LIB. XXI. A fuddenly;as de!iring by this fmall dilation,to prepare the ear and heart of the ](ing for fo important a requdr. ~l)w,all her petition ends in a banquet; !fit fttm gmi.unto t!u King, ht tht King And H4mttn cDme thU Jay untD thebAnqutt1that I have prtpdred for him. It is an eafie fJvour to rccc:ivc a f mall curcefie, where we offer to give grcar. H ~tm4n is called the King comes to Ef/hm table; and now highly pleafed with his emcrra;nmenr' he him[elf fclicites her to propound that fuit, for which her modefly wo~ld, bu; durfl not folicit him: Bafi1fulndfe thall leefe nothin~ at the luad of well-governed greatnelfe. Yet fiill Ejlhm fuilllicks in herreeth,and dares not come forth without a further preface oftime,and expectation; Another banquet mull pa!li:, ere this reckoning can be given in.Orher fuitorswait long for the delivery oftheir petition; longer B forrher<ceiroftheiranfwer: Here the King is fJin ro wait for his fuir: Whe· ther Ef/h<rs hemwould not yet ferve herro contell with fo llrong an adverfJry, as Haman,wirhour further recollection; or whether file delired ro get l>errer hold of theKing, by indeariog him with fa plea!ingentertainments ; or whether the would thus ripen herhopes,by working in the minde ofKing ..A haft~err~> a fore-conceit of the greatnelfe, and dii!iculryofrhat fuit, which was fo loath to come forth; or, whether the meant rhus to give fcope to the pride and malice of Haman,!or his more certain ruine: 1-Iowfoever it were,ro morrow is a new day, fer for Ejlhm fecond banquet,and third petition. The King is not invired without HAman; Favours arc fometimes done to men, with apurpofe ofdifpleafure: Doubtldfe HamAn tall et!> ofthe fame cates with his C maller;neither could he in the forehead of Ejlhtr reade any other charallers,then of refpell,a~d kind applaufe,yet had fi1e then, in_her ho_Pes, defigned him to a juft revenge. Ltttledoe we know,by outward camages, m what terms we ftand wirhei· ther God or man. Every little wind raifeth up a bubble;How is Ham•• now exalted in himfdfwirh the lingul~r graces ofQ:;een Ejlhtr; and begins to value bimfelf fo much more, as he fees himfell high<r in the rate ofothtrs opinion. Only furly, and fullen tMQrdtcai is an allay to his happineffe; No Edict ofdeath can bow the knees ofthat ftour Jew : yea the notice of that bloody cn1elty of this ...Agagitt, harhlliffned them fo much themore : Before, he lookt at Hamav as an Amaldtitt, now,as a perfecuror. Difdain;and anger look our auhole eyes , and D bid that proud enemy doe his worll. Nodoubt, tM6rdtcai had been lilleniog after the lpced of Queen Ej/htr; how Jhe came in to the King, how fi1e was wdcom· med with the golden fccpter, and with th< more precious words of A hafuerw; hO\~ fhe had entertained the King, how the pleafed ; the ne1ves had quit his fackcloth, and raifed his courage to a more fcornfull neglett of his profdfed adver. fary. fi ll71J4n comes home,1knO\v not whether more full ofpride,orofrage; cals an in· ward counccll of his choice friends,together with his wife1 makes a glorious report ofall his wealrh,ma1;nificence,height ?ffa~our, bothwith the King and ~<Cl!; and at la!l,afrer all hiS fun-thme, fers 10 thiS cloody ep1logue,T tt aDthu availtthmt nothing,fo long M I {et tMordecai thtltovjittingattht Kingr gatt. It is feldorrie fcen E thlt God allows even to the greatell dearlings of the \~orld, aperfell conrecrment; fomething they mull have to complain of, that thall give an unfavory verdure to their fweerell morfels; and make their very felicity, miferable. The witofwomen both wont tobe noted for more fudden arid more tharp. Ztrtp, the wife of Haman fcrs on foot rim motion of fpeedy revenge, which is applauded by there{\. L<t agaUowesb< mad<affiflJ mbits high, am/ t• 1111rrorv, {jtak thout~tht J(ipg>that M1rduat ma7 he hanged thtrtln; thmgot thON inmtrily with the King}unttJ the banquet. I doe not hear them fay; B-e patient awhile, thou haft already fer Mord<eai his !all day;the moneth Adar will not be locg in comming; the de. tenuination of his death bath made him defperare, let him in the tneane timeeat his own hem in envy at thy greatnoffe; but they rather advifeofa qoickdifpareh. Malice
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