[MORDECAI _goes out. Other maidens come in announced by the messenger._] _Messenger:_ These maidens would see the King. [_The servants show them where to sit. Enter second messenger._] _Second Messenger:_ The King! The King! [_Enter_ KING _and_ HAMAN. KING _sits on his throne._] Second Servant [_bowing before the_ KING]: O King, the maidens from all parts of the country have arrived and await thy pleasure. _King:_ Let them come before my presence one at a time, and I will choose from among them the one that seemeth most fair. [_The musicians begin playing and, one by one, the maidens come out. They bow and dance._ ESTHER _comes last of all. As_ ESTHER _dances the_ KING _speaks._] _King:_ What marvelous beauty! Surely this maiden is fair enough to be my Queen. _Haman:_ Yea, O King, thou art right; she should be thy Queen. _King_ [_takes_ ESTHER'S _hand_]: What is thy name, fair maid? _Esther:_ My name is Esther, O King. _King:_ Esther, I do here take thee to be my Queen. Bring the royal crown and the Queen's robes! [_Servants come immediately and put them on her._] [Illustration: FIG. 4.--Esther dances before the king] _King_ [_leading_ ESTHER _out_]: Come unto the wedding feast which is now prepared. All are welcome! SCENE III PLACE: The palace gate. CHARACTERS: Haman, Mordecai, Servants, Esther. [_Servants are standing and walking by the gate. Women come by carrying water jars._ MORDECAI _stands apart from the crowd._ HERALD _comes in._] _Herald:_ Bow the knee, bow the knee. The chief counselor, Haman, approacheth! Thus saith the King. [HAMAN _comes in. All bow to him except_ MORDECAI.] _Haman_ [_pointing to_ MORDECAI]: Who is this man who doth not bow the knee to me? _First Servant:_ He is Mordecai, the Jew, my lord. [_To_ MORDECAI]: Why dost thou break the King's commandment? _Haman:_ Thou Jew! Dost thou think that thou art mightier than I, whom the King hath set above all the princes of the land? Thou shalt suffer for this. [_Turns to servant._] Send letters unto all the King's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day--even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and to take the spoil of them for prey. [_Servant bows and goes away._ HAMAN _passes on, leaving_ MORDECAI _with two servants._ MORDECAI, _in deep thought, walks anxiously up and down._] _Mordecai:_ I must see Queen Esther. Canst thou not take me to the Queen? _Second Servant_ [_laughing scornfully_]: Thinkest thou that the Queen will see thee?