And, this day, shall the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard the report of the queen, tell it, unto all the lords of the king, - with enough of contempt and wrath.

Then said the young men of the king, who waited upon him, - Let them seek out for the king young virgins, of pleasing appearance;

and let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them gather together every young virgin of pleasing appearance unto Shusan the palace, unto the house of the women, into the custody of Hegai eunuch of the king, keeper of the women, and let there be given the things needed for their purification;

in the evening, she went in, and, in the morning, she returned - unto the second house of the women, unto the custody of Shaashgaz the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines, - she went not in again unto the king, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

But, when the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai - who had taken her as his own daughter - to go in unto the king, she requested nothing, save what Hegai the king's eunuch who kept the women might direct, - but so it was, that Esther obtained favour in the eyes of all who beheld her.

Then were sent letters, by the hand of the runners, into all the provinces of the king, To destroy, to slay and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little ones and women, in one day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, the same, is the month Adar, - and the spoil of them to be a prey.

Then said the king, What honour and dignity hath been done unto Mordecai, for this? Then said the king's young men, who were ministering unto him, Nothing hath been done for him.

So the king's young men said unto him, Lo! Haman, standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.