HESTER LIBER.
[KING AHASUERUS’ FEAST AND QUEEN VASHTI’S DEPOSITION (1:1–22)]
16455 16460 16465 16470 16475 16480 16485 16490 16495 16500 16505 16510 16515 16520 16525 16530 16535 16540 16545 16550 16555 16560 16565 16570 16575 16580	1372. Here may men loke who lykes to lere    of solace and of sorowyng also; How that this werld wuns ever in were    fro wo to wele, fro wele to wo; Of a rych kyng heyght Assuere,    and of his wyfes, for he had two. Both were thei qwenys by seson sere.    Qwene Vasti heyght that on of tho, That other Hester heyght;    and als lernyd men may loke, Aftur hyr name full ryght    this ys cald Hester Boke. 1373. This mater more to make in mynd,    this myghty man that I of meyne, Fro Ethiope unto grett Iend    was he kyng of all cuntré cleyne. He mad a fest, als folke may fynd,    of dukes, erles, and knytes kene, And bad that none suld leve behynd,    because he suld be soveran sene And knawn for kyng and prince    of castels, towre, and town. Sex score and sevyn provynce    were to his bedyng bown. 1374. And all he bad that thei suld be    ylk man in ther rychest arays At Susa, in his awn cyté,    for thor was purvayd his paylays. And to his kepers commawnd he    that his fest suld last faurty days With all ryches and ryalté    that any man couth poynt or prays. The chambers dyd thei dyght    so that noyght suld be sene Bot of gold burnyscht bryght    and pyrry couchyd full clene. 1375.  Ther bordes ware sett of sylver syne,    and trystes of the same ordand ere; Ther vessell all of gold full fyne    that any man to bord suld bere; And kokes that were in kechyn    of sylver and gold was all ther geyre. Ther was no wantyng of no wyn,    ne of no welth that lordes suld were. All maner of mynstralsy    wore thore them forto glad. Ther myght no man dyscrye    more myrth then thore was made. 1376. In this meyne tyme that I of tell,    Qweyne Vasty made full grett gedderyng Of all the lades that con dwell    abowt hyre nere, both old and yyng. And on the aghtyn day befell    that Assuer, this ryall kyng, Wold schew his myght thos men omell    and his power of erthly thyng. And of more myrth to meyne,    because sho was semly, He sentt aftur the qweyne    to glad that cumpany. 1377. Sevyn eunokes of his chambre chefe    that to lades that tym toke tent Wentt to the qweyn with wordes brefe    and sayd how the kyng for hyr sent. Sho toke yt gretly unto grefe    that swylke men on that errand wentt; For worthy lordes that were hyr leyfe    suld make sych message, so sho ment. Scho gart them wend agayn    withoutyn motyng more And say the kyng certayn    that sho myght not come thore. 1378. Swylke eunockes both north and south    ware wont then lades forto lede. Forto kepe ther counsayll wele thei couth    and no thyng speke bot that myght spede. And thei were ordand in ther yowth    that thei myght do no manly dede, Bot ever more meke and myld of mouth    servandes als maydyns for ther mede. The queyne toyght ther servyce    fell not for hyr degré, Whyls mony princes of price    ware in that same semlé. 1379. The kyng toke yt to grett dedyne    that his wyf wold not werke his wyll; And to princes he con hym pleyne    and bad thei suld take tent thertyll How that the qweyne so wold hyr feyne    his commawndment not to fulfyll, And that thei suld, or thei went theyne,    be wele avysyd of that same skyll And ordan them amang    what were best forto do; And were yt wele or wrang,    he wold assent therto. 1380. Thos princes, als the kyng purvayd,    assembled all into a halle, And thore ther resons thei arayd    for swylke a fare what suld befall. And all samyn to the kyng thei sayd:    “Ser, our assent say thee we sall: Us thynke this lake is not layd    to thee allon bot to us all; For swylk maters to move,    bot boyte be sett therin, Yt may be grett reprove    to us and all our kyn. 1381. “For yf this noyte were noysed in land,    yt suld make lades be more kene And noyght to be to ther husband    bowsom als thei are hath bene. Ther commawndmentes thei suld gayn stand    and sett exempyll of the qwene. And therfor, ser, we have ordand    that swylke maters no more be sene; And for this dede is demyd    so that thi qwene Vasty For hyr defawt be flemed    fere fro thi cumpany. 1382. “And then do crye in ylk cuntré    and byd all wemen to be bown To ther husbandes in all degré    to save his ryght and his renown. And sone do seke in ylke cyté    fayre maydyns both in feld and town, And chese on of them to thee    forto be qweyne and were the crowne, Qwylke thee thynke best wyll seme    a lades lyf to lede.” Evyn als tho princes con deme    gart he be doyn in dede.	learn; (t-note) exists; strife called Ahasuerus in various times Vashti Esther speak Ethiopia; India brave knights; (t-note) ordered seen as sovereign 127 provinces bidding obedient Susa palace; (t-note) (see note) appoint construct nothing precious stones tables; then trestles; are (t-note) cooks; kitchen; (t-note) gear lack; any wear entertainment same time her near; (t-note) eighth; (see note) among those men (t-note) beautiful (t-note) eunuchs ladies; took heed; (t-note) dear to her She made; go back arguing (t-note) ladies deed service renown; (t-note) assembly disdain; (t-note) (t-note) [the] princes; complain; (see note) take heed thereto shirk before they departed advised; happening good or bad (t-note) there their as one affront; directed alone unless solution trouble; widely known; (t-note) women; bold (t-note) obedient as they have been; (t-note) turn against follow (t-note) driven away far obedient soon choose wear ladylike life did advise he caused to happen in deed
[AHASUERUS SEEKS A NEW QUEEN, MARRIES ESTHER, A JEW (2:1–18)]
16585 16590 16595 16600 16605 16610 16615 16620 16625 16630	1383.  Thei soyght in towns to and fra,    and all fayre maydyns that thei fand To the kynges court thei gart them ga    to se who suld be qweyne ordand. In that same cyté of Susa    a gentyll Jew then was dwelland That manly durst no maystrays ma,    for paynyms law used all that land. The Bybyll tellys to us    this man that I of meyn Was named Mardochius,    that before bold had beyn. 1384.  Mardochius was dyght to dwell    als neghtbour nere to the kynges gate, And with hym wund a damsell,    his brother doyghtur leved o late. Hester scho heyght, os I herd tell;    of a fayrrer woman no man wate. Mardochyus meneys hym forto mell    yf sho myght stepe unto the qweynys astate. Rychly he hyr arayd    that wrschep forto wyn, And for hyr parte he purvayd,    so that sho was takyn in 1385. And ordand to be on of sevyn    that with the kyng suld ryse and rest, Of whom on suld be ordand evyn    with hym in fayth forto be fest. When he had purvayd them state and stevyn    ylkon abowt to be his gest, Als God wold send hyr helpe fro Hevyn,    Hester to luf hym lyked best. The other wentt home be deyne    bot hyr that hym was levere. Hester was crowned qweyne    and Vasty voyde forever. 1386. Mardocheus was full mery in mynd    when he hard how this fare fell in. He sent his frendes, als folke may fynd,    to say hyr how sho suld begyn, That sho suld noyght carpe of hyr kyned    that scho was comyn of Jewys kyn; For paynyms had lever had them pyned    then wytt that thei suld to welth wyn. The kyng made festes thre    with lordes and knyghtes keyne, And bad all folke suld be    bowand to his new qweyne.	fro; (t-note) found made them go (t-note) dwelling; (t-note) dared make no revolt; (t-note) against the pagan speak Mordecai lived left [to him] recently; (see note) Esther she was called knew intends; inquire; (t-note) adorned honor (t-note) married places and the right of speech straightway except her that he preferred (t-note) (t-note) speak of her kind; (t-note) of a Jewish family would rather; tortured know; they (Jews) three feasts; (see note) obedient (bowing)
[HAMAN SEEKS TO DESTROY THE JEWS (3:1–15)]
16635 16640 16645 16650 16655 16660 16665 16670 16675 16680	1387. The qweyne in lykyng leve we than    in ryall state so styll to stand, And of the kyng carpe, yf we can,    a farly fare that he furth fand. He had a stewerd, that heyght Aman,    that was leder of all his land; And what the kyng with wrschep wan,    all had he holly under hand. The kyng lufed hym so wele    his hert he con hym hete, And commawnd all men to knele    whore so thei suld hym mete, 1388. And that men suld hym honour ay    evyn als hymself in gud degré. And yt befell so on a day    Aman went so unto his meneye. Mardochyus satt evyn in his way    on benke whore he was wonnt to be. To Aman wold he no word say,    bot styll in sted evyn ther satt he. Aman for his behove    be that same way oft yode. Mardochyus wold not move    to hym nauder hat ne hode. 1389. So Aman noyes were ever new    for this same cause when he com thore. Sum enmyse that Mardochyus knew    sayd he and his kyn Jewys thei wore. When Aman wyst he was a Jew,    then was his malyse mekyll more And sayd full sone yt suld hym rew,    for he wold not fale hym before. He askyd leve of the kyng    all for Mardochius sake All Jews to draw and hyng    whore so men myght them take. 1390. Aman gart wrytt this ylke warrand    in all the hast that ever he may. The kyng yt seled with his awn hand,    and then Aman went fast his way. He sent letturs thrugh all that land    that all tho that lyfyd by the Jewys lay Sall com, als the kyng hath commawnd,    tyll Susa cyté a certan day. He bad both wyf and chyld    suld bow to this bydyng And thare gudes tame and wyld    befor feyt to the kyng.	joy speak Haman honor won promise always (t-note) company; (t-note) bench place; (t-note) went neither hat nor hood (i.e., he would not bow) Haman’s annoyance enemies much (t-note) bow before him hang caused to be written; warrant haste sealed (t-note) all their goods fetched
[MORDECAI SEEKS ESTHER’S HELP TO SAVE THE JEWS (4:1–17)]
16685 16690 16695 16700 16705 16710 16715	1391. When this word to the Jewys was went,    to Susa soyght man, wyf, and knave. Mardochyus herd then how thei ment;    for reuth he remed als he suld rave. For wele he saw he suld be shent    yf Aman so his hele myght have. Unto the qweyne softly he sentt    and prayd hyr help hyrselfe to save. He made hyr understand    and all the soth suppose How Aman had ordand    all hyr lynage to lose. 1392. So qwen the qweyne this consell kend,    scho syghyd sore with sympyll chere. This myschefe wold scho were mend,    bot sho wyst not on what manere. Hyr folke sho wold full fayn dyffend    so that thei myght lyf furth in fere, And hald hyr eme owt of ther hend,    forto be noyd was non so nere. Sho wyst wele of this thyng    was no counsayle to crave Bot thrugh helpe of the kyng,    and that was hard to have. 1393. Unto hyr eme sho sent in hy    that he suld take no grevance grett, Bot trest wele in God Allmighty    and thre days fast fro drynke and mette And pray to God all specially    Hym forto helpe owt of that hette. “And so sall my maydyns and I,    for so I trow gud grace to gette.” Thus dyd thei tho thre days,    and than withoutyn more Rychly sho hyr arays    to com the kyng before.	(t-note) ruth he cried out; be mad killed when; counsel knew very gladly together uncle; hands (t-note) haste food difficulty thereby I believe those adorns herself
[ESTHER SETS A FEAST FOR THE KING AND HAMAN (5:1–8)]
16720 16725 16730 16735 16740 16745 16750 16755 16760	1394. Als he was sett in solace sere    with other maysters full mony moo, In his presens sho con apeyre    full ferdly all of ferrom hym fro. He made hyr tokyns to come nere,    and when sho saw that he dyd so, Scho menskyd hym with full meré chere;    yt was solace to se them two. He sayd, “Welcom, my qweyne!    Thou comys sum thyng to crave. Say what thou wyll of meyne,    and, sertes, thou sall yt have.” 1395. “A, lord,” sho sayd, “and thi wyll be,    my myrth yt myght full mekyll amend And thou wold this day dyne with me    in lufly loge that I in lend, And byd Ser Aman com with thee,    that is chefe of thi counsell kend.” “My wyfe,” he says, “gladly wyll we.    For Aman sall we aftur send.” That fest was gudly grayd    with all gamys that myght glade. Sho toyght more then scho sayd,    bot mekyll myrth thei made. 1396.  The kyng come namly at the noyne,    and Aman, that grett favour feld. Sho welcomd them, yf thei were sone,    with all wrschep that scho couth weld. And when the dyner was all done,    the kyng unto his qweyn beheld And bad hyr boldly aske hyr boyne,    for he was bowne hyr forto beld. Sho sayd then to the kyng,    “My lord, be leve of thee, This day I aske nothyng    bot glad and blyth to be. 1397. “And ferrer, lord, now wold I frayn,    sen ye to speke hath graunt me space, That ye to morn wold come agayn    to dyne with me in this same place, And of Aman als I am fayn    that he playnly swylke power has. And, ser, then sall I say certayn    what myght me comforth in this case.” The kyng grauntes ylk dele    to fulfyll hyr entent. Sho wenes all sall be wele,    and so ther ways thei went.	lords did appear; (t-note) coldly; far from him signs (t-note) honored ask for if you desire it so; (t-note) If the beautiful home; live; (t-note) command well prepared entertainments reward comfort; (t-note) further (t-note) each part
[HAMAN PLANS MORDECAI’S DEATH (5:9–14)]
16765 16770 16775 16780 16785	1398. Syr Aman wele wytt may we    went home with mekyll pompe and pryd. He cald his wyfe and his meneye    and told unto them in that tyde How that ther was none bed bot he    at the qweynes burd with the kyng to byde, And on the morn how he suld be    in that same place sett them besyd. “And sen that thei do thus,    me thynke no fawte I fele Bot fals Merdochyus    that to me noyght wyll knele.” 1399. His wyfe says, “Sertes, yt is grett scorn    that he wyll not ryse of his sette. Bot, ser, lett ordan fast therforn:    sett up a tre both long and grette, And aske leve of the kyng at morn    that he be hanged or ever he ete. So sall his lyf by lyghtly lorn;    then may thou be mery at thi mete.” Than gart he grath men gang    and sone sett up a sperre Of fyfty cubbettes lang    Merdochius on to marre.	company asked table; (t-note) Except; (t-note) (t-note) gallows; (t-note) before he eats anything timber (gallows) cubits high; (t-note) kill
[THE KING DECIDES TO HONOR MORDECAI’S SERVICE (6:1–14; 2:19–23)]
16790 16795 16800 16805 16810 16815 16820 16825 16830 16835 16840 16845 16850 16855 16860	1400. Bot God, that hym His helpe hath heyght,    ordand that qwayntyse forto qwell. The kyng lay wakand all the nyght,    and of sere maters so con he mell. He bad servantes to sett up lyght    and cald a clerke that couth hym tell And forto rede in romans ryght    what ferlys in his tym befell. That clerke then sat redand    full mony poyntes of price, And in a sted he fand    whore wryttyn was on this wyse: 1401. “Two men that wold not byde for bale    thor be the way onys als thei wentt, Thei counsayld same and sayd, ‘We sall    gare slay the kyng be our assent.’ And on Merdocheus herd this tale,    all how thei of swylke maters ment. Unto the kyng he told yt hale,    and els he had bene shamly shent.” The kyng asked what reward    Mardocheus had here fore. The clerke saw noyght declared    be word ne wryttyng thore. 1402. By this was done, then was lyght day.    Ser Aman hoped to have his bone, And in he come the kyng to pray    that Mardocheus were hanged soyne. The kyng hym cald and bad hym say    what dede suld to that man be doyne That the kyng wold have wrschept all way:    “This wold I wytt with wordes foyne.” Aman thynkes, “That am I    that the kyng wyll wrscheped be. None is so wele worthy.”    Therfor thus ordand he. 1403. He says, “Lord, this sall be his mede    that the kyng wyll reverence with renown: He sall be cled in kynges wede    and crowned with a kynges crowne. He sall sytt on the kynges awn sted,    and the best bachelar sall be bown His brydyll bowsomly to lede    and crye with trumpeyttes thrugh all the towne: ‘Thus is the kynges wyll!    Whom he wyll wrschepe wele, That thus be done hym tyll    and all men unto hym knele!’” 1404. The kyng was of this purpase payd    and sayd, “Loke that thou tarry not lang, Bot sone thou loke all this geyre be grayd,    and take on of our stedes strang, And make Merdocheus be arayd    aftur thi wordes that noyght be wrang. And als thou hath assygned and sayd,    thiself sall be his brydyll gang. And when thou has done so,    to mete we sall go soyne.” Then was Aman full wo,    bot wyghtly was yt done. 1405. Mardocheus had grett mervell then    what all thier maters myght be meyne. Bot wele he toyght the ground began    of his cosyn, the kynges qweyne. Full sorely lett Ser Aman    be all ther dedes were doyne be deyne. Unto his howse wyghtly he wan,    and thor was sorowyng sadly seyne. Als thei so mornyng made,    on come hym to rehete And sayd the kyng abade    to he come to his mete.	promised scheme awake; (t-note) many; so did he think (see note) tales marvels reading (t-note) remain [loyal] due to evil there by the road (i.e., the gate) once together cause; (t-note) entirely otherwise; killed for this reward at once (t-note) done few (t-note) reward who clothes place; (t-note) young knights; bound humbly pleased (t-note) this material be gathered horses arrayed by his bridle go banquet these foundation [of them] passed until all these deeds mourning one [man]; comfort; (t-note) was waiting
[ESTHER’S SECOND BANQUET; HANAN EXPOSED AND KILLED (7:1–10)]
16865 16870 16875 16880 16885 16890 16895 16900 16905 16910 16915 16920 16925 16930	1406. Then went he furth with syghyng sore,    bot he behoved chaunge his sembland soyne. So when he come the kyng before,    he sayd his wyll was dewly doyne. Thei went to mete withoutyn more,    and mery mad the kyng that noyne. The qweyn, for hyr frendes wepand wore,    thynkes eftur mete to aske hyr boyne. Syr Aman thynkes hym shent,    no mete myght make hym glade, For he dowtes hym to hent    more harme then he yett hade. 1407. The qweyne was fayn them forto fyll    with alkyn bestes and fowls fyne, With spycery to spare or spyll;    and when the kyng was glade with wyne, The kyng sayd then the qweyn untyll,    “Wyf, aske of me oght that is myne, For half my kyngdom yf thou wyll!    Aske yt and yt sal be thine.” Then down to knese sho kneled    sum dele with drery mode, And sayd, “Lord, God yow yeld!    Me nedes none erthly gude. 1408. “Bot of this boyn beseke I thee:    his strengh to stroy and to gayn stand That wyll confownd my kyn and me    and stroy our lynag in this land.” The kyng askes, “What herlott is he    that swylke heghtnes dere take on hand?” Sho says, “Lord, yf thi lykyng be,    Ser Aman has this care cummand.” When the kyng herd this word,    yt merveld all his mode. He rayse up fro the burd    and into a garthyn he yode. 1409. Thore went he hym forto avyse    what ware to carpe in slyke a kynd. The qweyn seke on hyr bed sho lys,    for scho was moved all out of mynd. Ser Aman then full spedely spyse    how he myght any favour fynd. Before the qweyn he knelys and cryes    to pray hyr that he be not pynd. The kyng com in with that,    for greved both gull and grene, And sees whor Aman satt    at the bed besyd the qweyne. 1410. That moved hym more to tene that tyd,    bot Aman withdrew hym for drede. Unto the kyng another cryde,    “This day is doyne a dolefull dede: Aman has sett his howse besyd    a gebett, large of lengh and brede, Mardocheus ther with rewth to ryde.    Thus has he heyght, who wyll take hede.” The kyng asked other mo    yf he swylk maystrys meyve. Thei sayd all he dyd so    Mardocheus to myschefe. 1411. The kyng then cummand his meneye,    “Ser Aman tyte I byd yow take And hang hymself on that same tre    that he mad for Mardocheus sake.” Thei were full blyth yt suld so be,    and sone that maystry con thei make. And Jews that soyght to that cyté,    then mott thei wende to wynly wake. And qweyne was glad and blyth    with Merdocheus and mo. Thei thanked God oft sythe    that them had socurd soo.	(t-note) appearance quickly dutifully noon food; reward himself destroyed; (see note) worries he might suffer pleased (t-note) (t-note) pride dares (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) table garden he went consider say in such a situation fainting; she lies wonders executed yellow and green [with rage]; (t-note) (t-note) anger at that time a gallows  with grief to hang sworn intended; (t-note) (t-note) quickly glad journeyed; (t-note) may they go to merry festivities often times succored
[THE JEWS SAVED (8:1–10:3)]
16935 16940 16945 16950 16955	1412. Thus was his blyse all broyght in bale    that to Merdocheus mened full yll. His wyf and barnes, both grett and smale,    were flemed ferre for that same skyll. Hys howse and all his howshald hale    was gyfyn to the qweyne to weyld at wyll, And his tressour to tell be tale    to Jews that were spoled forto spyll. The wryttes that were enseled    at putt the Jews to payn, By wrytte thei were repelyd.    Then were tho folke ful fayn. 1413. So was fals Aman hanged at hame,    als he tyll other had yll ordand. Mardocheus was made in hys name    stewerd in his sted to stand. Thus whoso wyll the sakles shame    for any lordschep in this land, Apon themself sall fall the same    or wers. This may we wele understand. God graunt us grace to end    in luf and charité And all our myse to mend!    Amen. So mott yt be!	to sorrow intended children driven far away completely; (t-note) were given; wield; (t-note) plundered letters; officially made death repealed those people very glad (t-note) steward in his place innocent; (see note) worse (t-note) misdeeds to amend may