Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-11-15
From the Ladies' Companion.
HEROINES OF SA CRED HISTORY.
NUMBER
THE HERoIsM OF QUEEN ESTHER.


NUMBERL
THE HERoISM OF QUEEN ESTHER.
CHAPTER 1.-THE BANQUET.
"Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and oint-
ment. Let no flower of the spring pass by US:
Let us cover ourselves with rose-buds ere they be
withered. WISDOM OF soLoMAN.
Twas night in Persia. Elam's burning
god had passed to other lands, leaving his
starry train "to rule the night Arcturus
and all his sons we're out--Orion and the
Pleiades, shedding soft briliandy over ma
ny perfnmed vale, mountain and desert
lone. Gently their rays were flung over
the stately city of Susa, and the fairy gar
dens Of the Royal Palace. Herr, flowers,
rare and lovely, were giving forth their fra
GRANGE TO the night. Myriads of roses,
jas mines, myrtles and sweet 0leander-.
glowing pomegranite. almond graceful
chinar and citron, were gathered in gor-
geous groups, or bending overthe silvery
and gushing fountains.
A royal banquet hall arose il this sweet
Eden. Gorgeous in its maghificence, it
was worthy its royal master. The floor
was rare mosaic of marble and porphry
and alabaster, which gave it thd glow of a
rich painting. Pillars of marie encircled
the apartment, suspended to which by sill
yer rings were hangings Of rich stuffs, of
white and green and scarlet, ldoped up with
silver cords. A table in he form of
crescent occupied the centre of the
room, covered with every rate Wand and
delicious fruit, and thick set with delicate
ly sculrtured vases and cups Of gold and
silver set with precious stones. bearing the
most exquisite wines of Heb ION and Dam
ascus, the sweet W alter Of Clpaspes sacred
to the royal table.
Around this luxurious board, reclining
cushions, were the chief mobiles of the
court of Ataxerxes. In the centre was the
monarch, arrayed in robes of scarlet and
purple, adorned with gold and jewels, and
wearing tae royal tiara, of cloth of silver
and purple silk twisted, which bore a short
plume erect in front. Next the king, sat
his seven counselors, the heads Of the sew
en- noblest families in Persia, descendants
of the conspirators against the usurper,
Smerdis, the Mag.an, and privileged, in
memory Of the confusion Of that hour, to
wear the plumes which decorated their
white linen turbans. a-slant.
A dazzling light was thrown over the
richly laden table by silver chandeliers,
while the hall resoundcd with music and
merry laughter. This was the seventh day
of the royal feast-a feast given by the king
to all his officers and mobiles, in commenlo-
ration of the peace which his unremitting
Efforts had procured to the one hundred
and twenty provinces of his vast kingdom
Silence was commanded at the table and
the king spoke:
"This is the last day Of the feast, my
lords" he said, "let it in joy and mlrth
exceed the rest. Stint not the wine, It's
parent of wit and merriment. And yet
would not force your will--let it be the law
of our feast that none drink in courtesy
more than it pleaseth AIM"
Loud applause followed this gracious
address from their monarch--the golden
fiagons wore replenished, and jeweled cups
flashed in the light.
Still it becometb not me-" continued
the. king, .'to argue in the praise of wine
for sayeth the writers 1t reduces the
king, the infant, the poor and rich, to one
level. II maketh the heart SO joyous thai
monarchs and governors are no longer
feared-the love Of friends and kindred are
forgotten, and swords are often drawn be.
tween them"
"Bravely hath my lord spoken Of wine,
said his favorite, Mamucan, who sat mex
to him; cit is truly potent thing, ant
readily masters man, the lord of the earth
But if l dared hazard an opinion, there ex
lists more powerful thing than wine"
"What may that be, Mamucan?" sait
his royal master. "Say onl''
"It is the king" said the favorite
"Man is lord of the earth, you say he
planteth the vineyard and maketh the wine
and doth not the king command all men
If he command to kill, they kill; if he com
mand to spare, they spare; if he bid then
go to war, to break down mountains, walls
and towers, it is done; if he command t.
make desolate, to build, to cut down, Il
plant, man obeyeth him. Confess, then
all We who hear me, that the king is the
most powerful thing in the world.
eyes, wine is strong and the king il
strong, but know what excelleth both il
power" said prince Admath.
"Speak on" said the king.
at is voman, my lord. If mankind rule
the world, doth not woman rule him? HI
that planteth the vine, and the king wht
commandeth the sea and land owe their ey-