remained silent,tulit auream virgam,he took the golden scepteret posuit super collum ejus,and placed it on her neck,et osculatus est eam,and he kissed heret ait:and said,Cur mihi non loqueris?“Why do you not speak to me?”

¹⁶Quæ respondit:She answered,Vidi te,“I saw you,domine,my lord,quasi angelum Dei,as an angel of God,et conturbatum est cor meum præ timore gloriæ tuæ.and my heart was disturbed for fear of your glory.

¹⁶Quæ respondit:She answered,Vidi te,“I saw you,domine,my lord,quasi angelum Dei,as an angel of God,et conturbatum est cor meum præ timore gloriæ tuæ.and my heart was disturbed for fear of your glory.

¹⁷Valde enim mirabilis es, domine, et facies tua plena est gratiarum.For you, my lord, are great and wonderful, and your face is full of grace.”

¹⁷Valde enim mirabilis es, domine, et facies tua plena est gratiarum.For you, my lord, are great and wonderful, and your face is full of grace.”

¹⁸Cumque loqueretur,And while she was speaking,rursus corruit,she collapsed again,et pene exanimata est.because she was out of breath.

¹⁸Cumque loqueretur,And while she was speaking,rursus corruit,she collapsed again,et pene exanimata est.because she was out of breath.

¹⁹Rex autem turbabatur,But the king was troubled,et omnes ministri ejus consolabantur eam.and all his servants consoled her.

¹⁹Rex autem turbabatur,But the king was troubled,et omnes ministri ejus consolabantur eam.and all his servants consoled her.