Esther · Chapter 15

[ edit] Forſoþe þe þridde dai ſhe dide doun þe cloþis of hir enournyng, and hir owne glorie is don aboute. And whan wiþ þe kingis abite ſhe ſchyned, and inwardli hadde clepid þe Gouernour of alle þingus and ſauere God, ſhe toc two ſeruauntes, and vp on þe oon forſoþe ſhe lenede, as for delicis and ful myche tenderneſſe not ſuffrynde to bern hir owne bodi; þe toþer forſoþe of þe dameſelis folewede þe ladi, berende vp þe cloþys flowende doun in to þe erþe. She forſoþe þurȝſhed þe chere wiþ roſe colour, and freeli, and wiþ briȝte eȝen ſhe couerede þe dreri inwit, and drawe togidere wiþ ful myche drede.

Þanne ſhe gon in alle þe doris bi ordre, ſtod aȝen þe king, wher he ſat vp on þe ſee of his regne, cloþid wiþ kingus cloþis, and ſhinende wiþ gold and precious ſtones; and he was ferful in ſiȝte. And whan he hadde rerid vp þe face, and wiþ brennende eȝen þe wodneſſe of þe breſt hadde ſhewid, þe quen fel doun; and þe colour chaungid in to paleneſſe, þe weeri hed vpon þe hond maide ſhe bowide doun. And God turnede þe ſpirit of þe king in to debonerneſſe, and heeȝende and dredende he ſtirte out of þe ſee; and ſuſtenende hir wiþ his armys, to þe tyme ſhe turnede aȝeen to hirſelf, wiþ þeſe woordis gloſide, What haſt þou, Eſter?

I am þi broþer; wile þou not drede, þou ſhalt not die; forſoþe not for þee, but for alle þis lawe is ordeyned. Cum hider þanne, and touche þe kingus ȝerde. And whan ſhe heeld hir pes, he toc þe kingus ȝerde, and putte vp on hir necke, and kiſte hir, and ſeiþ, Whi to me ſpekiſt þou not? Þe whiche anſwerde, I ſaȝ þee, lord, as þe angil of God, and myn herte is diſturbid for drede of þi glorie; forſoþe, lord, þou art gretli merueilous, and þi face is ful of gracis. And whan he ſpac, eft ſhe fel doun, and uttirli ſwounede. Þe king forſoþe was diſturbid, and alle his myneſtris coumfortiden hym.

Þe ſaumple of þe epiſtil of king Artaxerſes, þat for þe Jewis he ſente to alle þe prouyncis of his reume; þe whiche and it is not had in Ebrue volume.