_Haman:_ What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she hath not performed the commandment of King Ahasuerus? _First Prince:_ She hath not done wrong to the King only, but also to all the princes of the land, for this deed of the Queen shall become known unto all the women of Media and Persia and they shall despise the command of their husbands: "Because," they shall say, "King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti, the Queen, to be brought before him and she came not." _Second Prince:_ What shall we do? This will cause great trouble and disobedience. _King:_ What thinkest thou, Haman, my chief counselor? _Haman:_ If it please the King, let there go forth a royal commandment and let it be written among the laws of the Medes and Persians that Vashti come no more before Ahasuerus, and let the King give her royal estate to another that is better than she. Then when this decree shall become known all wives shall give honor unto their husbands. _King:_ This saying pleaseth me greatly. I shall do accordingly. [_To servants_]: Send letters unto every province to every people, which shall state this decree, so that every man shall know it. _Haman:_ O King, I pray thee, let there be fair maidens brought before thee from which thou shalt choose another which shall be thy Queen. _King:_ So be it! See that fair maidens from every province be brought here to my palace; and the one that pleaseth me best, I will take her for my Queen. [_All bow._] SCENE II PLACE: At Shushan, the palace. CHARACTERS: King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, Maidens, Haman, Servants, Courtiers. [_Two servants are standing in the court room of the palace. Enter a messenger followed by_ ESTHER _and_ MORDECAI.] _Messenger_ [_announces to the servants in the room_]: This maiden has come to see the King. [_He goes out._] _First Servant:_ This is the place. Wait thou here. [_To_ MORDECAI]: What art thou here for? Thou wilt have to depart. _Mordecai:_ I only brought this maiden. I beg of thee let me have a few words with her; then I will withdraw. _First Servant:_ Speak then quickly, before the King cometh. [_Servants withdraw to another part of the room._] [Illustration: FIG. 3.--Esther and Mordecai] _Mordecai_ [_taking_ ESTHER'S _hand_]: Esther, my child, thou art like my very child, for although I am but thy uncle I have been as a father to thee. I bid thee farewell now, for it seemeth to me that the King will surely choose thee to be his Queen--thou art so fair. This one thing remember, tell him not that thou art a Jewess. Fare thee well, Esther! May the Lord bless thee! _Esther:_ Farewell to thee, Mordecai!