112 
ESTHER 
against us. Give me eloquent speech in my mouth, before the 
lion : turn his heart to hate him that fighteth against us: But 
deliver us with thine hand, and help me that am desolate. Thou 
knowest all things, O Lord; thou knowest that I hate the glory 
of the unrighteous, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised. 
Thou knowest my necessity: For I abhor the sign of my high 
estate, which is upon my head in the day wherein I shew myself, 
and that I wear it not when I am private by myself. O ! Thou 
mighty God, hear the voice of the forlorn, and deliver me out 
of my fear !” 
To this succeeds one of the most exquisite descriptions that 
ever was given of female loveliness; and in language equalling 
the beauty of its subject. 
“ And when she had ended her prayer, she laid away her 
mourning garments. And being gloriously adorned, she took 
two maids with her; and upon the one she leaned, as carrying 
herself daintily; and the other followed, bearing up her train. 
And she was ruddy through the perfection of her beauty, and 
her countenance was cheerful and amiable: but her heart was in 
anguish for fear. 
“ Then, having passed through all the doors, she stood before 
the king, who sat upon his royal throne, and was clothed with 
all his robes of majesty, all glittering with gold and precious 
stones; and he was very dreadful. Then lifting up his coun¬ 
tenance, that shone with majesty, he looked very fiercely upon 
her : and the queen fell down, and was pale, and fainted, and 
bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before her. 
Then God changed the spirit of the king into mildness, who in 
a fear leaped from his throne, and took her in his arms, till she 
came to herself again, and comforted her with loving words, and 
