To tell you of his triumph and to ask

Your sage advice. Two days ago the prince

And I sat down together to a feast

Within the palace walls and drank your health.

The royal cup was blushing like the spume

Of autumn clouds at sunset, when a wail

Arose in Shushan that has sore perplexed

The people. Mordecai, the haughty Jew,

Who sits beside the palace gate, refused

To bow or do me reverence, although

[25]

Admonished by the king. I was born

A humble subject in the private ranks

Of life; but now I wear the signet ring

Of Xerxes. Friends, the law that dooms the Jews

To simultaneous slaughter can not be

Revoked. Last night the queen invited me

To banquet with her lord. The necklace that

She wore of iridescent pearls was like

A rainbow over polar snows. Ah, she

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