dmaids with her, the one of which
supported her, as she gently leaned upon her, and the other followed
after, and lifted up her large train [which swept along the ground] with
the extremities of her fingers. And thus she came to the king, having
a blushing redness in her countenance, with a pleasant agreeableness in
her behavior; yet did she go in to him with fear; and as soon as she
was come over against him, as he was sitting on his throne, in his royal
apparel, which was a garment interwoven with gold and precious stones,
which made him seem to her more terrible, especially when he looked at
her somewhat severely, and with a countenance on fire with anger, her
joints failed her immediately, out of the dread she was in, and she fell
down sideways in a swoon: but the king changed his mind, which happened,
as I suppose, by the will of God, and was concerned for his wife, lest
her fear should bring some very ill thing upon her, and he leaped from
his throne, and took her in his arms, and recovered her, by embracing
her, and speaking comfortably to her, and exhorting her to be of good
cheer, and not to suspect any thing that was sad on account of her
coming to him without being called, because that law was made for
subjects, but that she, who was a queen, as well as he a king, might be
entirely secure; and as he said this, he put the scepter into her hand,
and laid his rod upon her neck, on account of the law; and so freed
her from her fear. And after she had recovered herself by these
encouragements, she said, "My lord, it is not easy for me, on the
sudden, to say what hath happened, for as soon as I saw thee to be
great, and comely, and terrible, my spirit departed from me, and I had
no soul left in me." And while it was with difficulty, and in a low
voice, that she could say thus much, the king was in a great agony
and disorder, and encouraged Esther to be of good cheer, and to expect
better fortune, since he was ready, if occasion should require it, to
grant her the half of his kingdom. Accordingly, Esther desired that he
and his friend Haman would come to her to a banquet, for she said she
had prepared a supper for him. He consented to it; and when they were
there, as they were drinking, he bid Esther to let him know what she
desired; for that she should not be disappointed though she should
desire the half of his kingdom. But she put off the discovery of her
petition till the next day, if he would come again, together