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Esther - Jean Racine · Andromache

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  Speaker 1: Introduction Dramatist Personae am Prologue for Esther by Jean Racine.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Esther a tragedy founded on Holy
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  Speaker 1: Scripture by Jean Racine, translated by Robert Bruce Boswell introduction. Esther,
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  Speaker 1: the first of Racine's two Sacred Dramas, is a tragedy
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  Speaker 1: in the Aristotelian acceptance of the term as being concerned
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  Speaker 1: with a great and noble action and calculated to excite
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  Speaker 1: generous pity and fear, though the dew law is a
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  Speaker 1: happy one for the heroine and her compatriots. It was
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  Speaker 1: composed by Racine when he was in his fiftieth year,
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  Speaker 1: and acted at the Maison de Saint Cyr in sixteen
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  Speaker 1: eighty nine. The incidents are in strict accordance with the
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  Speaker 1: biblical narrative, but our poet was obliged to invent the
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  Speaker 1: character of Elizabeth in order to furnish Esther with the
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  Speaker 1: confidante deemed so indispensable in the French drama of the period.
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  Speaker 1: While Hydaspz is made to perform a similar office for Haman.
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  Speaker 1: Racine rejects the testimony of Herodotus to the purely monotheistic
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  Speaker 1: nature of the Persian religion. In this he has some
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  Speaker 1: ground for just vacation, but in representing the Persians as idolators,
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  Speaker 1: he is certainly wrong and probably mistaken also in identifying
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  Speaker 1: a Hazurus with Darius, son of hystaspez in Esther, Racine,
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  Speaker 1: for the first time introduces a chorus, as in the
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  Speaker 1: ancient Greek drama, whose songs set to music by Moreau,
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  Speaker 1: gratefully relieve the monotony of the somewhat stilted dialogue. The
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  Speaker 1: unity of place is moreover observed less rigidly than usual,
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  Speaker 1: a change of scene, though still within the limits of
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  Speaker 1: the Royal palace, accompanying the rise of the curtain. For
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  Speaker 1: each of the three acts, durmusis personae Ahazurus, King of.
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  Speaker 2: Persia, read by alg peg Esther.
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  Speaker 1: Queen of Persia read by shrimp Fish. Mordecai, Esther's uncle
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  Speaker 1: read by Alam Mapstone Hamman, favorite of Ahazarus.
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  Speaker 3: Read by zach Martin.
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  Speaker 1: Zeresh Hammann's wife read by and Kel Hydaspez Chamberlain of
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  Speaker 1: the Inner Palace.
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  Speaker 4: Read by Greg Gardaro.
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  Speaker 1: Assaf another of the King's officers read by b.
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  Speaker 5: Swets Ken.
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  Speaker 1: Elizabeth Confidential, Friend of.
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  Speaker 6: Esther read by Sonali, a Jewish.
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  Speaker 7: Maiden ready as Robert Bear.
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  Speaker 1: Another maiden read by Inkel. Another maiden read by Jesse Percival.
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  Speaker 1: One of the youngest Jewish maidens read by Uponzelina. Stage
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  Speaker 1: directions read by Larry Wilson. The scene is laid in
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  Speaker 1: Shushan in the King's Palace. The prologue is spoken by Piety.
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  Speaker 1: Prologue from the Divine Creator's blessed abode I to this
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  Speaker 1: dwelling place of grace descent, which innocence, my constant comrade
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  Speaker 1: haunts and finds no shorer refuge neath the skies. Here,
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  Speaker 1: far from tumult by my hand, is four formed in
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  Speaker 1: holiest offices, arising race. I nourish in their hearts the
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  Speaker 1: fruitful seed of virtues that may sanctify the world. A King,
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  Speaker 1: my guardian, a victorious king, has trusted to my care
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  Speaker 1: this precious charge.
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  Speaker 2: Tis.
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  Speaker 1: He has gathered here these timid doves else widely scattered
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  Speaker 1: without help or guides, raising this palace at his gates
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  Speaker 1: for them. He bids them find peace and abundance here,
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  Speaker 1: Great God, forget not thou this pious work. Let all
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  Speaker 1: the care he for thy glory takes be graven by
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  Speaker 1: Thy hand. Within the book where the predestined as of
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  Speaker 1: kings beloved of Heaven are written. Ever dost thou hear me,
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  Speaker 1: Am I not piety, thy daughter dear, whose voice thou knowest,
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  Speaker 1: And this King's warm vows I bear, And from the
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  Speaker 1: altar of Thy love kindle his heart the fervent zeal
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  Speaker 1: that burns his soul with a consuming fire. For THEE
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  Speaker 1: is spread from east to west. Thou seest him daily
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  Speaker 1: before THEE bow his crownhead head in worship, and by
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  Speaker 1: his august example, confounding pride, adore Thy sacred threshold of
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  Speaker 1: all earthpollochs. He alone maintains Thy quarrel and inspired with
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  Speaker 1: holy ardor fights for Thine honor. Jealousy and greed conspire
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  Speaker 1: against THEE. For foul heresy, contending discord rages everywhere all
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  Speaker 1: as it seems forsake Thy holy standards, and Hell, with
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  Speaker 1: dismal damps enshrouding all, has cast its darkness over Saintlius eyes.
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  Speaker 1: He only grounded upon faith unchanging with ready eye and
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  Speaker 1: ear seeks nought. But thee and vanquishing the fiends of
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  Speaker 1: ain subtlety sustains the entire fabric of religion. Judge thine
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  Speaker 1: own calls, Great God, make bear today thine arm, that
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  Speaker 1: self same arm which fought for him, when the Rhine
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  Speaker 1: saw so many times dispersed the armies of the nations
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  Speaker 1: that had sworn to crush him. Those same foes, in
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  Speaker 1: proud defiants, come to meet shipwreck on the rocks before
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  Speaker 1: found faithal Everywhere, firm barriers burst forth from their ruined forts.
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  Speaker 1: They swarm across his borders. Thou hast given him a
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  Speaker 1: son ready to fight to aid obey command, a son whom,
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  Speaker 1: like himself, conquest attends his highest aim to gain his
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  Speaker 1: father's heart, A son whose love submits to all his wishes,
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  Speaker 1: the terror and despair of all his foes, worthy to
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  Speaker 1: rank with those heroic souls. Thy justice sends, the king says, go.
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  Speaker 1: He springs forward with joy. His vengeance falls like lightning,
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  Speaker 1: and he returns calmly to lay the spoils down at
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  Speaker 1: his feet. But while a mighty monarch thus rights my wrongs,
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  Speaker 1: you who here taste delights so pure if he permits
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  Speaker 1: a moment's rest to his brave heart. Call to your
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  Speaker 1: blameless pastime. This hero, Esther's glorious history enacts and impious
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  Speaker 1: whiles by faith subdued and ye for whom wild passions
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  Speaker 1: have a charm, kindle by fictions frivolous and vain, who
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  Speaker 1: love profane and pagan's spectacles whose ears are not attuned
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  Speaker 1: to solemn words. The sacred joy's I bring are not
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  Speaker 1: for you, fly for all. Here breathes God and peace
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  Speaker 1: and truth. End of introduction. Dramatists Personai and prologue read
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  Speaker 1: by Alan Mapstone in Oxford, England.
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  Speaker 8: Act one of Esther by Jean Racine, translated by Robert
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  Speaker 8: Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
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  Speaker 8: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
• 10:57
  Speaker 8: please visit LibriVox dot org. Esther a tragedy founded on
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  Speaker 8: Holy Scripture. Act one seen Esther's Chamber. Scene one Esther Elizabeth.
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  Speaker 9: Ist Thou Elizabeth thrice, Happy day, blessed be Heaven, that
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  Speaker 9: to my prayer's restores the friend of earliest years like me,
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  Speaker 9: a daughter of Benjamin who galled by the same yoke
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  Speaker 9: of dire oppression, mourned with me the woes of captured Zion. Ah,
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  Speaker 9: how memory dwells still fondly on the visions of the past.
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  Speaker 9: But thou thine Esther's glory, dost thou know? Six months
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  Speaker 9: and more has searched for thee been made. What climb?
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  Speaker 9: What desert so remote could hide thee?
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  Speaker 6: Stricken with grief at rumors of thy death. I lived
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  Speaker 6: alive apart from all mankind, and waited only for that
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  Speaker 6: life of sadness to end. When suddenly a prophet speak
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  Speaker 6: too long, hast thou bewailed the loss of one who
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  Speaker 6: yet survives. Rise, take thy way to shushan. There shalt
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  Speaker 6: thou see the object of thy tears. Seated in pomp
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  Speaker 6: and honor on a throne. Zion said, he comfort die
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  Speaker 6: demit tribes the pay draw's knife. When the Lord, God
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  Speaker 6: of Hosts shall make the might of his strong arm appear,
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  Speaker 6: for he has heard his people's cry for help, he spake,
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  Speaker 6: and I, with joy and wonder moved set off in
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  Speaker 6: haste found entrance to this palace, and see a spectacle
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  Speaker 6: that forced mine eyes with admiration, worthy of the arm
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  Speaker 6: that saved our father's proud Ahasuerus, his captive crowns and
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  Speaker 6: falls before the feet of a fat jewess. Ah, what
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  Speaker 6: secrets rings? Has Heaven accomplished this unhoped for triumph?
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  Speaker 9: Thou mayest have heard the well known story told of
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  Speaker 9: haughty Vashti's fall, whose place I fill. When Persia's king,
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  Speaker 9: inflamed with sore displeasure, banished the queen both from his
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  Speaker 9: throne and bed, but could not drive her from his thoughts.
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  Speaker 9: So soon long Vashtie reigned in his offended soul. Then
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  Speaker 9: must their search be made through all his realms for
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  Speaker 9: some new object that might wean him from her From
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  Speaker 9: end to Hellespont his slaves went forth. Daughters of Egypt
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  Speaker 9: showed themselves at Shushan E'n. The wild Scythian and the
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  Speaker 9: Parthians sent their maidens to contend for Beauty's prize, the scepter.
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  Speaker 9: I was being then brought up in secret under the wise,
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  Speaker 9: watchful eyes of Mordecai, to whom I owe so much,
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  Speaker 9: when by the stroke of death I lost my parents,
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  Speaker 9: to me his brother's offspring, he supplied the place of
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  Speaker 9: father and of mother too. The Jews were then a
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  Speaker 9: sore vexed night and day, he drew me out of
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  Speaker 9: my obscurity and their deliverance to my feeble hands. Confiding
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  Speaker 9: he possessed me with the hope of empire. Trembling, I
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  Speaker 9: obeyed his will. Hither I came, but hid my race
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  Speaker 9: and country. Who could recount the jealousies and plots hatched
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  Speaker 9: by the multitude of rivals Here, who, all disputing for
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  Speaker 9: so high a favor, waited their sentence at the monarch's eyes.
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  Speaker 9: Each had supporters, each a powerful faction. One boasted the
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  Speaker 9: advantages of birth, another borrowed help from skillful hands to
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  Speaker 9: deck herself in robes magnificent. But I placed all my
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  Speaker 9: trust in Heaven's support. My only art, the sacrifice of tears.
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  Speaker 9: At last to me, the summons of the king came,
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  Speaker 9: and before his presence I appeared. God holds the hearts
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  Speaker 9: of monarchs in his hands. He brings prosperity to guileless souls,
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  Speaker 9: while in their schemes of pride the wicked fall entrapped.
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  Speaker 9: My feeble charms appeared to move the king in thoughtful silence.
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  Speaker 9: Long he gazed, and Heaven that turned the balance in
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  Speaker 9: my favor, worked doubtless on his heart, the while at
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  Speaker 9: length with eyes wherein a look of kindness reigned. Be thou,
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  Speaker 9: my queen, he said, And therewithal with his own hand
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  Speaker 9: upon my brow he placed his diadem. Then he, to
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  Speaker 9: show his joy, loaded the great ones of his court
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  Speaker 9: with gifts, and throughout all his realms his bounty, bade
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  Speaker 9: his subjects to the royal marriage feast during those days
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  Speaker 9: of jocund mirth alas what secret shame and grief within me? Burned? Ester? Said?
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  Speaker 9: I Ester is clad in robes of state, and half
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  Speaker 9: the world obeys her scepter. While the grass grows over
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  Speaker 9: the walls of Salem Zion, the haunt of unclean reptiles,
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  Speaker 9: sees her holy temple scattered heaps of stones, and seized
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  Speaker 9: the festivals of Israel's God.
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  Speaker 6: Hast thou not told thy sorrow to the king.
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  Speaker 9: Until this day? He knows not who I am, he
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  Speaker 9: by whom under heaven my fate is ruled forbids me.
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  Speaker 9: Yet the secret to reveal.
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  Speaker 6: Is Mordicai allowed an entrance here.
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  Speaker 9: His love for me sharpens his wit. Though absent, I
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  Speaker 9: ask his counsel, and his wise replies find countless ways
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  Speaker 9: and means to reach mine ears. No father, for the
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  Speaker 9: welfare of his child has more concern. Already warned in
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  Speaker 9: secret by him, I to the king made known a
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  Speaker 9: plot formed by two household slaves against his life. Meanwhile,
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  Speaker 9: my warm attachment to our tribe has filled this palace
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  Speaker 9: with young maids of Zion. They are tender flowers, beaten
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  Speaker 9: by the storms of life, transplanted to an alien clime.
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  Speaker 9: With me, apart from witnesses profane, I make their training
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  Speaker 9: my chief care and study. And hither, flying from the
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  Speaker 9: flattering court, sick a vain pomp, retired within myself, I
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  Speaker 9: come to kneel before Jehovah's feet and taste the bliss
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  Speaker 9: of self forgetfulness. But from the Persians I conceal their race.
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  Speaker 9: Now must I call them? Come, my children, Come urst
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  Speaker 9: my companions in captivity The patriarch Jacob's young posterity.
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  Speaker 8: Scene two Esther Elizabeth Corus, a Jewish maiden singing behind
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  Speaker 8: the stage.
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  Speaker 7: Sister whose invitation greens our ear.
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  Speaker 10: The pleasing accents. Will I know it is the.
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  Speaker 7: Queen, My sisters, Let us go. It is the Queen.
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  Speaker 7: We hear you calls us, let us hasten and draw near.
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  Speaker 8: All the chorus entering from different directions is the.
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  Speaker 10: Queen we hear.
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  Speaker 11: She calls us, Let us hasten and draw near.
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  Speaker 6: What an array of innocence and beauty before mine eyes
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  Speaker 6: gather from every side? What modesty and grace each countenance
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  Speaker 6: adorn all hail hope of a holy stock. May a
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  Speaker 6: pure aspirations mount to hen like the sweet smoke of incense.
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  Speaker 6: May our God regard you with a look of loving kindness.
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  Speaker 9: My children, sing one of those sacred songs. Wherewith so
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  Speaker 9: oft mingling your tears with mine, ye have lamented Zion's
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  Speaker 9: misery a Jewish maiden alone?
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  Speaker 7: Where is the light that over Salem shown the glory
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  Speaker 7: that the world admired of your Thou art? But dust
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  Speaker 7: that splendor nothing more than a sad memory of brightness?
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  Speaker 7: Go on, Zion, exalted once to Heaven's height, but now
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  Speaker 7: brought down to the abyss of hell. May dumbness my
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  Speaker 7: ingratitude requite if in my songs I e'er forget to
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  Speaker 7: tell till my last breath, what sorrows thee befell.
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  Speaker 11: Ye banks of Jordan, plains beloved of Heaven.
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  Speaker 7: Each fertile valley in each holy hell to.
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  Speaker 10: Which God's countless? What is fame hafgi.
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  Speaker 7: From our dear fatherland, sad exile?
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  Speaker 11: Still, this time of trouble?
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  Speaker 8: Shall we ne'er fulfill a Jewish maiden alone?
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  Speaker 7: When Zion? Shall I see thy ramparts raised, my lofty
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  Speaker 7: towers rebuilt in all their pride, by festal throngs pressing
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  Speaker 7: from every side. When shall I hear the God of
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  Speaker 7: Israel praised.
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  Speaker 11: Ye banks of Jordan, Plain's beloved of Heaven.
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  Speaker 7: Each fertile valley, in each holy hill, to.
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  Speaker 10: Which God's countless? What is fame hafgi.
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  Speaker 7: From our dear fatherland, sad exile?
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  Speaker 11: Still, this time of trouble, shall we ne'er fulfill?
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  Speaker 8: Scene three? As de Mordechaii Elizabeth the chorus, who.
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  Speaker 9: Dares thee sacred precincts to invade ist thou my father,
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  Speaker 9: see I Mordecai has that an angel of the Lord
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  Speaker 9: outspread his holy wing to hide THEE, while he guided
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  Speaker 9: thy footsteps hither. But whence comes that air of gloom,
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  Speaker 9: that robe of sackcloth, and those ashes cast on thine head?
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  Speaker 1: What news unhappy queen, oh, guiltless people, to a barbarous fate, condemned.
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  Speaker 1: Read read the hateful, cruel sentence. We all are lost,
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  Speaker 1: and Israel's race is run just heaven.
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  Speaker 9: My blood is frozen in my veins.
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  Speaker 1: The name of jew is to be blotted out to
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  Speaker 1: bloody Haman. Are we all betrayed? The swords the knives
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  Speaker 1: already are prepared, and the whole nation meets one common doom. Haman,
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  Speaker 1: vile Haman. The Amalakite arms all his influence for this
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  Speaker 1: fatal blow. The king believes him and has signed this
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  Speaker 1: edict by us against us, by those lying lips. He
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  Speaker 1: thinks that Nature's very self abhors us. His orders have
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  Speaker 1: been given in all his states. The fatal day is
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  Speaker 1: fixed for our destruction. Heavens will ye look on this
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  Speaker 1: atrocious slaughter. The sword will pity neither sex nor age.
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  Speaker 1: All will we pray for tigers and for vultures. In
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  Speaker 1: ten days? Hence this dreadful day arrives.
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  Speaker 9: O God, to whom these deadly plots are known, wilt
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  Speaker 9: thou forsake the remnant of thy people.
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  Speaker 11: Who will defend us? If thou fight not for us.
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  Speaker 1: Leave tears my esther to these tender babes. The only
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  Speaker 1: hope of thine unhappy kinsman rests upon thee help them.
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  Speaker 1: But time is precious, it flies, and soon will bring
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  Speaker 1: the destined day for Israel's name to be wiped out,
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  Speaker 1: forever fired with the ardor of God's holy prophets. Go
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  Speaker 1: tell thy lineage to the king.
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  Speaker 9: Alas dost thou not know what laws severe guard the
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  Speaker 9: King's privacy from all intruders. In the seclusion of the
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  Speaker 9: inner palace, None may behold his awful majesty tis death
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  Speaker 9: without his summons to presume to show oneself before the
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  Speaker 9: royal presence, unless the king that instant should extend his
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  Speaker 9: scepter to be kissed as sign of pardon. This fatal
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  Speaker 9: law affects all ranks alike in either sex. The crime
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  Speaker 9: is still the same. Entitled as I am to share
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  Speaker 9: his throne herein, I am a subject like another, and
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  Speaker 9: I must wait if I would speak to him until
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  Speaker 9: he seeks me, or else bids me come.
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  Speaker 1: What when thou seest thy country perishing? Dost thou storm
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  Speaker 1: my daughter by thy life? God speaks, And dost thou
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  Speaker 1: fear a mortal's wrath?
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  Speaker 12: Nay esther?
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  Speaker 1: Canst thou count thy life? Thine own belongs it not
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  Speaker 1: to those from whom thy blood deriv'd. Its source belongs
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  Speaker 1: it not to God, who gave it when he led
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  Speaker 1: thee to the throne. Who knows if it was not
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  Speaker 1: to save his people? Ponder it well, God has not
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  Speaker 1: chosen thee to win vain admiration from the gaze of
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  Speaker 1: heathen eyes, to charm the tribes of Asia for nobler ends.
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  Speaker 1: Doth he reserve his saints self sacrifice for him and
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  Speaker 1: for his flock? Is the true portion of a child
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  Speaker 1: of gods. To risk thy life for his name's sake
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  Speaker 1: is bliss supreme. Not that his arm needs our support.
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  Speaker 1: Earth's mightiest kings cannot withstand his power to revain for
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  Speaker 1: them to league themselves against him. If he but show himself,
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  Speaker 1: their strength dissolves. He speaks, and they return to dust.
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  Speaker 1: The sea retreats before his voice, The heavens tremble. He
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  Speaker 1: looks upon the universe as nothing, and feeble mortals playthings
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  Speaker 1: of an hour are all as though they were not
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  Speaker 1: in his sight. If he has suffered Aman's wickedness, tis
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  Speaker 1: only be assured to prove thy zeal. Tis he who
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  Speaker 1: stirring me to this bold step, Dear esther has vouchsafed
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  Speaker 1: to march before me, and if his voice must strike
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  Speaker 1: thine ear in vain, we shall behold his wonders. Nonetheless,
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  Speaker 1: he can confound this Haman. He converst our chains asunder
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  Speaker 1: by the weakest hand that the world contains. But shouldst
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  Speaker 1: thou spurn his grace, it may be thou wilt perish
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  Speaker 1: with thy race.
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  Speaker 9: Go and let all the Jews that dwell at shushan
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  Speaker 9: in earnest supplication, night and day, unite with THEE to
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  Speaker 9: lend me all the help that prayer affords, and keep
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  Speaker 9: a three days fast severe. Already has dark night descended tomorrow,
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  Speaker 9: when the sun shall bring back day, contempt to meet
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  Speaker 9: my death. If die I must, I will go forth
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  Speaker 9: and for my country offer myself. Let all retire.
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  Speaker 8: The chorus withdraws to the back of the stage. Scene
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  Speaker 8: four Esther Elizabeth.
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  Speaker 9: The chorus, O, God, my King, behold me trembling and
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  Speaker 9: alone before THEE. How oft my father and my childhood
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  Speaker 9: taught me that thou didst swear a covenant with us?
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  Speaker 9: When to prepare a people for thyself. It pleased THEE
• 27:15
  Speaker 9: in thy love to choose our fathers yea thine own
• 27:20
  Speaker 9: Holy Mouth did promise them posterity that should endure forever.
• 27:25
  Speaker 9: Alas this people has despised Thy law, the nation of
• 27:29
  Speaker 9: thy choice has been unfaithful. She has cast off her
• 27:33
  Speaker 9: husband and her father to pay adulterous vows to other gods.
• 27:38
  Speaker 9: And now she stoops beneath the stranger's yoke. But to
• 27:42
  Speaker 9: be slaves is not enough. Our lives are threatened. Our
• 27:45
  Speaker 9: proud conquerors mock our tears to their own gods, ascribe
• 27:50
  Speaker 9: their victories, and with one mortal blow, would feign to
• 27:53
  Speaker 9: day destroy thy name, thy people, and thy worship. Shall
• 27:59
  Speaker 9: then a tray after all thy deeds of wondrous might
• 28:03
  Speaker 9: make void thy covenant, rob all mankind of thy most
• 28:07
  Speaker 9: precious gift, The Holy One long promised, long expected. No,
• 28:13
  Speaker 9: no forbid the gentiles and their fury, drunk with our blood,
• 28:18
  Speaker 9: to shut the only mouths which hymn thy praises throughout
• 28:21
  Speaker 9: all the world confound their gods that are no gods
• 28:25
  Speaker 9: at all. And as for me, whom thou hast placed
• 28:29
  Speaker 9: among these infidels, thou knowest how I hate their sinful feasts,
• 28:34
  Speaker 9: and count as profanations their table and their offerings and rights.
• 28:39
  Speaker 9: This very pomp, to which I am condemned, this diadem
• 28:43
  Speaker 9: that I am forced to wear on days of high
• 28:46
  Speaker 9: solemnity and pride. I trample underfoot, when all alone, to
• 28:51
  Speaker 9: these vain guards, preferring dust and ashes, and take no pleasure.
• 28:56
  Speaker 9: But in tears like these, I have been waiting thee
• 29:00
  Speaker 9: appointed time to venture boldly in thy people's cause. The
• 29:05
  Speaker 9: hour is come, and I, with prompt submission, will brave
• 29:09
  Speaker 9: the dreadful presence of the king Tis in thy name.
• 29:13
  Speaker 9: I go guide thou my steps before this lion fierce
• 29:17
  Speaker 9: that knows THEE not command his wrath to sleep at
• 29:21
  Speaker 9: sight of me, and lend me gracious words to charm
• 29:25
  Speaker 9: his ear. The winds and tempests of the skies obey THEE.
• 29:30
  Speaker 9: Turn thou his rage against our enemies.
• 29:34
  Speaker 8: Scene five. The chorus. All this scene is sung a
• 29:40
  Speaker 8: Jewish maiden.
• 29:40
  Speaker 7: Alone, faithful companions to our tears and sighs. Let us
• 29:45
  Speaker 7: give vent or cease to sob and moan will toward
• 29:49
  Speaker 7: those holy hills. We raise our eyes whence innocence can
• 29:52
  Speaker 7: look for help alone. Put terrors around us rise. Weep Israel,
• 29:57
  Speaker 7: weep thy total overthrow. No was there known so just
• 30:01
  Speaker 7: a cause for woe as ours beneath the.
• 30:03
  Speaker 11: Skies, What terrors round us rise wast not enough.
• 30:08
  Speaker 10: The hateful conqueror's hand should have destroyed majestos Ion's charms
• 30:13
  Speaker 10: and let her children captive from the.
• 30:15
  Speaker 11: Land, Oh terrible alarms, Like.
• 30:18
  Speaker 10: Feeble sheep mid ravening wolves, we stand our sighs to heaven,
• 30:23
  Speaker 10: our holy.
• 30:23
  Speaker 11: Arms, Oh terrible alarms.
• 30:26
  Speaker 7: Let me cast off these ornaments in terror, the veil
• 30:29
  Speaker 7: that decks my head, sackcloth and ashes.
• 30:33
  Speaker 10: Let us rather wear beat for the banquet dread, my
• 30:36
  Speaker 10: impious hammond spread.
• 30:38
  Speaker 7: Let us cast off these ornaments in terror.
• 30:41
  Speaker 11: The veil that decks, which had.
• 30:44
  Speaker 7: On every sigh, terror and bloodshed reign. The aged and
• 30:47
  Speaker 7: the young alike are slain. Her sister and the brother,
• 30:50
  Speaker 7: the daughter with the mother. The dying father clasped his
• 30:53
  Speaker 7: son in vain. What scattered heaps of mangled corpses lie
• 30:58
  Speaker 7: unburied on the ground, while prowl round and make thy
• 31:02
  Speaker 7: saints their food, create God on high?
• 31:05
  Speaker 11: Alas, what have I done? Can one so young deserve
• 31:09
  Speaker 11: a faith so dire scurs Has the promise of my
• 31:12
  Speaker 11: life begun to open? Ere it folds doomed to expire
• 31:17
  Speaker 11: like blossom that ne'er sees a second son alas what
• 31:22
  Speaker 11: have I done? Can one so young deserve a faith?
• 31:25
  Speaker 11: So dire?
• 31:26
  Speaker 10: Unhappy victims? We have others as crimes. What boots is
• 31:30
  Speaker 10: our sad fortune to the plow, our father's sinned, our
• 31:33
  Speaker 10: father's son. No more repare the vengeance dute earlier times.
• 31:38
  Speaker 7: The Lord of hostom we adore.
• 31:40
  Speaker 11: Well, na, let righteous blood be spelt, confounding innocence with guilt.
• 31:45
  Speaker 7: That not the Heathens say, where then is Israel's God?
• 31:49
  Speaker 7: Let him display his boasted power to day.
• 31:52
  Speaker 10: This jealous God, this God of matchless might, quat nations
• 31:57
  Speaker 10: of the world. This jealous God, this God of matchless might,
• 32:01
  Speaker 10: alone commands the death, commands the height. By him heaven
• 32:05
  Speaker 10: thoughts are hurled now that God can make the darkness bright.
• 32:10
  Speaker 11: He overthrows the mighty in their pride.
• 32:13
  Speaker 10: Places the meek and humble at his side.
• 32:16
  Speaker 7: The Lord of Host, whom we adore.
• 32:18
  Speaker 11: Oh nay, that righteous blood be spelt, confounding innocence with guilt, Oh.
• 32:24
  Speaker 7: God, whom glory hovers o'er.
• 32:26
  Speaker 10: Who art in robes of light arrayed, who.
• 32:28
  Speaker 7: Rightest wire, wild, tempest roar are.
• 32:31
  Speaker 13: Cherub's wings as on thy throne, conveyed Thou, who art
• 32:35
  Speaker 13: pleased that simple babes should raise with angel hosts their
• 32:39
  Speaker 13: voices in thy praise.
• 32:42
  Speaker 7: See Thou, what perils round us? Rise?
• 32:44
  Speaker 11: Give honor to thy name. We pray nor let thy
• 32:48
  Speaker 11: glory pass away to foreign gods whom we despise.
• 32:52
  Speaker 7: On thyself, Lord, my people to defend. And as the
• 32:56
  Speaker 7: sea saw thee of old, descend that wicked men may
• 33:00
  Speaker 7: be inclined to fear thy wrath, Let them be like
• 33:03
  Speaker 7: the dust before the wind swept from thy path.
• 33:07
  Speaker 11: See Thou, what perils round us rise?
• 33:10
  Speaker 7: Give honor to thy name. We pray no let that glory.
• 33:14
  Speaker 11: Pass away to foreign gods whom we despise.
• 33:19
  Speaker 8: And of fact one, Act two of Esther by gen Rossine,
• 33:30
  Speaker 8: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 33:35
  Speaker 8: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 33:38
  Speaker 8: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act
• 33:44
  Speaker 8: two the throne room of a hazardus seen one Hayman
• 33:49
  Speaker 8: adespis what.
• 33:52
  Speaker 3: When the light of day scarce skins to dawn, dost
• 33:55
  Speaker 3: thou dare bring me to this hall? Of terrors.
• 33:58
  Speaker 4: Thou knowest that my faithfulness is trusted. These doors are
• 34:03
  Speaker 4: shut and opened at my bidding. Mine only come elsewhere
• 34:11
  Speaker 4: we may be heard.
• 34:13
  Speaker 3: What is this secret, then, that thou wouldst tell me?
• 34:17
  Speaker 4: Honored my Lord by THEE with countless favors. I ever
• 34:23
  Speaker 4: bear in mind that I have sworn to show THEE
• 34:27
  Speaker 4: without falsehood or disguise, whatever mysteries, this palace holds a
• 34:33
  Speaker 4: melancholy cloud enrahaps the king. This very night, a frightful
• 34:39
  Speaker 4: dream disturbed him. While all around was hushed in peaceful silence,
• 34:45
  Speaker 4: his voice was heard in cries of agony. I ran
• 34:51
  Speaker 4: and found him with disordered speech, complaining of a peril
• 34:56
  Speaker 4: nigh at hand, a secret foe, a daring ravisher, I
• 35:03
  Speaker 4: in the name of Esther, passed his lips. In horrors
• 35:07
  Speaker 4: such as these, He spent the night, but tired at
• 35:11
  Speaker 4: last of trying to recall a vanished dream its phantoms
• 35:16
  Speaker 4: to dispel, he bade those annals to be brought wherein
• 35:22
  Speaker 4: the records of his reign, with care collected, are written
• 35:27
  Speaker 4: out each day by faithful hands, Each service rendered, each
• 35:33
  Speaker 4: offense is there inscribed for gratitude or punishment. I left
• 35:40
  Speaker 4: the king, reclining on his couch, more calm and listening
• 35:46
  Speaker 4: with attentive ear.
• 35:48
  Speaker 3: What portion of his life did he select?
• 35:51
  Speaker 4: He is reviewing all those glorious times since, by the
• 35:57
  Speaker 4: choice of fate a Hassirous was called to sit upon
• 36:02
  Speaker 4: the throne of Cyrus.
• 36:04
  Speaker 3: Has then this dream escaped his memory.
• 36:08
  Speaker 4: From all Kaladia's most renowned diviners, those have been gathered
• 36:14
  Speaker 4: who can best interpret dark messages from Heaven in doubtful dreams.
• 36:21
  Speaker 3: But why these.
• 36:22
  Speaker 4: Signs of sudden agitation? What have I said to cause
• 36:27
  Speaker 4: thee such dismay? Has happy Hayman? Then some secret care?
• 36:34
  Speaker 3: How canst thou ask? Knowing how I am placed, feared, hated, endeed,
• 36:41
  Speaker 3: sometimes more wretched than any victim of my utmost vengeance,
• 36:46
  Speaker 3: on whom.
• 36:47
  Speaker 4: Has Heaven overlooked? More kindly thou seest the whole world
• 36:52
  Speaker 4: prostrate before thee, not all the world?
• 36:57
  Speaker 3: Each day there is a man for slave who dares
• 37:01
  Speaker 3: defy and scorn me.
• 37:04
  Speaker 4: Who is this enemy of king and country?
• 37:07
  Speaker 3: Say? Doest thou know the name of Mordecai?
• 37:12
  Speaker 4: What that vile leader of an impious race?
• 37:17
  Speaker 3: Hi? He forsooth and.
• 37:19
  Speaker 4: Can so weak a foe disturb the peace of one
• 37:24
  Speaker 4: so far above him.
• 37:27
  Speaker 3: The saucy fellow ne'er bows down before me in vain,
• 37:31
  Speaker 3: on bended knees, all own the marks of favor that
• 37:35
  Speaker 3: the mightiest of kings awards me. When no persian dares
• 37:39
  Speaker 3: to lift his forehead bent to earth in sacred homage,
• 37:44
  Speaker 3: he proudly seated, never moves his head brand's due obeisance
• 37:50
  Speaker 3: as impiety confronts me with seditious looks, nor deign so
• 37:55
  Speaker 3: much at least as to cast down his eyes over
• 38:00
  Speaker 3: he besets the palace gate, whatever be the hour I
• 38:05
  Speaker 3: leave or enter, his hateful countenance offends and haunts me.
• 38:10
  Speaker 3: I in my restless sleep, I see him still this morning,
• 38:16
  Speaker 3: though I had forestall the dawn, I found him covered
• 38:20
  Speaker 3: or with dust and ashes. His raiment rent, cheek pale,
• 38:26
  Speaker 3: but in his eye gleamed the same proud defiance as before,
• 38:32
  Speaker 3: My friend, whence comes this daring insolence, Thou knowest all
• 38:37
  Speaker 3: that passes in the palace, Tell me, is any voice
• 38:41
  Speaker 3: here raised for him? What is the broken reed on
• 38:45
  Speaker 3: which he leans?
• 38:46
  Speaker 4: My lord? You know his timely information exposed, the murderous
• 38:53
  Speaker 4: plot the teriesh planned. The grateful king. Then promised to
• 38:58
  Speaker 4: reward him, But since that time seems to have thought
• 39:02
  Speaker 4: of it no more.
• 39:05
  Speaker 3: With thee I will throw off disguise. I have improved
• 39:09
  Speaker 3: the injustice of my lot broad as a slave to Persia,
• 39:13
  Speaker 3: when a child I rule the empire now where I
• 39:17
  Speaker 3: was sold, My riches yield not to the wealth of kings.
• 39:22
  Speaker 3: Children surround me. To maintain my power, I only lack
• 39:27
  Speaker 3: the royal diadem. And yet how blind are mortals to
• 39:32
  Speaker 3: their boons. The passing sweetness of this heap of honors
• 39:37
  Speaker 3: makes but a light impression on my heart. This jew
• 39:41
  Speaker 3: who sits before the palace gates, plunges a thousand daggers
• 39:45
  Speaker 3: in my breast, and all my grandeur is to me insipid.
• 39:51
  Speaker 3: So long as shines the sun upon this wretch.
• 39:55
  Speaker 4: Ten days, and he will vex thy sight no more.
• 40:00
  Speaker 4: He and his race are promised to the vultures.
• 40:05
  Speaker 3: Ah, But the time is long to my impatience. Tis
• 40:09
  Speaker 3: he I will not hide from thee my vengeance. Tis
• 40:13
  Speaker 3: he who scorning to bow down before me, has brought
• 40:17
  Speaker 3: them all under my arm to blast them. A single
• 40:22
  Speaker 3: victim is for me too little revenge. It feebly reaked
• 40:28
  Speaker 3: tempt's fresh transgression. A man like Haman, when his wrath
• 40:33
  Speaker 3: is roused and his just fury cannot leap too far,
• 40:39
  Speaker 3: there must be chastisement at which the world will tremble
• 40:43
  Speaker 3: when it weighs the punishment with the offense. Be a
• 40:47
  Speaker 3: whole nation drowned in blood. And be it said in
• 40:50
  Speaker 3: times to come, there was a shameless people. Once the
• 40:55
  Speaker 3: Jews spread over all the earth its face they covered.
• 41:00
  Speaker 3: One of them dared to draw upon himself the wrath
• 41:04
  Speaker 3: of Haman, and his nation perish'd.
• 41:08
  Speaker 4: It is not then the blood of Amelek that secretly
• 41:12
  Speaker 4: incites thee to destroy them.
• 41:16
  Speaker 3: Sprung as I am from that unhappy stock, eternal hatred
• 41:20
  Speaker 3: I might well have felt for those who slaughtered the
• 41:23
  Speaker 3: Amalekites into their flocks and herds. No living thing was spared,
• 41:29
  Speaker 3: and hardly did a wretched remnant escape the sword. But
• 41:33
  Speaker 3: mine own exultation engrosses every faculty I have, and little
• 41:39
  Speaker 3: room is left for claims of blood. I'd need no
• 41:43
  Speaker 3: further motive than the offense of Mordecai against them. Then
• 41:48
  Speaker 3: I stirred the king, inventing falsehoods, barbing slanders, alarmed him
• 41:54
  Speaker 3: for his honor, for his life. I showed them rich
• 41:58
  Speaker 3: and powerful and seditious, their god himself the foe of
• 42:03
  Speaker 3: other gods. How long shall such a people be allowed
• 42:08
  Speaker 3: to breathe? And with their impious worship? Tain't thy realms?
• 42:13
  Speaker 3: A foreign race to Persia's laws? Opposed? They live a
• 42:18
  Speaker 3: life apart from all They study only to disturb our peace.
• 42:24
  Speaker 3: Hated by all men, all mankind they hate. Crush them
• 42:29
  Speaker 3: before their insolence has reached its ripeness. Fill thy coffers
• 42:34
  Speaker 3: with their spoils. I spake, and was believed the King's
• 42:40
  Speaker 3: own seal of power supreme was straightway to my hand.
• 42:43
  Speaker 3: Committed go, said he secure my peace. Destroy those wretches,
• 42:50
  Speaker 3: take the spoil thyself. Thus the whole nation was condemned
• 42:56
  Speaker 3: at once. I with the king settled day of slaughter.
• 43:01
  Speaker 3: But my heart thirsts after this catiff's blood, and that
• 43:06
  Speaker 3: his death should be delayed is torture, A secret trouble
• 43:11
  Speaker 3: poisons all my joy? Why must I see the Jew
• 43:15
  Speaker 3: for ten days more?
• 43:17
  Speaker 4: And canst thou not destroy him with a word? Speak
• 43:22
  Speaker 4: and the king will leave him in thy hands.
• 43:27
  Speaker 3: I watch to seize a favorable moment. Both thou and
• 43:31
  Speaker 3: I know how the royal will is stubborn, and how
• 43:34
  Speaker 3: often sudden transports it breaks the springs of all our strategy.
• 43:39
  Speaker 3: But I torment me with fantastic fears. What is the
• 43:43
  Speaker 3: life of Mordecai to him?
• 43:45
  Speaker 4: Why linger? Then, hence quickly give command to raise the
• 43:50
  Speaker 4: shameful instrument of death.
• 43:53
  Speaker 3: I hear, sam, I go, should the king call me?
• 43:57
  Speaker 3: Do thou enough?
• 44:01
  Speaker 8: Scene two A Hazarus Hi Daspy's Asaf royal attendants.
• 44:07
  Speaker 2: So then, without this warning, two traitors would have slain
• 44:11
  Speaker 2: me in my bed. Let us up, stay, and all
• 44:14
  Speaker 2: the rest withdraw.
• 44:17
  Speaker 8: Scene three A Hazarus Asaf, a Hazarus seated on his throne.
• 44:23
  Speaker 2: I must confess I almost had forgotten the murderous scheme
• 44:27
  Speaker 2: plann'd by this pair of traitors, And I have twice
• 44:31
  Speaker 2: grown pale at a recital that leaves its stamp of
• 44:34
  Speaker 2: terror on my heart. I see how punishment on guilt attended,
• 44:39
  Speaker 2: so that the miscreants breathed their last in torments. But he,
• 44:45
  Speaker 2: my zealous subject, whose keen eye traced the dark thread
• 44:48
  Speaker 2: of then nefarious plot, who should be hands already rais'd
• 44:52
  Speaker 2: to strike, and by whose means pleasure was saved with me.
• 44:56
  Speaker 2: Has he been honored or received reward for faithful service.
• 45:00
  Speaker 5: He was promised much?
• 45:02
  Speaker 2: I know no more, Oh, coup uble neglect, inevitable consequence
• 45:09
  Speaker 2: of cares pressing upon a prince like boisterous waves in
• 45:13
  Speaker 2: quick succession to new objects. Ever drawing his thoughts, the
• 45:17
  Speaker 2: past is swallowed up like lightning's flash. What with a
• 45:21
  Speaker 2: clamorous present fares for the future every hour a crowd
• 45:26
  Speaker 2: of eager suitors vaunting their deserts for selfish aims. He
• 45:31
  Speaker 2: finds no faithful friend to guard his prince's honor from reproach,
• 45:35
  Speaker 2: or to remind him of forgotten merit, while all are
• 45:39
  Speaker 2: eager to point out fit objects for punishment. AH rather
• 45:44
  Speaker 2: let a wrong scape vengeance than a benefit. So rare
• 45:47
  Speaker 2: go unrewarded. For he risked his life to save his king.
• 45:51
  Speaker 2: This matter of maschless zeal, say lives he yet.
• 45:55
  Speaker 5: His eyes behold this sun?
• 45:58
  Speaker 2: Then why has he not sooner claimed his mad What
• 46:02
  Speaker 2: distant lad hides him from wealth and honors.
• 46:05
  Speaker 5: His usual seats at the palace gates there without blaming
• 46:09
  Speaker 5: destiny or thee he drags along a life of misery.
• 46:13
  Speaker 2: So much the less should I forget the virtue forgetful
• 46:15
  Speaker 2: of itself. Tell me his name once more.
• 46:19
  Speaker 5: The name I read was Mordecai.
• 46:22
  Speaker 2: What countrymen, Since I.
• 46:24
  Speaker 5: Must tell the truth, one of those captives who were
• 46:27
  Speaker 5: doomed to die, brought from the banks of Jordan to Euphrates.
• 46:32
  Speaker 2: A Jew, then, gracious Heaven. When my life was threatened
• 46:36
  Speaker 2: by mine own ungrateful subjects, the kindness of a Jew
• 46:40
  Speaker 2: baffled their efforts. A Jew preserved me from the sword
• 46:44
  Speaker 2: of Persians. But since he saved me, be he what
• 46:47
  Speaker 2: he may. It matters not, oh, some one.
• 46:52
  Speaker 8: Sin for a hazardus, I dasp bees aesaf sire.
• 46:58
  Speaker 2: Go see if any of my nobles, weight without.
• 47:01
  Speaker 4: Haymen, came hither ere the dawn of day.
• 47:05
  Speaker 2: Well let him enter. He may throw some light on this.
• 47:08
  Speaker 8: Affair scene five ahazardus hayman, I dares be asaf.
• 47:14
  Speaker 2: Droper my throne approach. So let my counsels, who hast
• 47:19
  Speaker 2: oft relieved my hand exhausted with the scepter's weight, I
• 47:23
  Speaker 2: feel the secret stings of self reproach. I know thy
• 47:27
  Speaker 2: zeal devoted, and sincere they hung a stranger to deceitful words,
• 47:32
  Speaker 2: Thy constant aim my interest alone. Then tell me what
• 47:36
  Speaker 2: a generous prince should do to heap the highest honors
• 47:40
  Speaker 2: on a subject whom he esteems. How can I recompense
• 47:43
  Speaker 2: fidelity and virtue as becomes a mighty monarch? To my gratitude,
• 47:48
  Speaker 2: impose no bounds, Remember the vast power I wield, Hayman.
• 47:54
  Speaker 3: Aside tis for thyself that thou art called to speak?
• 47:59
  Speaker 3: Who else so worthy of reward?
• 48:02
  Speaker 2: What thinkest thou I, in my thoughts.
• 48:06
  Speaker 3: Review the use and custom of the kings of Persia?
• 48:10
  Speaker 3: But I recall them all in vain, for what are
• 48:14
  Speaker 3: they to rule thy conduct? Thine should rather serve as
• 48:18
  Speaker 3: a model to thy late descendants, if thou wouldst recognize
• 48:23
  Speaker 3: a subject's zeal. But think the honor only has a
• 48:27
  Speaker 3: charm for generous souls. And my advice, O, King, is
• 48:32
  Speaker 3: that this happy mortal be arrayed in royal purple, wearing
• 48:36
  Speaker 3: on his brow the sacred diadem, And let him ride
• 48:40
  Speaker 3: one of thy steeds in pompous trappings, decked before all
• 48:46
  Speaker 3: eyes in shushan and to crown his glory. Let the
• 48:51
  Speaker 3: noblest man at court, that next to the in riches
• 48:55
  Speaker 3: and in power, hold his proud courser's bridle as he
• 48:59
  Speaker 3: walked magnificently clad, and cry aloud in all the public
• 49:04
  Speaker 3: places mortals bow with reverence. Do tis thus the king
• 49:10
  Speaker 3: delighteth to honor merit in a faithful subject.
• 49:15
  Speaker 2: I recognize the wisdom that inspires thy words with mine
• 49:19
  Speaker 2: own wishes in agreement. Go lose no time. Let oh
• 49:24
  Speaker 2: that thou hast said, be put in execution to the
• 49:27
  Speaker 2: letter virtue, shall not be buried in oblivion. Tis Mordecai,
• 49:32
  Speaker 2: that I delight to honor the Jew that sitteth at
• 49:35
  Speaker 2: the palace gates. Order his triumph thou, and walk before
• 49:40
  Speaker 2: him that shushan streets re echo with his name, and
• 49:44
  Speaker 2: all men, when they see him bow the knee. I
• 49:48
  Speaker 2: would be now alone.
• 49:50
  Speaker 8: Hay Man aside God.
• 49:54
  Speaker 2: Saine sex a hazardus beyond a doubt, tis honor quite
• 49:58
  Speaker 2: unheard of, such a subject, never enjoyed before. But all
• 50:03
  Speaker 2: a greater this Adjew's reward, the more detestable his race.
• 50:08
  Speaker 2: Thereby I make my life more safe by showing how
• 50:11
  Speaker 2: I fear to be ungrateful, and how I can distinguish
• 50:15
  Speaker 2: between guilt and innocence. For none the less will I
• 50:18
  Speaker 2: destroy this rebel crew, whose crimes.
• 50:23
  Speaker 8: Scene seven a hazardus Esther, Elizabeth Tamar. Some of the
• 50:28
  Speaker 8: chorus Esther enters leaning on Elizabeth. Four Jewish maidens bear
• 50:33
  Speaker 8: her train.
• 50:34
  Speaker 2: Who went is unbidden, who thus insolently courts destruction? Gods,
• 50:40
  Speaker 2: what esther is it? Thou? I call THEE?
• 50:44
  Speaker 9: Not my daughters, I'm undone, support your tying queen.
• 50:50
  Speaker 8: She falls in a swoon.
• 50:53
  Speaker 2: Powers of heaven, What deadly palelless suddenly o'erspreads her lovely face?
• 50:59
  Speaker 2: What dost thou fear, my sister? So harsh a law
• 51:02
  Speaker 2: is never made for THEE live? I hold out to
• 51:06
  Speaker 2: THEE the golden scepter, show a pledge and token of
• 51:09
  Speaker 2: my clemency.
• 51:10
  Speaker 9: Whose welcome voice is this that bids me live and
• 51:14
  Speaker 9: calls my fluttering soul back to my breast?
• 51:17
  Speaker 2: Dost thou not know thy husband's voice? May esther come
• 51:21
  Speaker 2: to thyself? What's more, I bid THEE live.
• 51:25
  Speaker 9: The majesty that stamped upon thy brow has ever filled
• 51:28
  Speaker 9: thy servant's eyes with fear. Consider how that brow, with
• 51:33
  Speaker 9: awful frown bent upon me, could not but terrify my
• 51:36
  Speaker 9: troubled soul. I seemed to see THEE ready to crush
• 51:40
  Speaker 9: me into dust, as from thy throne loud thunders pealed,
• 51:44
  Speaker 9: what heart was air so bold that would not shudder
• 51:47
  Speaker 9: as the lightning flashed from my Lord's eyes? Thus does
• 51:51
  Speaker 9: the wrath of heaven, oh.
• 51:54
  Speaker 2: Sun, immortal torch of heavenly light. Mine own heart feels
• 51:58
  Speaker 2: the shock that made hers cease its office, and I
• 52:02
  Speaker 2: tremble at the sight of her distress. Calm, calmness, agitation, Esther,
• 52:07
  Speaker 2: my Queen, so mistress of the heart of Persia's monarch,
• 52:11
  Speaker 2: only prove the love with which it burns. Say, shall
• 52:15
  Speaker 2: I give THEE half of all my realm?
• 52:17
  Speaker 9: Ah? Can it be that thou dreaded throughout the world
• 52:21
  Speaker 9: before whose throne all kneel and kiss the dust? Canst
• 52:25
  Speaker 9: cast a luck so gracious on thy slave and deign
• 52:29
  Speaker 9: to offer that heart as hers?
• 52:31
  Speaker 2: Believe me, Dearest Esther, This scepter and the homage fear
• 52:36
  Speaker 2: inspires have little charm for me. The pomp of power
• 52:40
  Speaker 2: is often burden to its sad possessor. In thee THEE,
• 52:45
  Speaker 2: only do I find a grace that never palls nor
• 52:49
  Speaker 2: loses its attraction. How sweet the charm of loveliness and virtue,
• 52:55
  Speaker 2: and Esther breathes the very soul of peace and innocence.
• 53:00
  Speaker 2: Darcturers flee before her. She pours bright sunshine into days
• 53:04
  Speaker 2: of gloom. With THEE beside me seated on his throne,
• 53:09
  Speaker 2: I fear no more the wrath of adverse stars, my
• 53:12
  Speaker 2: diedem fair Esther seems to borrow a luster from thy
• 53:16
  Speaker 2: brow that gods themselves might envy. Answer boldly, then, nor hide?
• 53:21
  Speaker 2: What urgent purpose leads thy footsteps hither? What anxious cares
• 53:25
  Speaker 2: perplex thy troubled breast, Thine eyes erase to heaven? As
• 53:29
  Speaker 2: I speak, tell me thy wish it shall be gratified
• 53:34
  Speaker 2: if its success depends on human hand o.
• 53:37
  Speaker 9: Kindness, reassuring to the heart, it honors no light matter
• 53:42
  Speaker 9: prompts my prayer. Lo misery or happiness awaits me, which
• 53:47
  Speaker 9: I shall be hangs trembling on thy will. One word
• 53:51
  Speaker 9: from thee ending my sore suspense, can render Esther happiest
• 53:57
  Speaker 9: of Queen's.
• 53:58
  Speaker 2: Why torture me with curlyiosity?
• 54:01
  Speaker 9: If Esther has found favor in thy sight, if ere
• 54:04
  Speaker 9: thou wast disposed to grant her wishes, vouchsafe thy presence
• 54:10
  Speaker 9: at her board today, Let Esther entertain her sovereign lord,
• 54:15
  Speaker 9: and Haman be admitted to the banquet. Then in his
• 54:19
  Speaker 9: hearing I will dare to utter what in his absence
• 54:22
  Speaker 9: I must still conceal.
• 54:24
  Speaker 2: How ristless and impatient thou dost make me it All
• 54:28
  Speaker 2: shall be according to thy.
• 54:29
  Speaker 8: Wishes to his attendance.
• 54:32
  Speaker 2: Let the Queen's invitation be conveyed to Harmanzier, bid him
• 54:36
  Speaker 2: not fail to come.
• 54:39
  Speaker 8: Scene eight A hazardus Esther, Elizabeth, Tamar, I dspy's some
• 54:45
  Speaker 8: of the chorus.
• 54:46
  Speaker 4: The wise Chaldeans called by thy command are all assembled
• 54:52
  Speaker 4: in the hall of audience.
• 54:55
  Speaker 2: The strange three mester occupies my thoughts, and in the
• 54:59
  Speaker 2: answer thou two are concerned as well as I come
• 55:03
  Speaker 2: behind a curtain, hear what is said, and help me
• 55:06
  Speaker 2: with the light of thy clear judgment for myself and
• 55:10
  Speaker 2: thee I fear some secret.
• 55:12
  Speaker 9: Foll follow me, Tamar, You timid maidens, stay till I return,
• 55:18
  Speaker 9: and sheltered by this throne, fear no rude eye.
• 55:23
  Speaker 8: Scene nine, Elizabeth some of the chorus. The scene is
• 55:27
  Speaker 8: partly spoken and partly sung.
• 55:30
  Speaker 6: What thank'ye sisters of our present state, Esther or Hammand?
• 55:36
  Speaker 6: Which will win the dee the issue of the struggle
• 55:40
  Speaker 6: we await? Will it the power of man a god display.
• 55:45
  Speaker 6: You saw what wrath that struck as soul with fear
• 55:50
  Speaker 6: flashed from the Monarch's sighs and glanced Seville.
• 55:54
  Speaker 7: It dazzled like the lightning in the sky.
• 55:57
  Speaker 10: And when he speaks, twas like the thunders row.
• 56:00
  Speaker 6: How did that ruth so terrible before all in a
• 56:04
  Speaker 6: moment vanish from his eye?
• 56:07
  Speaker 7: That stern heart, in a moment has grown mild, more
• 56:10
  Speaker 7: like a gentle lamb than lyon wild. God, our own God,
• 56:15
  Speaker 7: has made the storm to cease and laud the waves
• 56:18
  Speaker 7: to peace.
• 56:20
  Speaker 11: God, our own God, has made the storm to cease
• 56:24
  Speaker 11: and lulled the waves to peace.
• 56:26
  Speaker 7: As flowing streams obey a hand that marks the course
• 56:30
  Speaker 7: that they should go. And on the land fertilely bestow
• 56:34
  Speaker 7: where thou water's stray dost thou, O, God, whose will
• 56:38
  Speaker 7: our own doth guide, canst turn the hearts of kings
• 56:42
  Speaker 7: from side to side.
• 56:43
  Speaker 6: Ah, sisters, how I dread the dismal mists that shrouded
• 56:49
  Speaker 6: Monarch's eyes from Heaven's light. The worship of his God's
• 56:54
  Speaker 6: distorts his sight.
• 56:56
  Speaker 7: A hateful service. All his zealand lists all.
• 57:00
  Speaker 10: Lifeless fires that Heaven displays. He umpireus homage pays.
• 57:04
  Speaker 1: His palace with their images is stored.
• 57:09
  Speaker 11: Unhappy ye who leave Man's sovereign lord, who have the
• 57:13
  Speaker 11: work of your own hands? Adored?
• 57:16
  Speaker 7: Oh Israel's God, scatter the shades of night. When will
• 57:19
  Speaker 7: compassion touch thee? For our tears shrouded in darkness? O'er
• 57:23
  Speaker 7: the world appears? When thou the veil that hidest thee
• 57:27
  Speaker 7: from men's sight, Oh God of Israel, let dawn arise?
• 57:31
  Speaker 7: How long wilt thou be hidden from our eyes?
• 57:34
  Speaker 11: More softly, sisters, lest we be betrayed to unbelieving ears
• 57:39
  Speaker 11: in ambush laid.
• 57:41
  Speaker 6: Daughter of Abraham, can fear already make thy voice feeble
• 57:47
  Speaker 6: and thy faith unsteady? What wouldst thou do? Should impious
• 57:52
  Speaker 6: Hammand try to make thy timid lips blaspheme though mighty,
• 57:58
  Speaker 6: while the threatening gleam of his abolptid sword structure on
• 58:03
  Speaker 6: thine eye.
• 58:04
  Speaker 10: It may be that the king in wrath profane if
• 58:07
  Speaker 10: we to bow, the adoring me refuse before Damidel's violent
• 58:12
  Speaker 10: vain shall give command that we be save. Then life
• 58:16
  Speaker 10: or death. Dear sister, wilt thou.
• 58:18
  Speaker 11: Choose the God I love? How can my lips betray
• 58:23
  Speaker 11: shall I adore a god deaf, dumb and blind, hewn
• 58:28
  Speaker 11: from a tree laid prostrate by the wind, that cannot
• 58:31
  Speaker 11: help itself in any way.
• 58:34
  Speaker 7: Those who such helpless gods implore nice breath on empty air.
• 58:38
  Speaker 11: Give them and all the demons they adore confusion and despair.
• 58:43
  Speaker 7: Let heart and mouth and every power I have praise
• 58:47
  Speaker 7: the Great God who life and nurture gave, in trouble
• 58:50
  Speaker 7: and distress my soul his goodness bless e'en. Should he
• 58:55
  Speaker 7: slay me him, will I confess. Let heart and mouth
• 58:59
  Speaker 7: and every power I have praise the Great God who
• 59:02
  Speaker 7: life and nurture gave.
• 59:04
  Speaker 6: Shall impious pomp my admiration.
• 59:07
  Speaker 9: Win.
• 59:08
  Speaker 10: Let others envy wealth that follows sin.
• 59:10
  Speaker 6: The wicked seemed to lack no happiness. Gold glitters on
• 59:14
  Speaker 6: their dress. In riches and in pride. They know no bound.
• 59:20
  Speaker 6: The voice of mirth is in their dwellings. Found they
• 59:24
  Speaker 6: wake from sleep at music's dulcet sound. No hardships and
• 59:29
  Speaker 6: no want. They're hard to press.
• 59:31
  Speaker 10: To crown the wicked man's prosperity, he lives again in
• 59:35
  Speaker 10: his posterity. Gay troops of children round his board, grow
• 59:39
  Speaker 10: up and share his joy from the same brimming cup.
• 59:43
  Speaker 8: All the rest is sung.
• 59:45
  Speaker 7: The world counts as happy all such men as these
• 59:48
  Speaker 7: on whom good fortune in abundance flows.
• 59:51
  Speaker 11: But happier far those who Jehovah please and in his
• 59:55
  Speaker 11: holy name their trust repose.
• 59:59
  Speaker 7: Food for his fival desires to find. The foolish man
• 1:00:02
  Speaker 7: consumes himself in vain, for one mood will remain, and
• 1:00:06
  Speaker 7: pleasures cut behind.
• 1:00:08
  Speaker 10: The wicked soul is like the troubled sea that tosses
• 1:00:11
  Speaker 10: to and fro and cannot cease. True joy can only
• 1:00:15
  Speaker 10: be in innocence and peace.
• 1:00:18
  Speaker 11: Oh Peace, sweet joy, that gives all light that never dies.
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 10: New beauty shall surprise the happy soul that, in thy favor.
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 11: Lives, Oh Peace, sweet joy, that gives oh.
• 1:00:31
  Speaker 10: Light that never dies. Happy the soul that in thy
• 1:00:35
  Speaker 10: presence lives.
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 7: Oh Peace, sweet joy, that gives ho light that never dies.
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 11: New beauty shall surprise the happy soul that in thy
• 1:00:45
  Speaker 11: presence lives, Oh Peace, sweet joy, that gives.
• 1:00:49
  Speaker 7: No peace For the wicked he seeks here in vain,
• 1:00:52
  Speaker 7: no tranquil repose shall he ever attain From vengeance he
• 1:00:56
  Speaker 7: cannot the part, and remorse lays a finger of eyes
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 7: on his heart in a.
• 1:01:01
  Speaker 10: Moment the glory of wickedness dies forever I consumed in
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 10: the dust of the grave. But more bright than the door. Oh,
• 1:01:08
  Speaker 10: my God, shall arise thy servants, you fear thee and
• 1:01:12
  Speaker 10: walk in thy ways.
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 11: Oh Peace, sweet joy that gives happy the heart that
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 11: in thy presence lives.
• 1:01:19
  Speaker 6: Sisters, I hear them call, these strains must end. Let
• 1:01:24
  Speaker 6: us once more upon a queen attend end of.
• 1:01:29
  Speaker 8: Act to two, Act to three of Vester by Genre Sine,
• 1:01:39
  Speaker 8: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:01:45
  Speaker 8: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 8: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 8: three scene Esther's garden and one side of Avion, where
• 1:02:00
  Speaker 8: a banquet has been held Seene one Hayman zerries.
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 14: This then is Esther's garden, gave flowers, and this the
• 1:02:11
  Speaker 14: tense spread for the royal feast. But while its door
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 14: is little fast shut, did thou list to the counsel
• 1:02:18
  Speaker 14: of a wife who fears thy rashness? By the sacred
• 1:02:21
  Speaker 14: bond between us, conceal my Lord, this wrath that blinds
• 1:02:26
  Speaker 14: thy judgment clear from thy brow, that frown of discontent,
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 14: reproaches and complaints. No king can bear of all the court.
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 14: Thou only be the queen art bidden, that enjoy this
• 1:02:37
  Speaker 14: happiness against the ill that gaures THEE weigh the good?
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 14: Have I not heard THEE say a hundred times the
• 1:02:44
  Speaker 14: man too proud to swallow in a front or wear
• 1:02:47
  Speaker 14: a mask upon his countenance, should ne'er set foot within
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 14: the courts of kings. There are mishaps. A wise man
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 14: must endure oft has an insult born without resentment, served
• 1:02:58
  Speaker 14: as a stepping stone the highest honors.
• 1:03:01
  Speaker 3: Oh grief, oh torture, insupportable, Oh shame that never can
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 3: be blotted out A cursed jew. Humanity's disgrace has by
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 3: my hands in purple been arrayed. Not only did he
• 1:03:17
  Speaker 3: triumph over me, I was myself his herald and proclaimed
• 1:03:21
  Speaker 3: his glory, while he mocked at my confusion, and all
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 3: the people too saw with derision my crimson countenance then
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 3: drew therefrom sure sign and presage of my coming fall.
• 1:03:33
  Speaker 3: Such sports as these delight THEE cruel king on me.
• 1:03:38
  Speaker 3: Thou hast deceitful favors, lavished only to make me feel
• 1:03:43
  Speaker 3: thy tyranny. The more and crush me with the greater shame.
• 1:03:48
  Speaker 14: Judge not the king so ill his only motive is
• 1:03:51
  Speaker 14: to reward a good and loyal service. Must it not
• 1:03:55
  Speaker 14: rather be matter for wonder that payment should have been
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 14: postponed so long sides? It was thine own advice he followed.
• 1:04:03
  Speaker 14: Thou didst thyself dictate this sorry pageant? Thy rank is
• 1:04:07
  Speaker 14: only second to his own. Knows he thy detestation of
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 14: this Jew.
• 1:04:12
  Speaker 3: He knows that all he has he owes to me,
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 3: that I have trodden underfoot for him, remorse and fear
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 3: and shame. With heart of brass, advanced his power, reduced
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 3: the laws to silence, and amidst the groans of innocence,
• 1:04:28
  Speaker 3: have sought and cherished for his sake, curses and hatred,
• 1:04:33
  Speaker 3: and for reward, I find myself exposed by his barbarity
• 1:04:38
  Speaker 3: to jeers and laughter.
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 14: We are alone? Why should we close the truth? This
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 14: seal on his behalf, that sacrificed so much to make
• 1:04:49
  Speaker 14: him great between ourselves? Was not thine own promotion?
• 1:04:53
  Speaker 7: At soul?
• 1:04:54
  Speaker 14: End to go no farther than these wretched Jews? Dost
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 14: thou not offer them in sacrific to thine own spleen
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 14: hast thou no cause to fear malicious whispers all that
• 1:05:06
  Speaker 14: caught our foes. The people hate ushi. This very dew,
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 14: laden with honors, moves my dread in spite of mine
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 14: own self ills are off linked together. His race was
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 14: always fatal to thine own learn how to profit by
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 14: this light affront fortune makes ready. It may be to
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 14: quit thee. Her fickle wheel lifts up, but to cast
• 1:05:30
  Speaker 14: down forestall her humor. Ere her hand grows weary. What
• 1:05:35
  Speaker 14: lure attracts thee? Higher gulf's abysmal that open out before
• 1:05:40
  Speaker 14: me make me shudder? If thou shouldst slip, frightful would
• 1:05:45
  Speaker 14: be thy fall? Seek somewhere else to calmer destiny, Back
• 1:05:49
  Speaker 14: to that distant hellaspond, return the refuge of thy wandering
• 1:05:53
  Speaker 14: sighs of yore. When Israel's vengeance kindled, a fierce fire,
• 1:05:58
  Speaker 14: drove out all ammelih from wasted sear Ere it be
• 1:06:03
  Speaker 14: too late, hide THEE from fortune. Spite our richest treasures
• 1:06:07
  Speaker 14: shall be sent before us. Leave me to manage the departure, hence,
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 14: and above all, secure our children's flight. Meanwhile, be only
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 14: careful to conceal thy purpose. Gladly will I follow THEE
• 1:06:20
  Speaker 14: as thou shalt see. The stormiest winds and waves are
• 1:06:24
  Speaker 14: safer far than this deceitful court. But I see someone
• 1:06:28
  Speaker 14: walking quickly towards thee. It is Hydaspes.
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 8: Scene too haman zeres Adaspy's a deaspye'st to Hayman.
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 4: I am come to fetch thee. Wilt thou art absent?
• 1:06:44
  Speaker 4: Joy is in abeyance. The king has sent me for thee.
• 1:06:49
  Speaker 15: Linger not tell me is Mordecai among the guests? Take
• 1:06:55
  Speaker 15: not that face of gloom to Esther's table? Why should
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 15: this jew forever blast thy peace? Let him enjoy a
• 1:07:04
  Speaker 15: triumph of no moment he cannot think thus to escape
• 1:07:09
  Speaker 15: the rigor of the King's sentence, dost thou not possess
• 1:07:14
  Speaker 15: his ear and heart? The punishment of crime will follow,
• 1:07:19
  Speaker 15: zeal rewarded, and thy victim is decked for sacrifice. I
• 1:07:24
  Speaker 15: am much mistaken, Or thou shalt reap supported by the
• 1:07:29
  Speaker 15: queen success beyond thy hopes?
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 3: Can I believe these happy tidings?
• 1:07:37
  Speaker 4: I have heard the answer of the diviners, that a
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 4: foreign traitor in the Queen's blood seeks to imbrew his hand,
• 1:07:47
  Speaker 4: and knowing not where else to fix the guilt. The
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 4: King imputes it to the Jews alone.
• 1:07:56
  Speaker 3: I they are monsters. He has cause to dreass their
• 1:08:00
  Speaker 3: daring leader. Most of all, my friend Earth has endured
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 3: the loathsome race too long. The sooner she is rid
• 1:08:09
  Speaker 3: of them, the better ah I can breathe. At last, Farewell,
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 3: dear zaresh.
• 1:08:16
  Speaker 4: Ester's companions are advancing near us with songs no doubt
• 1:08:21
  Speaker 4: to celebrate the feast, enter and be assured of ready welcome.
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 8: Scene three, Elizabeth.
• 1:08:31
  Speaker 16: The chorus tis Hammon, Yes, tis he, I know him well,
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 16: and tremble.
• 1:08:37
  Speaker 7: Fear and horror around me.
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 16: Press 'tis the proud enemy of Israel?
• 1:08:42
  Speaker 7: Hi, you troubles all the earth?
• 1:08:44
  Speaker 6: No less who seeing cannot recognize that face, pride and disdain.
• 1:08:51
  Speaker 6: Each feature plainly shows his I.
• 1:08:54
  Speaker 7: With a rage and wild This fury glows before him.
• 1:08:58
  Speaker 16: Death seems constantly to face.
• 1:09:00
  Speaker 11: Does this fell tiger know his destined prey? For when
• 1:09:04
  Speaker 11: he cast on us his hungry eyes a fierce delight,
• 1:09:08
  Speaker 11: the rain appeared to play whereat I still feel fear
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 11: and horror?
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 6: Arise how this new honor will increase his pride to
• 1:09:18
  Speaker 6: Esther's bold He hastes with billing feet. I see him.
• 1:09:23
  Speaker 6: Sisters boldly take his seat as though it were his
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 6: right at the king's side.
• 1:09:30
  Speaker 7: Tell me, attendants at the feast, what fair, what wine
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 7: for cruel harmony?
• 1:09:36
  Speaker 16: Prepare the orphan's blood.
• 1:09:39
  Speaker 11: The tears of the oppressed.
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 16: Such as it didn't he set delight him best.
• 1:09:44
  Speaker 11: No other drink he finds so rich and rare.
• 1:09:48
  Speaker 6: Dear sisters, let your grief be hushed. Awhile the bittert sing,
• 1:09:53
  Speaker 6: Oh maya songs have skill the king from his harsh
• 1:09:57
  Speaker 6: temper to beguile, as gave Salt's jealous rege, could still
• 1:10:03
  Speaker 6: and with sweet streams divert his savage bill.
• 1:10:07
  Speaker 8: All the rest of this scene is sun.
• 1:10:10
  Speaker 7: What happiness those subjects find? Who is king? Magnanimous and kind?
• 1:10:15
  Speaker 7: Dreaded by others? Their love doth cling, Oh, happy, such
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 7: are people? Such a king.
• 1:10:24
  Speaker 16: Pose joy peace.
• 1:10:29
  Speaker 11: A wise monarch knows how to righteousness increase, and.
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 7: Ye kings drive calumny away her slanders. The saults can
• 1:10:41
  Speaker 7: Mar states that at peace and quiet are to discord
• 1:10:45
  Speaker 7: harmony betray.
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 3: Ye kings and quiet are to.
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 7: Discord harmony, betray sting for blood. She madly tricks the
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 7: pure and blameless everywhere Kings of her murderous tongue, beware
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 7: that slays the good behind their backs.
• 1:11:11
  Speaker 16: For blood, madly pure.
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 7: And blameless everywhere.
• 1:11:17
  Speaker 12: Kings of her murderous tongue, beware that slays the good
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 12: behind their backs.
• 1:11:22
  Speaker 7: This monster her pray. She grips ofttimes a mask of
• 1:11:26
  Speaker 7: mild This wears fear her, for when her hearty bears
• 1:11:31
  Speaker 7: revenge with piety on her lips.
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 9: This grips of.
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 7: Fear her from her hearty bears revenged with on her lips.
• 1:11:46
  Speaker 7: Subtle and dexterous deceit sherews all her paths with blossoms gay,
• 1:11:51
  Speaker 7: but in her rear along the way comes vain regret,
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 7: with tardy feet.
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 16: Selling ext deceit all her paths with lost day.
• 1:12:03
  Speaker 7: Along the way as thunder clouds before the north wind
• 1:12:11
  Speaker 7: fly and threatening tempests vanish from the sky, so treacherous
• 1:12:15
  Speaker 7: imposture cannot brook, and upright monarchs lie a spelling look.
• 1:12:21
  Speaker 16: A king with conquest crowned. We praise whose valor wins
• 1:12:24
  Speaker 16: victorious pays. But one who hates injustice and is wise,
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 16: who suffers not the poor to feel the pressure of
• 1:12:31
  Speaker 16: the Richmond's heel, as Heaven's fairest gift we well may.
• 1:12:35
  Speaker 10: Prize, but we do trust him, and well did she.
• 1:12:39
  Speaker 16: A father to the fatherless is healing to his mind,
• 1:12:45
  Speaker 16: fresh in his side.
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 7: Turn turn ninety is great King away from cruel counsels
• 1:12:51
  Speaker 7: by deception bread. The time has come awake. Today you
• 1:12:56
  Speaker 7: getless bloodline hand on witting shed, whilst lumbers on thine eyelids.
• 1:13:01
  Speaker 7: Weigh turn turn nine years, great King, away from cruel
• 1:13:07
  Speaker 7: counsels by deception bred.
• 1:13:10
  Speaker 16: So may the whole world tremble neath thine arm. So
• 1:13:13
  Speaker 16: may thy valor far renown avail to strike thy foes
• 1:13:17
  Speaker 16: ever with fresh alarm. If they attack thee, may they
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 16: quickly fail. Let them be routed by thy strong right hand,
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 16: the terror of thy name. Their troops disband, May their
• 1:13:27
  Speaker 16: vast hostke feeble infants yield when they the onset of
• 1:13:31
  Speaker 16: thy soldiers meet. If by one line of march they
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 16: take the field, may thousands be too few for their retreat.
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 8: Scene four A hazardous esther heyman Elizabeth, the chorus a hazardus.
• 1:13:46
  Speaker 2: To esther Ah. Yes, thy slightest words have secret charms.
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 2: A graceful modesty on every act that stirs a value
• 1:13:55
  Speaker 2: above gold and purple. What happy crime can sal too
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 2: rare a measure? Who was the virtuous mother of whose
• 1:14:03
  Speaker 2: breast thine infancy was nursed, who wise hand trained thy childhood?
• 1:14:08
  Speaker 2: Tell me quickly, thou request whatever thou desirest shall be granted?
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 2: E'en shouldst thou ask, dear esther half my kingdom? So
• 1:14:17
  Speaker 2: have I said, and gladly say again, no.
• 1:14:21
  Speaker 9: Such exorbitant desire is mine. But since I must at
• 1:14:25
  Speaker 9: last explain my sighs saying, my king himself will have
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 9: me speak.
• 1:14:31
  Speaker 8: She casts herself at the King's feet.
• 1:14:35
  Speaker 9: I venture to beseech THEE for my life and for
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 9: the lives of all that hapless race, which thou hast
• 1:14:41
  Speaker 9: doomed to be destroyed with me.
• 1:14:44
  Speaker 8: A hazardus lifting her up.
• 1:14:47
  Speaker 2: Destroyed with THEE? What mystery is this?
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 8: Amen aside?
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 9: I tremble Esther's father was a Jew? Thou knowest, sire,
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 9: thy pitiless.
• 1:14:59
  Speaker 2: Decree, amen sighed Gods, Oh, how deeply dost thou pierce
• 1:15:06
  Speaker 2: my heart? The daughter of a Jew, My best beloved,
• 1:15:11
  Speaker 2: my esther innocence and jeentleness itself, whom I esteemed Heaven's
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 2: choicest gift. Could she have sprang from origin, so vile
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 2: wretched am I.
• 1:15:23
  Speaker 9: Thou mayest reject my prayer, but I would claim at
• 1:15:27
  Speaker 9: least as a last boon, that thou shouldst hear my
• 1:15:30
  Speaker 9: story to the end, nor suffer Haman's voice to interrupt
• 1:15:35
  Speaker 9: speak O, my God, confound shameless imposture. These Jews, of
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 9: whom thou wouldst rid the world, whom thou dost deem
• 1:15:45
  Speaker 9: the refuse of mankind, were once possessors of a wealthy land,
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 9: And while they still adored their father's god, found that
• 1:15:54
  Speaker 9: his blessing brought prosperity. This God, sole master of the
• 1:15:59
  Speaker 9: earth and sid skies, cannot be represented to the sight
• 1:16:03
  Speaker 9: by any form. Jehovah is his name, the world's creator.
• 1:16:08
  Speaker 9: When the meek are wronged, he hears their sighs, judges
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 9: with equal laws all mortals. Yea examines kings themselves from
• 1:16:17
  Speaker 9: his high throne. He but withdraws his hand, and strongest
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 9: states fall with a startling crash. The Jews, presumed to
• 1:16:28
  Speaker 9: worship other gods king people all were scattered in a day,
• 1:16:33
  Speaker 9: and Babylon's yoke of slavery was made the just reward
• 1:16:37
  Speaker 9: of their ingratitude. But to requit our masters in their turn.
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 9: The lord chose Cyrus ere he saw the light, promised
• 1:16:46
  Speaker 9: his aid, and called him by his name Born in
• 1:16:50
  Speaker 9: due time. He armed him with his thunders to break
• 1:16:53
  Speaker 9: their ramparts down in gates of brass into his hands,
• 1:16:57
  Speaker 9: gave princes for a spoil, avenged his temple's pillage and destruction,
• 1:17:03
  Speaker 9: and for our tears, forced Babylon to pay with usury
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 9: Victorious through him, Cyrus proclaimed his praise and favored us.
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 9: His people gave us back our laws and feasts divine,
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 9: and from its ruins raised the temple. But his mad son,
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 9: heir of so wise a father, forbade the progress of
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 9: the work begun. Deaf to our cries, God cast his
• 1:17:32
  Speaker 9: stock aside, cut off the monster, put thee in his place.
• 1:17:37
  Speaker 9: What hope do we not from such a noble king.
• 1:17:41
  Speaker 9: God pitying looks on his unhappy people, we said, a
• 1:17:45
  Speaker 9: king now reigns, who is the friend of innocence. His
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 9: mercy was extolled by all, and from the Jews loud
• 1:17:53
  Speaker 9: shouts of joy were heard. What gracious heaven must the
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 9: ear of princes? The most mile be I, beset by
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 9: cruelty and goodness at its source be poisoned from the
• 1:18:06
  Speaker 9: heart of thrace. There came a savage born and bred
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 9: here to breathe forth slaughter and threats, a minister who
• 1:18:14
  Speaker 9: hates Thy greatest glory.
• 1:18:16
  Speaker 3: I can s help believe it. I have no other end,
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 3: no other God.
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 2: Be silent till I order THEE to speak.
• 1:18:26
  Speaker 9: Our cruel enemy betrays himself. Yes, it is he, that
• 1:18:30
  Speaker 9: barbarous minister, who has deceived thee with a cloak of
• 1:18:34
  Speaker 9: zeal and armed thy virtue against innocence. Who but a
• 1:18:39
  Speaker 9: ruthless scythian O my God could have suggested such a
• 1:18:42
  Speaker 9: frightful order. One simultaneous signal everywhere will fill with murders
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 9: the astonished world seeing a foreign traitor in the name
• 1:18:53
  Speaker 9: of the most just of kings, wasting thy realms, while
• 1:18:57
  Speaker 9: in thy place victims of his wrath, thy slaughter'd subjects
• 1:19:01
  Speaker 9: with their blood defile the throne. What crime does his
• 1:19:06
  Speaker 9: envenomed hatred charge to the Jews? Have they awakened war
• 1:19:10
  Speaker 9: within thy borders? Have they join'd thy foes? Was ever
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 9: Thraldom's yoke more mildly born, adoring in their chains God's chastisement,
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 9: Whilst Thou, with heavy hand upon them laid, didst give
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 9: them up, defenseless to their foes. They still besought that
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 9: God to guard thy life, to shudder the devices of
• 1:19:34
  Speaker 9: the wicked, and o'er thy throne, to spread his shadowing wings.
• 1:19:39
  Speaker 9: He has been thine upholder, doubt it not Parthian and Indian.
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 9: He alone subdued beneath thy feet, scattered the countless hosts
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 9: of Scythia, and enclosed the seas within thy vast domains.
• 1:19:54
  Speaker 9: He to a Jew, revealed the plot. Two traitors hatched
• 1:19:58
  Speaker 9: against thy life. Alas I was that Jew's adopted daughter.
• 1:20:04
  Speaker 2: What Mordechai, he only of our.
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 9: House, remained my father's brother, like myself from our first
• 1:20:13
  Speaker 9: King's unhappy blood descended, viewing with horror an Amalekite, worn
• 1:20:19
  Speaker 9: of a race cursed by our God himself. He could
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 9: not bow the knee before this Haman, nor pay him
• 1:20:26
  Speaker 9: honors that he thinks are due to thee alone. Hence
• 1:20:30
  Speaker 9: house aware disguised this hatred against the Jews, and Mordecai
• 1:20:36
  Speaker 9: in vain, hast thou bestowed on him thy favors. At
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 9: Haman's door already is prepared the instrument of ignominious death.
• 1:20:45
  Speaker 9: Within an hour this venerable man, dragged by his order
• 1:20:50
  Speaker 9: from thy palace gates, wearing thy purple robe, is to
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 9: be hanged.
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 2: What dreadful lad burst on my startled soul. My blood
• 1:21:00
  Speaker 2: boiled with anger and with shame. I was the juke.
• 1:21:05
  Speaker 2: Then Heaven vouchshafe to make this meticallear a moment. Let
• 1:21:11
  Speaker 2: me have to breathe alone, called Mordechai. I'll hear his
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 2: story too.
• 1:21:18
  Speaker 7: The king retires, Let truth from Heaven appear.
• 1:21:23
  Speaker 8: Scene five, Esther, Hayman, Elizabeth the chorus Haymen to Esther.
• 1:21:30
  Speaker 3: I am confounded with astonishment, deceived, betrayed by the Jews enemies.
• 1:21:37
  Speaker 3: Heaven be my witness that I thought to make thy
• 1:21:41
  Speaker 3: life secure. Whoever else might perish, Command my influence on
• 1:21:46
  Speaker 3: their behalf the king, as thou canst see waivers perplexed,
• 1:21:52
  Speaker 3: I can restrain him. I can urge him on, and
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 3: at my pleasure raise or lull the storm. Behold me
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 3: willing to befriend the Jews. Speak and the instant slaughter
• 1:22:05
  Speaker 3: of your foes victims. To ratify a solemn oath shall
• 1:22:09
  Speaker 3: make atonement for my fatal error. What blood doest thou require?
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 9: Go, traitor, leave me the Jews want nothing from a
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 9: wretch like THEE. God, the avenger of the innocent, already
• 1:22:23
  Speaker 9: weighs THEE in the scales of justice. Soon will his
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 9: righteous sentence be pronounced tremble. His day draws nigh. Thy
• 1:22:32
  Speaker 9: reign is past.
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 3: Yeay, I confess your God is to be feared. But
• 1:22:39
  Speaker 3: doth he bid you keep relentless hatred? My pride is humbled.
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 3: I am forced to beg for mercy. Haughty Haman kneels
• 1:22:47
  Speaker 3: before THEE.
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 8: He kiss himself at her feet.
• 1:22:52
  Speaker 3: As thou wouldst save thy people, and dost honor thine
• 1:22:55
  Speaker 3: uncle's wary head by these thigh feet, which I am brace,
• 1:23:01
  Speaker 3: appease a dreadful king. Save Haman crouching trembling at thy knees.
• 1:23:09
  Speaker 8: Scene six A Hazarus esther Hayman Elizabeth the chorus and guards.
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 2: What derec a traitor lay his hands on THEE. In
• 1:23:21
  Speaker 2: the confusion of his look, I read his paphidy, confirming
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 2: all their words and his whole course of villainy, recalling
• 1:23:30
  Speaker 2: let not this must live a moment longer at his
• 1:23:33
  Speaker 2: own door instead of Morriecai, both heaven and Earth appeasing
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 2: by his death let him afford a feast for just revenge.
• 1:23:42
  Speaker 8: Haymon is led away by the guards. Scene seven, A
• 1:23:48
  Speaker 8: Hazardus Esther Mordecai Elizabeth. The chorus A Hazardus continued to
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 8: address Mordecai.
• 1:23:56
  Speaker 2: Mortal, beloved of Heaven, my soul's preserver. No more am
• 1:24:01
  Speaker 2: I the prey of evil. Counsels mine eyes have been
• 1:24:04
  Speaker 2: unsealed and crime confounded. Come shine beside me in thy
• 1:24:10
  Speaker 2: proper sphere. I give thee Hahmand's wealth and Hahmand's power,
• 1:24:16
  Speaker 2: justly possess what is injustice seized. I break the yoke
• 1:24:20
  Speaker 2: neath which the Jews have groaned to them. I yield
• 1:24:24
  Speaker 2: the blood of all their foes. Henceforth, that Jews be
• 1:24:28
  Speaker 2: on it equally with Persians. Oh shall tremble at the
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 2: name of Esther's God, reveal his temple, fill your wasted cities,
• 1:24:38
  Speaker 2: let your happy seed with sacred triumph. Celebrate this day,
• 1:24:42
  Speaker 2: and in their memory live my name.
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 6: For a.
• 1:24:47
  Speaker 8: Scene eight A Hazardus Esther Mordecai, Asaph Elizabeth the chorus,
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 8: what is it Asaf?
• 1:24:56
  Speaker 17: He is dead, O king, half dawn, as sunned by
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 17: the people, Fury dragged through the streets, the traitors mangled corpse.
• 1:25:04
  Speaker 17: They bear the horrid spectacle of blood.
• 1:25:09
  Speaker 1: May Heaven everguard our monarch's life. The Jews are in
• 1:25:15
  Speaker 1: sore peril and in need of instant succor.
• 1:25:21
  Speaker 2: Yes, I understand thee Let us go count about the
• 1:25:24
  Speaker 2: bloody orders of wicked hammons.
• 1:25:27
  Speaker 9: God Thy will is rot by ways of wisdom that
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 9: pass human thought.
• 1:25:35
  Speaker 8: Soon nine the chorus triumphed, God be praised, voices raised.
• 1:25:45
  Speaker 7: He saw the wicked leagued against our life. They bear
• 1:25:48
  Speaker 7: the murderous knife to shed our blood like water on
• 1:25:53
  Speaker 7: the ground. His voice from Heaven doth sound. And the
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 7: proud boaster, whos in the dust his own sharp arrows
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 7: and his bosom thrust.
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 16: I saw the bold blasphemer set on high like the
• 1:26:06
  Speaker 16: tall cedar. Did he lift his head, whose branches far
• 1:26:09
  Speaker 16: above the earth are spread. He seemed to wield the
• 1:26:13
  Speaker 16: thunders of the sky, his vanquished foes beneath him? Did
• 1:26:17
  Speaker 16: he tread scarce? Had I passed and God had struck
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 16: him dead?
• 1:26:22
  Speaker 11: I'll counsel after the justice. Kings beguiles themselves too upright
• 1:26:27
  Speaker 11: to deceive, heedless of toils, the wicked weave they fall
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 11: an easy prey to subtle wilds. A noble heart is
• 1:26:36
  Speaker 11: backwards to believe another's malice to his baseness, blind by
• 1:26:41
  Speaker 11: its own feelings, to judge all inclined.
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 10: How has the storm been hushed to peace?
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 11: Whose hand has made the tempest seas to gentle.
• 1:26:52
  Speaker 7: At this release? Her heart was kindled by the love
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 7: of God, ready to meet her death with dauntless breast,
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 7: her ardent zeal the path of danger trot. She dared
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 7: to speak, and Heaven has done the rest Esther has
• 1:27:09
  Speaker 7: triumphed Persia's dames retire arms nature and Heaven conspire. What
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 7: guileless graces in each glance are seen? Say? Was there
• 1:27:20
  Speaker 7: ever such a lovely queen?
• 1:27:22
  Speaker 16: The virtues of her heart yet more abound? Was ever
• 1:27:26
  Speaker 16: queen so good and gracious? Crowned Esther has triumphed. Dames
• 1:27:30
  Speaker 16: retire to conspire.
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 7: My God, O Zion is displeased no more. Rejoice, and
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 7: out of dust and ashes rise, Throw off the garment
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 7: that the captive wore, and let thy former splendor greet
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 7: our eyes. The ways lie open to your land again.
• 1:27:51
  Speaker 7: Take every chain tribes captive bound on foreign ground, gather
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 7: from east and west, and south and north, those seas
• 1:28:00
  Speaker 7: and mountains must be passed.
• 1:28:02
  Speaker 16: Go forth, break change tround, gather from east and west,
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 16: and south and north.
• 1:28:13
  Speaker 11: Mountains must be passed.
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 7: Go forth, those fears beloved once more shall meet mine eye.
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 16: I'll weep where my forefather's ashes lie.
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 12: Gather from east and west, and south and north, those
• 1:28:26
  Speaker 12: seas mountains must be passed.
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 7: Go forth once more, once more the stately porches rays
• 1:28:35
  Speaker 7: of God's own temple, or he hereth prayer. The deck
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 7: has altered, purest gold, repair out of the mountains, hugh
• 1:28:43
  Speaker 7: ye marbles, rare talk, lebanon, let fall, pine, ancient cedars tall,
• 1:28:49
  Speaker 7: Make ready holy priests to sing his praise.
• 1:28:54
  Speaker 16: To dwell with us again, doth God descend tremble thou
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 16: earth with gladness and with fear his whole weliness and
• 1:29:00
  Speaker 16: glory to revere ye Heaven's in lowliest adoration bend.
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 10: How good is Israel's God his yoke? How sweet bless
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 10: those who in their youth that sweetnest, No ye children
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 10: run that gracious Lord to meet. No earthly pleasure can
• 1:29:17
  Speaker 10: for charm compete. What heartfelt joy is that from his
• 1:29:20
  Speaker 10: presence flow? How good is Israel's God his yoke? How
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 10: sweet bless those who, in their youth that sweetness.
• 1:29:28
  Speaker 16: No ready to pardon and forego his wrath of thankless
• 1:29:32
  Speaker 16: souls that wander from his path. He waiteth the return.
• 1:29:36
  Speaker 16: He can excuse our weakened wayward wills to seek us.
• 1:29:39
  Speaker 16: He doth yearn less. Tenderness for her own offspring fills
• 1:29:43
  Speaker 16: a mother's heart. Ah who can share the love we
• 1:29:46
  Speaker 16: owe to God above in his mind alone her victory won.
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 7: His glory shineth honest like the Sun.
• 1:29:54
  Speaker 10: Ah who can share.
• 1:29:57
  Speaker 12: A blessed be his, his holy name, his name more
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 12: his mighty acts and force, till time has run its
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 12: course praised him forever and forevermore.
• 1:30:12
  Speaker 8: End of Act three in the Vestor by Jean Racine,
• 1:30:16
  Speaker 8: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell,