艾斯德尔传:Chapter 1

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艾斯德尔传:Chapter 1

艾斯德尔传	Esther
补录甲
¹本雅明族人克士的曾孙，史米的孙子，雅依尔的儿子摩尔德开，在薛西斯大王第二年，「尼散」月初一做了一梦。──	¹In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:
²他是犹太人，住在稣撒，在朝廷里做大官。	²When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.
³在巴比伦王拿步高从耶路撒冷掳去犹大王耶苛尼雅时，他也一同被掳去。──	³Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,
⁴他的梦如下：他听见喧哗呐喊，雷鸣地震，地上一片混乱之声。	⁴That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.
⁵忽见两条巨龙前来，准备厮杀，发出狂吼怒号。	⁵And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.
⁶万民都应声备战，攻击正义的民族。	⁶And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.
⁷那是黑暗和恐怖的日子，世上满布忧患、痛苦、悲哀和暴乱，	⁷And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king's magnificence.
⁸所有正义的民族都感到恐惶，害怕灾难；于是准备牺牲，向天主哀号。	⁸Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.
⁹当他们哀号之际，由一小泉忽涌出了一条大河，水势凶涌；	⁹Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
¹⁰同时曙光和太阳出升，贫贱的人受褒扬，显贵的人被吞灭。	¹⁰Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,
¹¹摩尔德开梦见此事，就惊醒了；心想天主有何意思，一天到晚思索梦中的意义。	¹¹To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.
¹²此时，摩尔德开与君王的两个看门太监，彼革堂和特勒士，住在宫中。	¹²But she refused, and would not come at the king's commandment, which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,
¹³他发觉了他们二人的阴谋，就留心观察他们的行动；察知他们要对薛西斯王下毒手，就将此事报告给君王。	¹³Asked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:
¹⁴于是君王拷问这两个太监，他们招供后，就处以死刑。	¹⁴(Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians, and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him:)
¹⁵王亲自笔录了这事的原委，存入档案；摩尔德开也记录了这件事。	¹⁵What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?
¹⁶王遂委派摩尔德开在朝廷内供职，并因这功勋，赐给他奖品。	¹⁶And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus.
¹⁷但是，在君王前负有名望的阿加格人哈默大达的儿子哈曼，为了这两个太监的事，却有意加害摩尔德开和他的民族。	¹⁷For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.
第一章
¹在薛西斯为王时，发生了这样的事：──这薛西斯当时管辖的版图，自印度至雇士，共计一百二十七省──	¹⁸And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king's indignation is just.
²他在稣撒禁城登极后，	¹⁹If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.
³第三年，设宴款待所有的公卿朝臣，波斯与玛待的将官，各省的贤达与总督，	²⁰And let this be published through all the provinces of thy empire, (which is very wide,) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.
⁴一连一百八十天，天天夸耀他帝国的豪华富裕，和他赫赫堂皇的荣耀。	²¹His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.
⁵这些日子过了以后，王又在宫内的御苑里，一连七天，欢宴稣撒禁城的全体人民，不分尊卑，都来参加。	²²And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, as every nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses: and that this should be published to every people.
⁶庭院各处装饰着白色和紫红色的壁毡，系着纯白色朱红色的彩带，悬在白大理石柱的银环子上；在碧玉、白玉、珍珠和宝石舖砌的地面上，陈设了金银的床榻。
⁷进饮的器皿，都是金银制的，大小俱全；御酿丰美，以示王家的厚贶。
⁸饮酒随意，无须强劝，因为王已命宫内侍役，应随各人所好，善加招待。
⁹同时瓦市提皇后，在薛西斯王的后宫，也摆设盛宴，款待妇女。
¹⁰至第七日，君王一时酒酣耳热，就命默胡曼、彼次达、哈波纳、彼革达、阿巴革达、则塔尔和加尔加斯，──七个侍从薛西斯王的宦官──
¹¹去召瓦市提王后，叫她头戴后冠，到君王跟前来，让众百姓与朝臣瞻仰她的美丽，因为她的容貌，娇媚可爱。
¹²但是瓦市提王后拒绝前来，不肯遵行宦官传来的王命。于是君王勃然大怒，五内如焚，
¹³遂与通达时务的朝臣商议说：──因为当时君王要办一事，必与精通法律民情的朝臣商议；
¹⁴那时在王身傍有加尔舍纳、舍塔尔、阿德玛达、塔尔史士、默勒斯、玛色纳、默慕干，七位波斯和玛待的公卿；他们常在君王左右，分居国家的高位──
¹⁵「按法律应如何处置瓦市提王后呢？因为她没有履行宦官传下的王命。」
¹⁶默慕干在君王及公卿前建议说：「瓦市提王后不但得罪了君王，并且还得罪了薛西斯王各省的诸侯与人民，
¹⁷因为王后的这种行为，一传到所有的妇女耳中，她们必将效尤，轻视自己的丈夫，而且说：薛西斯王命人召瓦市提王后到他跟前，她却没有来；
¹⁸今日凡听到王后这种举动的波斯与玛待的公主贵妇，也必说同样的话，对一切王家公卿，也照样轻视忿怒。
¹⁹陛下如果赞成，可下一道上谕，附于波斯与玛待的法典内，成为法律，禁止瓦市提后今后朝见薛西斯王；至于她的后位，王可赐与另一位比她贤淑的国妃。
²⁰当君王下的这道命令，传遍整个版图广阔的国土时，全国的妇女，不拘尊卑，对自己的丈夫必表示尊敬。」
²¹对这建议，君王和公卿都表示赞成；王就依照默慕干的建议施行，
²²向全国各省，传递文告，依各省的文字和各民族的语言，敕令天下所有的丈夫，应为一家之主，可随意发号施令。

艾斯德尔传:Chapter 1

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