Act 3 — SCENE II
Reading edition
Place: At Shushan, the palace.
Characters: King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, Maidens, Haman, Servants, Courtiers.
[Two servants are standing in the court room of the palace. Enter a messenger followed by Esther and Mordecai.]
Messenger [announces to the servants in the room]: This maiden has come to see the King.
[He goes out.]
First Servant: This is the place. Wait thou here. [To Mordecai]: What art thou here for? Thou wilt have to depart.
Mordecai: I only brought this maiden. I beg of thee let me have a few words with her; then I will withdraw.
First Servant: Speak then quickly, before the King cometh.
[Servants withdraw to another part of the room.]
Fig. 3.—Esther and Mordecai
Mordecai [taking Esther's hand]: Esther, my child, thou art like my very child, for although I am but thy uncle I have been as a father to thee. I bid thee farewell now, for it seemeth to me that the King will surely choose thee to be his Queen—thou art so fair. This one thing remember, tell him not that thou art a Jewess. Fare thee well, Esther! May the Lord bless thee!
Esther: Farewell to thee, Mordecai!
[Mordecai goes out. Other maidens come in announced by the messenger.]
Messenger: These maidens would see the King.
[The servants show them where to sit. Enter second messenger.]
Second Messenger: The King! The King!
[Enter King and Haman. King sits on his throne.]
Second Servant [bowing before the King]: O King, the maidens from all parts of the country have arrived and await thy pleasure.
King: Let them come before my presence one at a time, and I will choose from among them the one that seemeth most fair.
[The musicians begin playing and, one by one, the maidens come out. They bow and dance. Esther comes last of all. As Esther dances the King speaks.]
King: What marvelous beauty! Surely this maiden is fair enough to be my Queen.
Haman: Yea, O King, thou art right; she should be thy Queen.
King [takes Esther's hand]: What is thy name, fair maid?
Esther: My name is Esther, O King.
King: Esther, I do here take thee to be my Queen. Bring the royal crown and the Queen's robes!
[Servants come immediately and put them on her.]
Fig. 4.—Esther dances before the king
King [leading Esther out]: Come unto the wedding feast which is now prepared. All are welcome!