[ESTHER _touches the scepter and rises._] _Esther:_ If it seemeth good unto the King, let the King and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for them. [_She turns and goes out._] _King:_ Hearest thou, Haman? Make haste and let us do as Esther hath said. Come, we will prepare for this banquet. [HAMAN _bows. The_ KING _and_ HAMAN _go out. Others follow._] [Illustration: FIG. 5.--The king holds out the scepter to Esther] SCENE V PLACE: The Queen's apartment. CHARACTERS: Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus, Haman, Servants, Mordecai. [_The servants are preparing the feast. Enter_ ESTHER.] _Esther:_ See ye that the feast is in readiness, for the King will soon arrive. [_Servants bow._] _Servant:_ The King cometh! _Esther_ [_going to meet the_ KING _as he enters_]: Welcome, my lord! [_The_ KING _sits upon a throne prepared for him._] _King:_ I am happy to be with thee, my fair Queen. Thou must have a request which thou desirest to make--speak, be not afraid. I will grant it though it be half of my kingdom. _Esther:_ If I have found favor in thy sight, O King, and if it please the King, let my life be saved and the lives of my people--the Hebrew people. We are to be destroyed, to be slain and to perish. _King:_ Thy people? The Hebrew people? Who is this and where is he that dareth in his heart to do this thing to thy people? _Esther:_ The enemy is thy chief counselor, this wicked Haman. _King:_ Did Haman do this deed? How didst thou know of his plan? _Esther:_ O King, Mordecai, the Jew, my uncle, hath shown me the letter which Haman hath sent over the country. The Jews are to be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. I am begging thee for my life and for the lives of my people! [Illustration: FIG. 6.--Queen Esther pleads for her people] _King:_ Fear not, Esther; thy people shall be saved. Mordecai, the Jew, hath once done me a great service. He hath not been rewarded for this. He shall have honor, for he deserveth it. _Servant:_ The great Haman hath come, O Queen. [HAMAN _enters; they seat themselves, and the feast is served._] _King:_ Haman, what shall be done unto the man whom the King delighteth to honor?