Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

When as the fame of that dayes bloody newes
Came to the King, he said; Behold, the Iewes
Have wonne the day, and in their just defence,
Have made their wrong, a rightfull recompence;
Five hundred men in Susan they have staine,
And that remainder of proud Hamans straine,
Their hands have rooted out; Queene Ester, say,
What further suit (wherein Assuerus may
Expresse the bounty of his Royall hand)
Rests in thy bosome: What is thy demand?

Said then the Queene: If in thy Princely sight
My boone be pleasing, or thou take delight
To grant thy servants suit, Let that Commission
(Which gave the Iewes this happy dayes permission
To save their lives) to morrow stand in force,
For their behalfes that onely make recourse
To God, and thee, and let that cursed brood
(The sonnes of Haman, that in guilty blood
Lye all ingoar'd, unfit to taint a Grave)
Be hang'd on Gibbets, and (like co-heires) have
Like equall shares of that deserved shame,
Their wretched father purchas'd in his name:

The King was pleas'd, and the Decree was giv'n
From Susan, where betwixt the earth and Heaven,

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(Most undeserving to be own'd by either)
These cursed ten (like twins) were borne together.

When Titan (ready for his journall chase)
Had rouz'd his dewy locks, and Rosie face
Inricht with morning beauty, up arose
The Iewes in Susan, and their bloody blowes
So roughly dealt, that in that dismall day
A lease of hundreds fell, but on the prey
No hand was laid: so, sweet and jolly rest
The Iewes enjoy'd, and with a solemne Feast,
(Like joyfull Victors dispossest of sorrow)
They consecrated the ensuing morrow;
And in the Provinces throughout the Land,
Before their mighty and victorious hand,
Fell more than seventy thousand, but the prey
They seiz'd not; and in mem'ry of that day,
They solemnized their victorious Guests,
With gifts, and triumphs, and with holy Feasts.