_Mordecai:_ Give the Queen this paper and say to her that I, Mordecai, the Jew, bid her come to me. [_Servant withdraws._] _Mordecai_ [_walking, talks to himself_]: Israel, O Israel, my people! You shall not perish. Esther, your Queen, will save you. [_Enter_ ESTHER.] _Esther:_ Mordecai, my uncle, why art thou here? Thou lookest unhappy. Hath aught happened to thee? _Mordecai:_ Yea, Esther, I am unhappy. I have sorrowful news to tell thee. _Esther:_ Chamberlains, withdraw! Speak, Mordecai; tell me quickly. It may be that I can help thee. _Mordecai:_ Esther, thou canst help me, and thou art the only one who can. Haman, the King's counselor, hateth the Jews--thy people and mine. He hath sent a decree over all the country commanding that every Jew, both old and young, little children and women, be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. Esther, thou must save thy people and thyself? Thou must go before the King and beg of him that he spare thy people. [ESTHER _shows great distress._] _Esther:_ Oh, what shall I do? Dost thou not know that for one who dareth to go before the presence of the King, if the King hath not called him, there is certain death; except to whom the King shall hold out the golden scepter--he may live? I have not been called to come in unto the King these thirty days. He will surely put me to death for such boldness. _Mordecai:_ Thou must go unto the King even so. Think not that thou wilt escape death from Haman because thou art in the King's house. Who knoweth but that thou hast been made Queen for such a time as this! _Esther_ [_after thinking deeply_]: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day, I also and my maidens will fast likewise--and so I will go in unto the King, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish. _Mordecai:_ May the Lord go with thee! SCENE IV PLACE: In the court of the King's palace. CHARACTERS: King Ahasuerus, Esther, Haman, Courtiers, Servants. [_The King sits on his throne._ QUEEN ESTHER _enters and bows before the_ KING. _The_ KING _looks at her in astonishment._] _Courtiers_ [_in loud whispers_]: The Queen! It is the Queen! _King:_ Esther, hast thou dared to come before my presence when I have not called thee? Thou surely dost not know what thou art doing! This act of boldness can mean thy death! But thou art so beautiful, Esther, I cannot be hard with thee. Rise! [_He holds out the golden scepter._] What is the request that has brought thee here? It shall be given thee, even though it be half of my kingdom.