Religion

The Historie of Ester: Section 15

by Francis Quarles 1592–1644

From Divine Poems (1633), The Historie of Ester

Religion

Vpon the Queene and Mordecai
Dead Hamans wealth and dignity
The King bestowes: to their discretion
Referres the Iewes decreed oppression.

THat very day, the King did freely adde
More bounty to his gift: What Haman had
Borrow'd of smiling Fortune, he repaid
To Esters hand, and to her use convaid:
And Mordecai found favour with the King;
Vpon his hand he put his Royall Ring,
Whose Princely pow'r proud Haman did abuse,
In late betraying of the guiltlesse Iewes;
For now had Ester to the King descry'd
Her Iewish kin, how neere she was ally'd
To Mardocheus, whom (her father dead)
His love did foster in her fathers' stead.
Once more the Queene prefers an earnest suit,
Her humble body lowly prostitute
Before his Royall feet, her cheekes o'reflowne
With marish teares, and thus her plain'full mone,
Commix't with bitter singults, she exprest:
If in he Cabin of thy Prinely brest
Thy loyall servant (undeserv'd) hath found
A plce wherein her wishes might be crown'd
With faire successe; If in thy gracious ight
I pleasing, or my cause seeme just, and right,
Be speedy letters written, to reverse
Those bloody Writs which Haman did disperse
Throughout thy Provinces, whose sad content
Was the subversion of my innocent
And faithfull people; Helpe, (my gracious Lord)
The time's prefixt, wherein th' impartiall Sword
Must make this massacre, the day's at hand,
Vnlesse thy speedy Grace send countermand:
How can I brooke within my tender brest,
To breake the bonds of Natures high behest,
And see my peopl (for whose sake I breath)
Like stalled Oxen, bought and sould for death?
How can I see such mischiefe? how can I
Survive, to see my kin, and people dye?
Said then the King; Lo cursed Haman hath
The execution of our highest wrath,
The equall hire of his malicious pride;
His welth to thee I gave; (my fairest Bride)
His honour (better plac'd) I have bestow'd
On him, to whom my borrow'd life hath owd
Her five yeares breath, the trusty Mordecai,
Our loyall kinsman: Let his hand pourtray
Our pleasure, as best liketh him, and the;
Let him set downe, and be it our Dcree,
Let him confirme it with our Royall Ring,
And we shall signe it with the name of King:
For none may alter, or reverse the same
That's seal'd and written in our Princely name.

MLA

Quarles, Francis. “The Historie of Ester: Section 15.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/quarles/488/.

Chicago

Quarles, Francis. “The Historie of Ester: Section 15.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/quarles/488/.

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