"it fhould be granted her, even to the half of "his Kingdom." The Queen, encouraged by his courtefy, moft fubmiffively addressed him : "If I have found favour in thy fight, O King, "let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my requeft; I, and my people are fold, to be deftroyed, to be flain, and to perish." The King, wonderfully astonished, enquired, "Who is he? where is he? who thus prefumes ?** And Efther replies, The adverfary, the enemy, is this wicked "Haman." Haman was all confufion-fore afraid-The King arose from the Banquet in high wrath-walked out into the Palace Garden-Haman availed himself of the moment, fell down proftrate before the Queen, and while he was most earnestly suing for his life, the King walks back again into the Hall. He mifconftrued Haman's abasement and and fubmiffive pofture. To prevent aggravation, the Officers in waiting covered Haman's mouth, and and one of them, Harbonah, faid, "Behold the Gallows fifty Cubits high" Haman hath fet it up for Mordecai, and it ftands in the Court-yard of Haman. The King, inftantly replied: "Hang Haman thereon" The History informs us, that on the Gallows prepared for Mordecai they hanged Haman, and that the King's wrath was by this means pacified. The Method Mordecai took to make known the cruel defign and Plot of Haman, is highly curious and interefting; he cloathed himfelf in Sack-cloth and Afhes, and placed himself before the Palace-gate leading to the Queen's Appartment; Efther feeing him from the Windows, fent haftily to know the cause. Mordecai fent her Majefty word of Haman's intentions, and the Edict already iffued out from the King: he earnesly preffes her to go to Him and prevent its murderous Execution, the Queen names her great difficulty, and the danger fhe fhould run, but is over-perfuaded by the Arguments and the entreatry of her Uncle, one ftrong reafon among many others exceedingly ftruck her. She might have been raised to the Throne, even for this very purpose of faving her people. It was the established Law of Perfia to admit no one whatever into the Prefence-Chamber without a fùmmons, and leave firft obtained, the King ufually fat en-throned gorgeoufly arrayed a Golden Sceptre always by him, encompaffed with a body-guard armed each with a hatchet, to execute the 'commands of the Sovereign and butcher every one who fhould enter without Orders, unfefs the Golden Sceptre was held out to fave him. Hence arofe the diftrefs and dan self and all her fpent in devout ger of the Queen, but her own, native Sweetnefs, duty to her Uncle, and most of all affection for her People, overcame her own perfonal Safety and alarm. She now enjoins upon herMaidens, a three days faft and folemn Prayers to God, and at the end of them, arrayed in her most fplendid Attire, fhe intruded into the prefenceChamber and moft fubmiffively approached the Throne. Her heart here began to fail her; the King strangely agitated, his wonder and furprise alarmed her the more, the Queen fainted away, and is upheld wholly by her two Maidens the King was ftruck with grief and terror. He defcends from his Throne, full of Tenderness Pity and wonder; He keeps waving over her his Golden Sceptre, the token of fafety and protection, moft kindly He fooths, and careffes her, as as foon as the Queen had recovered, fhe gratefully thanks his Majefty, and folicits the honour of his company to the Banquet fhe had prepared, when the invitation was accepted, it almost always followed that the request there made, was fuccefsfully granted. These are the triking Anecdotes of this inftructive and entertaining Hiftory. Mordecai was advanced to the highest honours, he was in Rule and Authority the fecond in the Kingdom; he promoted all his Kindred to Pofts of Dignity and Emolument, and his Country-men were wealthy, and profperous. We learn from the Hiftory alfo, the Means Efther made use of, to procure fo much good to her Nation. Zeal and piety, devout approaches to God by fasting and prayer, and an anual Commemoration of fo happy an Event, a grateful offering of Praife and thanksgiving, by all the Jews throughout every City. The over-ruling Providence of God is fignally displayed, and the fure and certain means of acquiring his Favour. In a Synagogue of the Jews at Amadam in Perfia, are still fhewn the Tombs of Mordecai and Efther. |