ESTHER
A monologue from the
play by Jean
Racine
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from The Dramatic Works of Jean Racine. Trans. Robert
Bruce Boswell. London: George Bell and Sons, 1911. |
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- ESTHER: Thou may'st have heard the well-known story
told
- Of haughty Vashti's fall, whose place I fill;
- When Persia's king, inflamed with sore displeasure,
- Banish'd the queen both from his throne and bed,
- But could not drive her from his thoughts so soon;
- Long Vashti reign'd in his offended soul.
- Then must there search be made thro' all his realms
- For some new object that might wean him from her.
- From Ind to Hellespont his slaves went forth;
- Daughters of Egypt show'd themselves at Shushan;
- E'en the wild Scythian and the Parthian sent
- Their maidens to contend for beauty's prize,
- The sceptre. I was being then brought up
- In secret under the wise, watchful eyes
- Of Mordecai, to whom I owe so much.
- When by the stroke of death I lost my parents,
- To me, his brother's offspring, he supplied
- The place of father and of mother too.
- The Jews were then sore vexèd night and day;
- He drew me out of my obscurity,
- And, their deliverance to my feeble hands
- Confiding, he possess'd me with the hope
- Of empire. Trembling I obey'd his will:
- Hither I came, but hid my race and country.
- Who could recount the jealousies and plots
- Hatch'd by the multitude of rivals here
- Who all, disputing for so high a favour,
- Waited their sentence at the monarch's eyes?
- Each had supporters, each a pow'rful faction;
- One boasted the advantages of birth;
- Another borrow'd help from skilful hands
- To deck herself in robes magnificent;
- But I placed all my trust in Heav'n's support,
- My only art the sacrifice of tears.
- At last to me the summons of the King
- Came, and before his presence I appear'd.
- God holds the hearts of monarchs in His hands;
- He brings prosperity to guileless souls,
- While in their schemes of pride the wicked fall
- Entrapp'd. My feeble charms appear'd to move
- The King: in thoughtful silence long he gazed;
- And Heav'n, that turn'd the balance in my favour,
- Work'd doubtless on his heart the while. At length,
- With eyes wherein a look of kindness reign'd,
- "Be thou my Queen," he said, and therewithal
- With his own hand upon my brow he placed
- His diadem. Then he, to show his joy,
- Loaded the great ones of his court with gifts;
- And throughout all his realms his bounty bade
- His subjects to the royal marriage feast.
- During those days of jocund mirth, alas,
- What secret shame and grief within me burn'd!
- Esther, said I, Esther is clad in robes
- Of state, and half the world obeys her sceptre,
- While the grass grows over the walls of Salem;
- Zion, the haunt of unclean reptiles, sees
- Her holy temple scatter'd heaps of stones,
- And ceased the festivals of Israel's God!
MORE
MONOLOGUES BY JEAN RACINE |
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