The Story of Esther (libretto)

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The Story of Esther

During the days of the Jewish sojourn in Persia The king of Persia Ahasuerus/Xerxes is celebrating a great feast. He wishes to show off his beautiful wife, Vashti, but she refuses his summons. He is furious and asks his advisors what to do. They say that her refusal of the king is a refusal of the State and word could soon get round that all women could refuse their menfolk. They advise him to depose her and to write a decree to be included in the laws of The Medes and the Persians to that effect.

Xerxes then goes off to the wars with the Greeks and is victorious including at the battle at Thermopylae.

Some years later when he come back he is advised to find himself a replacement for Vashti by gathering together the choice virgins of his reign and choosing one for his queen.

In his capital Susa there lives a Jewess, Hadassah (Esther in Persian), an orphan, who lives with her loving elder cousin, Mordecai, who has taken her for his daughter. Mordecai was one of the Jews taken by Nebuchadnezzar into exile.

She is one of the chosen and is taken off to the harem looked after by a eunuch, to undergo a year's beauty treatment. She becomes the eunuch's favourite and is chosen by Xerxes as his wife. She keeps her race secret.

Mordecai hangs around the Palace, obtains a post as a guard and gets to know about a plot to kill the king by two servants. He tells Esther, who tells the king, the plot fails and the two are hanged. Meanwhile Haman takes over as Prime Minister. Haman becomes over-officious and orders everyone to bow down to him. Mordecai refuses on the grounds of his religion and Haman swears revenge not just on Mordecai but also the whole of the Jewish race in Persia. He goes to the king and tells him that there is a race of people in Persia who are rich, who do not keep the kings laws, and who should be removed. He promises resulting riches for the king's estate. Xerxes agrees and gives him his ring as a seal for the orders.

After consultation of Lots (Purim). Haman decides that in all parts of the kingdom all Jews should be gathered together and killed on the thirteen day of the twelfth month.

There is fasting, wailing, gnashing of teeth and and the wearing of sackcloth amongst the Jews. Mordecai puts on a sackcloth and ashes and heads for the Palace. Esther sends her eunuch with clothes for him, which he refuses. He tells the eunuch to tell Esther to inform the king who exactly is to be killed and to inform him of her own race. She sends the message back that she has not seen the king for 30 days and that anyone presenting themselves to the King unasked is likely to be put to death unless the King relents by offering them his sceptre to touch. Mordecai sends back the message that the whole of her race is at stake including his own and her lives and perhaps it is for this she was made Queen. She agrees and goes to the King who holds out the sceptre saying she could ask for whatever she wishes including half his kingdom.

She asks him and Haman to a banquet the next night at which she will tell them of her desires. Haman sees Mordecai who again refuses to bow down and Haman orders a huge gallows to be built for Mordecai. Haman goes off to his family and boasts about his actions and the forthcoming banquet and about how only he and the king have been invited.

That night the King cannot sleep and asks his scribes to read over the chronicles of the Meads and the Persians. They read about how Mordecai saved him from assassination. He asks if Mordecai was ever rewarded and they tell him no. He calls for Haman and asks him how to reward someone in great favour. Thinking the king means himself Haman makes some grand suggestions. The king agrees and tells Haman to reward Mordecai in this fashion. Haman does so and goes back to his family, who now tell him he is in trouble.

After the banquet the King again tells Esther she can have whatever she wants including half his kingdom. She says someone is going to kill her race and herself and Mordecai. She would not object if they were to be sold to slavery but genocide is a bit much. Who is this says the King. Haman says she. The king goes off to think about this. Haman pleads with Esther for his life and ends up by crawling after her onto her couch. Just then King comes back, thinks Haman is trying to rape Esther and orders his servant to cover his head and hang him from the gallows built for Mordecai. Xerxes gives Esther Haman's property and asks what else she wants and she says she wishes an equivalent number of Jewish enemies to be put to death. On the 13th, the Jews kill 500 in Susa including Haman's 10 sons. The King asked what else she wants and she demands Haman's 10 son's bodies should be hung and publicly displayed and the deaths of more enemies of the Jews. The King complies. 300 more were killed in Susa and 75.000 men women and children in total in Persia. The Jews however did not take property. Mordecai is promoted in Haman's place and announces that, from now on, Jews should celebrate the 14th and 15th Jan with a feast known as Purim

Notes.

Below is a draft of a libretto based on the King James version with help with the plot from the Good News Bible to show how the opera might go. No doubt a modern version of the Bible could be used but King James was so much more poetic than the modern scribes. I appreciate that the language is rather flowery and may need paring down. The ancient Jews saw Esther as a great heroine. I see her as starting off as an Aida and ending as a Salome, having been corrupted by power. The turning point being when she is allowed to see the King unasked and he offers her half his Kingdom. The parallel with Salome was not lost on the writers of Mark's gospel

The story has the possibility of some musical fun by quoting Verdi and others. I have noted some opportunities in the text. No doubt there are others.

The King's name in the King James Bible is Ahasuerus but he is also Xerxes, which has more operatic associations and has got to be easier to sing.

I have suggested great foreshortening of the story. The initial feast could be in celebration of the victory over the Greeks allowing references to Thermopylae and the Marathon. Also the dialogue regarding Esther's plea to the king would be more dramatically satisfying if it were direct between Mordecai and Esther rather than having the eunuch as intermediary.

Vashti interested me greatly. Why did she refuse? Accordingly I have expanded her role. She started off as a stock character - a nagging wife but ended up speaking for the women of those times and maybe Afghanistan now (written before the US/UK invasion). I am not yet happy with the syntax of her role. For one thing she quotes from the Jewish scripts of the time, an odd thing in a Persian, but perhaps she was a scholar of Jewish scrolls! Her music should be Moorish even Afghan.

The keeper of the Harem could be a woman, which is not historically correct, or perhaps it could be a 'trouser' role. I have hinted that he/she may be Jewish.

There is a legend that Xerxes converted to Judaism and I have used this.

Having written all this I discovered that Handel had had the same idea. However a recent attendance at the London Handel Appreciation Soc's excellent production I feel there is little or no similarity, Handel's version being very much an oratorio.

ESTHER A story of the Middle East

Cast

Xerxes King of Persia

Memucan An advisor

Haman An advisor, later Prime Minister

Vashti Wife to Xerxes

Esther A Jewess

Mordecai her cousin

Hegai A Eunuch, keeper of the King's women

Act 1, Scene 1 The Kings palace courtyard shortly after the final victory over the Greeks.

There are: White Green and blue hangings fastened with cords of fine purple linen tied to silver rings. Pillars of marble and beds (sofas) of gold and silver upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble -- and -- at least one tree.

We are at the king's table. Xerxes, Memucan, Haman, other advisors and Princes are at the table. The ladies are feasting inside. The King and his companions are drunk from a long feast. Servants & scribes do their bidding

Xerxes

'Give them drink in vessels of gold and royal wine in abundance. Each man shall drink according to his pleasure and non shall I compel.

Bring Vashti my queen to show her beauty to the people and the princes.'

Memucan

'Hail to King Xerxes, who did bridge the Hellespont, and lead thy troops victorious through Europe against Greece. Who has rebuked Egypt and revenged Marathon. Who was victor at Thermopylae, and sacker of Athens. Of a truth, my lord, thou dost surpass all living Persians, and all those yet unborn.'

Jubilation at the table

'And yet when as I looked and saw the whole Hellespont covered with the vessels of my fleet, and all the shore as full as possible of men, I wept when I thought of the shortness of man's life, and considered that of all this host, not one will be alive when a hundred years are gone by. And on our return, we arrived at the Hellespont with scarce a fraction of the army. For hunger plague and dysentery attacked the troops while still upon their march, and greatly thinned their ranks.

General sorrow at the table

And yet I was merciful for all the trespasses which the Athenians had committed against me I freely forgave and let them choose for themselves whatever land they like and let them dwell as free people and rebuild all their temples which I had burned.'[1]

General admiration at the table

Vashti enters the courtyard with female entourage. Also drunk.

Vashti

'Is it not written: ' It is not for Kings, It is not for Kings, to drink wine nor for Princes strong drink. Lest they drink and forget the law and pervert their judgment.Ó And is it not also writtenÓ 'Give not thy strength unto woman nor thy ways to that which destroyeth Kings.Ó? [2]

Laughs

Alas It is written: that women's desires shall be unto their husbands, that men should rule over us, that we are our husband's chattels and we are commanded, yea, commanded to bring forth our children in sorrow.3

Hear me. I shall not attend to the king. I shall not obey such commands. I shall not show myself in lewd display to his advisors, astrologers and sycophants for their delight.

Is it not also written that thou shouldst not covert thy neighbours wife?'

Aside to her entourage

'The serpent beguiled me and I did eat.'[3]

Exit Vashti

Shocked silence at the table.

Haman (amused)

'The Queen refuses to come at your command.'

Xerxes leaps up from the table, furious - sighs- and then, to the unmistakable strains of Handel's 'Largo', staggers away to relieve himself behind a tree.

X from behind the tree

'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti, according to law because she has not performed the commandment of the King?

Memucan

The queen has not done wrong to the King only but also to all the Princes and people who are in the kingdom, for this deed shall become known unto all women so that they shall despise and disobey their husbands and all the ladies of Persia and Media shall behave likewise and thus shall arise much contempt and wrath.

General horror at the table.

If it please the king let it be written amongst the laws of the Meads and the Persians, that Vashti come no more before the king and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

General relief and agreement at the table.

I shall do according to the words of Memucan. Send letters into all the provinces from India to Ethiopia, according to their writing and to all the people according to their language that Vashti shall be banished from the King and that all wives shall give to their husbands honour and every man shall bear rule in his own house.

Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king

More agreement at the table.

And let the King appoint officers in all the the provinces of the kingdom that they may gather together all the fair young virgins.

He points to those around him

Profound agreement at the table.

The chosen virgins shall be gathered together in the Palace and the things for purification given unto them and let the maiden which most pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.

X (delighted)

I shall do according to the words of Memucan.

Act 2, Scene 2. Same courtyard now less grandly decorated. The chosen virgins are about to enter the Palace and are saying their goodbyes.

Chorus, Esther and Mordecai

Chorus

'Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies? The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. She stretches out her hands to the poor, yea, she reaches out to the needy. Strength and honour are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness.'[4]

Esther

'Oh my good Cousin how grieved I am to leave you. I would rather go home and care for your hearth than to enter this place.'

'I know your heart. For did I not bring you up as my own daughter when your good parents died.

I shall walk every day before the court of the women's house to know how you do. Be sure to obtain the favour of the King's servant in the house. Do not reveal your people or your kindred because I and your parents were carried away from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, (Nabucco 'slaves') and when I saw how fair and beautiful you grew I felt some great fate may rest upon you and, behold, now you are chosen for the Palace of Sususa.'

Enter Hegai

Hegai

'I am Hegai keeper of the King's women. You have been chosen for great honours before the King. You will dwell with me in the women's house for one year, until your purification is accomplished according to the manner of the king's women. Which is six months of massage of oil of myrrh, six months of massage of oil of Balsam and of other things necessary for your purification. Then shall every maiden come out of the house and unto the house of the King. Whatsoever she desires to wear shall be given to go with her. Then she shall enter the king's women's house and shall come in unto the King no more except that the King shall delight in her and call for her by name.

Chorus as above during which Hegai walks through the crowd in a sociable manner and finally comes to M&E

Hail Mordecai. We are kinsmen and your cousin much pleases me. I pray that she may also please the King. (To Esther) I offer you kindness and the things of purification shall be given to you speedily. I offer you seven maidservants from the royal house and also the best place in the house. I shall advise you what to wear when the time comes for you to go to the King.

(To Mordecai) I may also be able to offer kindness to you. For there is an opening for a guard at the Palace gate.'

M&E express gratitude

Chorus as above

Enter Vashti from the street, dishevelled

Vashti

'Fools. Thou knowest the queen is a chattel even as every women in the Kingdom of Persia. No power shall she have except by the pleasure of the King. She shall be ignored, deserted for wars, shunned by friends, and feared by kinsmen. As for the rest. Shall you give away your daughters to the Harem?'

She is led away

Hegai

Do not heed the ranting of the deposed queen for she disobeyed the king, her husband, against the laws of the Meads and the Persians.

Chorus (disturbed). Esther sings above them and has a calming effect,

as they all enter the palace

'Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is above rubies. Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praiseth her. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her.'

Act3, Scene 3

The Kings room in the Palace. 2 thrones

Haman Memucan advisors and servants

Xerxes enters and takes the throne

'You have chosen well but there is one who surpasses the others greatly. Esther has obtained grace and favour in my sight more than all the virgins. I love her and shall set the royal crown on her head'. There shall be a great banquet and today there shall be a holiday throughout the Provinces and there shall be gifts worthy of a king.'

Esther enters kneels before the king who places a crown on her head and sets her on the second throne

''Let it also be recorded in the chronicles of the Meads and the Persians that we promote Haman to be chief advisor and his seat shall be set above all the princes and all shall bow to him and revere him in my name.

Much business with the preparations.

Enter Mordecai in haste who greets and kneels to Esther.

'I have heard of thy advancement from Hegai who has prepared us for it and am more glad of it than can be told. But I have news that must be conveyed to the king for, as keeper of his gate, I have heard of a plot upon his life by two of his chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh.'

'You are sure of this?'

'Even now they are wroth and seek to lay their hands on the king.'

Esther speaks to Memucan who speaks to the king who nods and also speaks to Esther. Armed servants leave the room with Memucan.

Memucan returns

'It is as stated. Bigthan and Teresh were immediately without, with hidden arms. They sought even to persuade the guards against the King.'

'There shall be an inquisition and if they are guilty of plotting against us they shall be hanged.

Who gave the alarm of this?'

'Mordecai, who sits at the Palace gates.'

'Let it also be written in the chronicles of the Meads and the Persians that Mordecai, sitter at the Palace gates, did foil a plot to kill the King even on the day that he did crown his Queen.'

Exit X and E

All bow

Exit Haman

All bow, except Mordecai Haman turns

'Why doest not thou bow and offer me reverence according to the King's command.'

'I am a Jew and cannot bow to you.'

H (furious)

'Thou hast the kings favour now but I shall deal with you and all your kind. Go!'

They all leave, except Haman

'I scorn to to lay hands on Mordecai alone for now I know his people and I hate them and I shall seek to destroy all the Jews of Persia.'

Enter Xerxes, drinking, servants

'The banquet is well prepared. Come Haman and be seated at my side as my first minister.'

'My lord I wish to carry out my first office at your command. There is a certain people dispersed among the people and provinces of thy kingdom who's laws are diverse from the kings and it is not for the the Kings profit to suffer them for they do not revere the King or his ministers. If it pleaseth the King let it be written that they may be destroyed and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the Kings treasuries.'

'Here is my ring and seal to do with them as it seemeth good to you. Come'.

Exit Xerxes

Haman

To an astrologer/servant of the king

'Cast the Purim lots to see what day is best for this deed to be done.'

The lots are cast

Servant

'The thirteenth day of the twelfth month'

Haman to his scribes

'So be it. With this seal I decree that on the thirteenth day of the 12th month all the Jews of the kingdom shall be gathered together by the people. And the people shall cause to perish all of the Jews both young and old and children and women in one day and the people may take the spoil of them for prey. Send this decree unto all the kings' lieutenants and to all the governors of every province in the name of the king.

So to feast.'

Exit.

Interval.

Act 4, Scene 2

There are a number of Jews in sackcloth and ashes in the courtyard. Including Mordecai. There is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Enter Hegai carrying clothes

Hegai

'Esther has sent you clothes.'

M 'Bring her to me'

H 'I cannot'

M 'Bring her to me, She must know what danger her people are in.'

Exit Hegai

Enter Hegai with Esther disguised.

'What is this, why are our people so?'

'Here is a Decree by Haman in the name of the king to destroy all of the Jews in five days time. He has promised to pay ten thousand talents to the king when we are all destroyed. You must go and make supplication unto him for your people.'

'I cannot. I have not seen the King for thirty days. All the kings servants and the people know that whomsoever shall come unto the king in the inner court who has not been called shall be put to death except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre that he may live.'

'Think not that thou shall escape in the kings house more than other Jews. For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, help may yet come to the Jews from heaven but thou and thy father's family shall surely be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.'

Esther contemplates. Suddenly she straightens up.

'Go gather all the Jews in the city and fast for me for three days. I and my maidens shall fast for three days also and then will I go unto the King, which is not according to the law and if I perish, I perish.'

Act 5, Scene 3

The King's room.

King, Haman Memucan and others

Enter Esther head bowed near to fainting

The King is startled, recovers, and holds out the sceptre for her to touch.

'Who is this that comes upon the King without permission? It is death to do so.'

Pause

'Ah Esther

'What wilt thou my love, my queen and what is thy request? It shall be given to thee even if half of the kingdom.'

Esther slowly straightens up and glares in triumph at the assembly.

'What is thy petition? Even unto half the kingdom it shall be performed.'

'If I have found favour in the sight of the king and if it please the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them tomorrow and there I will make my request known.'

Haman make haste to come to the banquet tomorrow that Esther has prepared

Exit Esther and Xerxes together.

Haman (boasting)

'Yea! Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself. I have great glory of riches and a multitude of children and many things which the King hath given me and I have advanced above all the Princes and servants of the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing for when I went forth today, joyful and with a glad heart, I saw Mordecai in the king's gate and he stood not up nor moved for me.

So let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high and tomorrow I shall speak unto the king that Mordecai may be the first to be hanged thereon. Then I shall go merrily with the King unto the banquet.'

Act 6, scene 3 that night King's room

Servants, enter Xerxes

'I cannot find sleep. Bring the book of the chronicles and read, before the king, what thou hast recently written therein.'

Servant

'On the day that the King Xerxes did lay the crown on the head of Queen Esther did Mordecai, sitter at the kings gate, tell of two of the kings chamberlains, Bigthana and Teresh, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands upon the King.'

' What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?'

Servant

'There is nothing done for him.'

' Who is in the court?'

Servant (mischievously)

'Haman standeth in the court -- to request the building of a gallows.'

'Let him come in'

Haman enters

'What shall done unto the man whom the King delighteth to honour'

(Haman presumes this to be himself)

During his discourse enter Memucan and others

' Delighteth to honour! For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, let the Royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear and the horse that the king rideth upon and the crown royal which is set upon his head and let this apparel be delivered by one of the king's most noble Princes that they may array the man with all honour and bring him on on horseback through the streets of the city and proclaim before him. Thus shall be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.'

'Make haste and take thou the apparel and the horse as thou has said to Mordecai the Jew that sitteth at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.'

H (shocked)

'I shall'

Exit Xerxes

'I shall do as the king commands'

Memucan

'Thy power has begun to fall before that of Mordecai the Jew'

exit H

Act 7 Scene 4

the Queens room, after the banquet

King, Queen, Haman.

' What is thy petition queen Esther and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request and it shall be performed even unto half the kingdom'

'If I have found favour in thy sight and, if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people's lives saved at my request. For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed. But if we were to be merely sold for bondsmen and bondswomen I had held my tongue.

' Who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do this.'

' The adversary and enemy of my people is this wicked Haman.'

X Shocked

'I must call my servants'

exits

H

'Behold me, behold me. Prostate on the ground. Let mercy in thy sight be found' (Handel Esther)

H wailing and gnashing, and pleading for his life claws at Esther on her couch

Enter X followed by Memucan servants scribes.

'Will he force the Queen before me in this house'

Haman's face is covered

Memucan

Behold a gallows 50 cubits high standeth in the house of Haman which he has made for Mordecai, who has spoken good for the king

Hang him from it, and bring Mordecai.

takes Haman's ring

exit Haman, Memucan etc

Mordecai is my cousin who, with my parents, was carried away from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar , King of Babylon, yet he has served the King of Persia well.

enter Mordecai in apparel . Xerxes gives him the ring

'Haman they have hanged upon the gallows because he laid his hands upon the Jews and I shall give the house of Haman to the queen. Let it be written that Mordecai shall be my prime advisor and shall speak in my name. Mordecai shall command the Jews and the lieutenants and the deputies and the rulers of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia.'

E viciously

'If it please the king and, if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, allow my cousin to decree and reverse the letters devised by Haman which he wrote to destroy the Jews. The Jews shall gather themselves together to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish all the power of the people that would assault them, both little ones and women and to take the spoil of them for prey.'

Enter servant

Servant

'Haman has been hanged and the Jews have killed the 10 sons of Haman and 500 men of Sushan.'

'Already, my queen, the Jews have slain and destroyed the ten sons of Haman and 500 hundred men in Sushan. What is thy further petition and it shall be granted thee.'

'If it please the king let it be granted to the Jews throughout Persia do tomorrow according to this days decree and let the bodies of the10 sons of Haman be displayed upon the gallows.' ( Salome)

act 8 scene 3, Kings Room or scene 2 courtyard with increasing amount os sand beginning to encroach.

Three days later

Mordecai & Xerxes

Mordecai

The Jews have done according to thy decree, they have gathered together in the kings provinces and slew throughout the kingdom some seventy and five thousand of their enemies but they have not laid hands upon the prey. Today they have rested and made a day of feasting and I shall send another decree to stablish amongst them: that they should keep the 14th day of the month of Adar, and the next day as a day of feasting and joy and of sending potions to each other and gifts to the poor. These days shall be remembered and kept throughout every generation and the feast shall be called Purim because Haman did cast the Purim lots to consume the Jews and destroy them.

I shall tax the people of the land and of the Isles of the sea and shall achieve great power and might and the greatness of Mordecai the Jew shall be written in the chronicles of the kings of the Meads and the Persians. See, I embrace the god of the Jews, and Mordecai and Esther the queen shall seek the wealth of their people and speak peace to all their seed.

Enter Vasti in chains with escort

V to X

"Give not thy strength unto woman nor thy ways to that which destroyeth

Kings.Ó

END COPYWRITE

1 Herodotus book 7

2 Proverbs 31

3 Genesis

4 Proverbs 31 to be worked in as chorus as required.

esther

Link to : Alberich and Friends A Wagnerian Novel

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The Story of Esther

H