Ester 6

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Noctem illam duxit rex insomnem iussitque afferri sibi librummemorialium, annales priorum temporum. Quae cum illo praesente legerentur,	1 That night the king could not sleep; he called for the Record Book, or Annals, to be brought and read tohim.
2 ventum est ad eum locum, ubi scriptum erat quomodo nuntiasset Mardochaeusinsidias Bagathan et Thares duorum eunuchorum ianitorum, qui voluerant manusmittere in regem Asuerum.	2 They contained an account of how Mordecai had denounced Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king'seunuchs serving as Guards of the Threshold, who had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
3 Quod cum audisset rex, ait: “ Quid pro hac fide honoris ac praemiiMardochaeus consecutus est? ”. Dixeruntque ei servi illius ac ministri: “Nihil omnino mercedis accepit ”.	3 'And what honour and dignity', the king asked, 'was conferred on Mordecai for this?' 'Nothing has beendone for him,' the gentlemen-in-waiting replied.
4 Statimque rex: “ Quis est, inquit, inatrio? ”. Aman quippe exterius atrium domus regiae intraverat, ut suggereretregi, ut iuberet Mardochaeum suspendi in patibulo, quod ei fuerat praeparatum.	4 The king then said, 'Who is outside in the antechamber?' Haman had, that very moment, entered theouter antechamber of the private apartments, to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the gal ows which hehad just put up for the purpose.
5 Responderunt pueri: “ Ecce Aman stat in atrio ”. Dixitque rex: “Ingrediatur ”.	5 So the king's gentlemen-in-waiting replied, 'It is Haman out in the antechamber.' 'Bring him in,' the kingsaid,
6 Cumque esset ingressus, ait illi: “ Quid debet fieri viro, quem rex honoraredesiderat? ”. Cogitans autem in corde suo Aman et reputans quod nullum aliumrex nisi se vellet honorare	6 and, as soon as Haman came in, went on to ask, 'What is the right way to treat a man whom the kingwishes to honour?' 'Whom', thought Haman, 'would the king wish to honour, if not me?'
7 respondit: “ Homo, quem rex honorare cupit,	7 So he replied, 'If the king wishes to honour someone,
8 debet indui vestibus regiis, quibus rex indutus erat, et imponi super equum, quide sella regis est, et acceperit regium diadema super caput suum;	8 royal robes should be brought from the king's wardrobe, and a horse from the king's stable, sporting aroyal diadem on its head.
9 et primus deregiis principibus nobilissimis induat eum et teneat equum eius et per plateamcivitatis incedens clamet et dicat: “Sic honorabitur quemcumque voluerit rexhonorare” ”.	9 The robes and horse should be entrusted to one of the noblest of the king's officers-of-state, who shouldthen array the man whom the king wishes to honour and lead him on horseback through the city square,proclaiming before him: "This is the way a man shall be treated whom the king wishes to honour." '
10 Dixitque ei rex: “ Festina et, sumpta stola et equo, fac, ut locutus es,Mardochaeo Iudaeo, qui sedet in foribus palatii; cave, ne quidquam de his, quaelocutus es, praetermittas ”.	10 'Hurry,' the king said to Haman, 'take the robes and the horse, and do everything you have just said toMordecai the Jew, who works at the Chancel ery. On no account leave out anything that you have mentioned.'
11 Tulit itaque Aman stolam et equum; indutumqueMardochaeum et impositum equo praecedebat in platea civitatis atque clamabat:“ Hoc honore condignus est quemcumque rex voluerit honorare ”.	11 So taking the robes and the horse, Haman arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through thecity square, proclaiming before him: 'This is the way a man shal be treated whom the king wishes to honour.'
12 Reversusque est Mardochaeus ad ianuam palatii; et Aman festinavit ire indomum suam lugens et operto capite.	12 After this Mordecai returned to the Chancel ery, while Haman went hurrying home in dejection andcovering his face.
13 Narravitque Zares uxori suae et amicisomnia, quae evenissent sibi; cui responderunt sapientes, quos habebat inconsilio, et uxor eius: “ Si de semine Iudaeorum est Mardochaeus, ante quemcadere coepisti, non poteris praevalere contra eum, sed cades in conspectu eius”.	13 He told his wife Zeresh and al his friends what had just happened. His wife Zeresh and his friendssaid, 'You are beginning to fal , and Mordecai to rise; if he is Jewish, you will never get the better of him. Withhim against you, your fal is certain.'
14 Adhuc illis loquentibus, venerunt eunuchi regis et cito eum adconvivium, quod regina paraverat, pergere compulerunt.	14 While they were still talking, the king's officers arrived in a hurry to escort Haman to the banquet thatEsther was giving.