Ester, 15

1. Mardoqueu mandou pedir a Ester que fosse ter com o rei para lhe pedir graça e suplicar em favor de sua pátria.

1. And he commanded her (no doubt but he was Mardochai) to go to the king, and petition for her people, and for her country.

2. Recorda-te – mandou-lhe dizer – do tempo de tua humilhação, como eras alimentada por minhas mãos. Amã, o primeiro dignitário após o rei, falou contra nós para nossa ruína.

2. Remember, (said he,) the days of thy low estate, how thou wast brought up by my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against us unto death.

3. Roga, pois, ao Senhor e fala ao rei por nós; livra-nos da morte!”

3. And do thou call upon the Lord, and speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death.

4. No terceiro dia, terminando sua prece, Ester despiu suas vestes de dor e revestiu suas vestiduras de cerimônia.*

4. And on the third day she laid away the garments she wore, and put on her glorious apparel.

5. Assim adornada, depois de ter invocado a Deus, árbitro e salvador universal, tomou consigo duas servas.

5. And glittering in royal robes, after she had called upon God the ruler and Saviour of all, she took two maids with her,

6. Apoiava-se sobre uma, como uma pessoa delicada,

6. And upon one of them she leaned, as if for delicateness and overmuch tenderness she were not able to bear up her own body.

7. ao passo que a outra a seguia, levando a cauda de seu vestido.

7. And the other maid followed her lady, bearing up her train flowing on the ground.

8. Estava rosada como uma flor de beleza, de rosto alegre e atraente, mas com o coração angustiado pelo temor.

8. But she with a rosy colour in her face, and with gracious and bright eyes, hid a mind full of anguish, and exceeding great fear.

9. Passou, pois, todas as portas e se apresentou diante do rei. Assuero estava assentado em seu trono, revestido de todos os ornamentos de sua majestade, coberto de ouro e de pedrarias e seu aspecto era imponente.

9. So going in she passed through all the doors in order, and stood before the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed with his royal robes, and glittering with gold, and precious stones, and he was terrible to behold.

10. Logo que o rei levantou a cabeça radiante de esplendor e dirigiu seu olhar cheio de cólera, a rainha, mudando de cor, desfaleceu e se deixou cair sobre os ombros da criada que a acompanhava.*

10. And when he had lifted up his countenance, and with burning eyes had shewn the wrath of his heart, the queen sunk down, and her colour turned pale, and she rested her weary head upon her handmaid.

11. Deus mudou então em doçura a cólera do rei. Todo perturbado, levantou-se precipitadamente de seu trono e a tomou nos braços até que ela voltou a si, procurando acalmar seu temor com doces palavras:

11. And God changed the king's spirit into mildness, and all in haste and in fear he leaped from his throne, and holding her up in his arms, till she came to herself, caressed her with these words:

12. “Que tens, Ester?” – perguntou ele –. “Sou teu irmão. Não temas!

12. What is the matter, Esther? I am thy brother, fear not.

13. Não morrerás, porque nossa ordem não concerne senão ao comum do povo.

13. Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.

14. Vem!”

14. Come near then, and touch the sceptre.

15. Levantou o cetro de ouro e o aproximou de seu pescoço e a beijou, dizendo: “Fala comigo!”.

15. And as she held her peace, he took the golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck, and kissed her, and said: Why dost thou not speak to me?

16. “Meu Senhor, eu te vi como um anjo de Deus e o temor de tua majestade pôs no avesso meu coração.*

16. She answered: I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.

17. Porque és maravilhoso, Senhor, e teu rosto está cheio de graça.”

17. For thou, my lord, art very admirable, and thy. face is full of graces.

18. Dizendo essas palavras, desfaleceu de novo sem sentidos,

18. And while she was speaking, she fell down again, and was almost in a swoon.

19. o que encheu o rei de consternação enquanto todos os seus servos procuravam reanimá-la.

19. But the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.