BWP1800 - Esther

Polack, Elizabeth. Esther, The Royal Jewess. Ed. with an Introduction by John Franceschina. British Women Playwrights around 1800. 15 October 2000.

Author of Alberti; or, The Mines of Idria—Angeline; or, The Golden Chain, &c., &c.

The only edition correctly marked, by permission from the prompter's book:
To which is added,
a description of the costume—cast of the characters
the whole of the stage business,
situations—entrances—exits—properties and directions,
as performed at the
London Theatres.

by Mr. Findlay, from a Drawing, taken in the Theatre.
______________________________________________________________________

Permit me to offer you a Drama which your indefatigable and liberal conduct has contributed to render more successful than my most sanguine hopes anticipated. I dedicate my Royal Jewess to you, as a tribute of gratitude for the attention you have bestowed on its production, and which I am proud thus publicly to acknowledge.

I would it were possible to express my thanks to your Company, as earnestly as I feel the value of their exertions.

King Ahasuerus	Mr. Dibdin Pitt
Mordecai	Mr. Cobham
Haman	Mr. Freer
Barnazabus	Mr. Forde
Teresh	Mr. Courtney
Bigthana	Mr. Rignold
Muchacus	Mr. Lewis
Selim	Mr. Garthwaite
Hatach	Mr. Shoard
Officer	Mr. Chapino
Vashti	Mrs. Wingrove
Irene	Mrs. Forde
Esther	Mrs. H. Lewis
Priests, Guards, Attendants, &c.

[The Grand Tent of Ahasuerus, the whole of the Stage occupied, having the appearance of a splendid Marquee, erected on golden and silver Pillars; The Draperies of white and purple. Splendid Banners, &c. A magnificent Bouquet, in the Eastern style; the Vases, Cups, &c., of the most costly appearance. The Stage as full as possible. The Curtain rises to the following Chorus.]

Aha.
Governors of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces over which I am now king; it is my will to rule my people with mercy. Let all arise! [All rise.] It is my will that you obey my trusty counselor and friend, Haman: one of tried prudence, faith, and justice. Whosoever does not obey his mandate, are enemies to our royal administration. [Flourish.]

Ham.
Governors of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, it is the will of our most mighty king, Ahasuerus, that none approach him while he sits upon his royal throne, unless called forth by him, on pain of death; but should he extend his golden sceptre to any who come forth uncalled, upon their touching it they are exempt from punishment. [The Indian Chief advances and prostrates before the Throne—the King extends his Sceptre—he rises and touches it.]

Aha.
Enough! peace be with you. [Flourish—all drink.] But where is my fair queen, Vashti?—bid her join our banquet! all is not well without her presence. [Trumpet. Two Eunuchs go out.]

Ham.
[Advancing.] Shall I again behold her? but what will it avail me—is she not his! Yes I will hope the day is not far distant, when the haughty beauty will be hurled from her throne of power; then she will no longer scorn me, nor reject my love. Yes, proud Ahasuerus! that triumph may yet be mine! [Trumpet—Enter the Eunuchs.] Now if she comes not, all will be in my power.

Aha.
Slave! what mean't thou? Vashti refuse my command! I will not hear of it; go back, and bring me another and more fitting answer! [Trumpet—Exit Eunuch.] Yet I was wrong: she never disobeyed my bidding. The slave must have mistook her words; yes, nobles, you shall behold my queen; she will soon come to grace our banquet.

Ham.
[Aside.] And if she does, my plans are crushed forever. [Aloud.] Mighty Ahasuerus, let this not mar your princely spirit. Our noble queen, no doubt will come, and glad our sight, as does the noonday sun. [Trumpet.]

Eun.
Great king, Queen Vashti still refuses; as the laws of Persia forbid her to appear before strange guests; in reverence of that law she cannot come before you.

Aha.
Now, by the Gods, this is not to be borne! What care I for the laws of Persia? My will must be her only law; that she has disobeyed; she has degraded me to my whole nation; defied me, too, and scorned my sovereign power! But she shall know that I am still a king, and deeply shall she feel my just resentment. Let the seven commissioners, expounders of the Persian laws, be ordered in my presence. [Trumpet—a Eunuch goes out. The King takes his seat.]

Ham.
[Aside.] His misery is my triumph! my schemes will now work well; and she who once despised, will soon be in my power! [Trumpets heard—a grand melos.]

[Enter Muchancus, habited as a Persian Priest. Ahasuerus descends from the Throne, and meets him. ]

Aha.
Most holy man, I need your counsel: hearken to what I say, and thou bestow your judgment. To do all honour to any noble guests who now surround me, I sent to ask the presence of my queen, and was refused. I sent again, and she persisted in her disobedience. Speak, learned man, what says your law? what punishment has she deserved?—for be it what it may, I swear by the gods, I doom her to your decision!

Muc.
Great king! thus saith the law:—should the consort of an Assyrian king refuse his just behest, she shall be put away, not be banished from the realm, and one of gentler mood be exalted to the throne.

Aha.
Is that the law? and must I banish her, my dark haired queen?—she who is lovely as the rose! graceful as the stately palm! But she defied my power—disobeyed my kingly word! The law enjoins her banishment, and if a king conform not to his country's edict, how can he claim allegiance from his subjects? Yes, though my sorrow will be unbounded, Vashti shall have her punishment.

Ham.
[Offering the King a Goblet.] Great king, let not the queen's contumacy disturb your peace; drink from the jeweled goblet; and be glad. See, mighty sovereign, how, even from India unto Ethiopia, thy slaves surround thee in mute obedience to thy royal will. Drink, great Ahasuerus, and be the past forgotten.

Aha.
You counsel wisely; I will forget the disobedient queen—yet, without her, the banquet has no charm for me, for she was lovely as is the fountain in the burning desert; and when she came before me, 'twas as the sun when first it beams upon the rising day!

Ham.
True, she is fair; but, King Ahasuerus, are not the greatest beauties in the East at your command?—if you but issued forth your royal pleasure, will not the fairest be at your devotion, from among whom you may select a fit companion for your bed and throne: and shall the sovereign of boundless power, shall the noble Ahasuerus let a woman's love lower his princely spirit, when thousands are ready to obey his mighty will?

Aha.
My sage and faithful counselor, it shall be as thy wisdom has said—[Takes the Goblet.]—and in this draught of wine, I rid me of Vashti's memory for ever; even as the wind sweepeth the sand of the desert, so do I sweep her image from my soul! [Drinks. Flourish.] Lament, fair Vashti, trouble, imperial queen! for thou shall fall! No regal robes again shall grace thy limbs! sackcloth must now supply thy garments of gold and purple; the soft perfumes of nard and cassie must now give place to dust and ashes; the sound of viol and harp shall charm thee no more; nor shall the songs of thy Syrian maidens be heard by thee again; but the hoarse cry of the bittern, the raven's croak, the bat's terrific scream, the plaint of the lonely owl, and every hideous bird, with ominous shriek, shall scare thee into banishment!

Ham.
Oh, most just king! be mild in your intended punishment. Must the ill fated queen be banished!—may she not dwell within the city?

Aha.
What means the slave?—but that I know thou lovest me, that word had been thy last! My will is spoken, and like our law, cannot be altered. Let our vast dominions be explored—gather all the beauties, thy diligent search can find; let them be brought before me, that I may choose another and a fairer queen. Be punctual to your monarch's will, and Ahasuerus promises a king's reward. [All form a Tableau. Scene closes on them.]

[A Street. Enter Domestics, Peasants, &c. laughing and exclaiming, "Fun, fun! 'tis he! 'tis he!" Enter Levi, carrying his Box. ]

Levi.
Pless my heart! pless my heart! can't a merchant travel without all dis hubbub? [They laugh.] You laugh at me, you all laugh! Vill you buy, and then Levi the Jew vill laugh at you!—but hush! I'll tell you my hishtory.

Levi.
My father is very old, and I am his son. I shells to all the corn merchants, and all the shailors. I am honesht; every pody knows me; I can laugh mit you if you buy, can fun you, if you fun me; I can jeer, if you jeer me; and here I am, ready to shell to all, and I'm called Levi the Jew.

Levi.
Vell, I vill; here is a time measure—[Takes a large piece of Wood with a Finger on it, like a rude Clock.]—dis is a new invention of my own; dis counts de time—dis new dishcovery vill do avay mit all your clepsydras, for vat is a clepsydra but a slave of a man watching the drops of water, and counting dem? Dis vill count itshelf, and tell de measure of de time; it vill tell how long you speak; how long you kiss de pretty girl, and how long she like it. [They all laugh.]

Sel.
Oh, if it tell how long the girls like kissing, it will say as long as the men can do it. [They all laugh.]

Zai.
Come, come, you cannot say that all maidens are alike, for you know I hate your kisses, and yesterday I drove you away for trying to kiss me again.

Sel.
I know you did, my love—you drove me away, but it was when your mother was coming. [All laugh.]

Levi.
Put look at my goods; now here ish papyrus for de love billets; essence for de shmell; scent for de perfume, and powder for de teeth. Put here is de greatest of all; it was invented in foreign parts, and ish now in great use dere by de fine old lady, de decayed actress mit wrinkles, and de flattering old beau. It ish to make de old into de young; it ish can de enamel, or new face; it stops holes and seams, kills de crow's foot at de corner of de eye, and makes de old bag into de young damsel. [All laugh.]

Sel.
And are they such fools as not to despise these attempts in the vain hope to hide their defects and age?

Levi.
Pless my heart, no! they all put on false faces there; de lady's to her lover, and de lover to his lady. But come, vont you puy of me? don't you go to weddings, sometimes, mine dear?—den here's presents to give your friends. Shtop a bit, I'll set out all my goots dat you may choose for yourshelves. Come, mind dear, here's de nice little toys and rattles for de little girls and boys.

Sel.
Yes, yes, you're a cunning old fellow; but come, let's have a dance, now.

Levi.
Sho va vill; vere's a pretty girl to dance mit me? and I'll make her for a present any ting from my box.

Levi.
No, tank you, for if I dance mit every one of you, I canst give my box among you; den I'll have no profits on my goots. No, no, you dance by your elves, and I'll dance mit my box, for it is my best partner wherever I go! [Lively music; they dance, and push him about; he imitates them very grotesquely, and as they dance off, the Scene closes.]

Ham.
My hopes brighten, the seed of revolution is sown, and by my culture and cure, 'twill spring from the hot bed of rebellion, a healthy plant; it shall be nurtured with the care of a skillful trainer; it shall be planted and transplanted, and as it grows, nourished with the dews of discontent, till the bright sunny rays of power ripen it into a fruitful tree—the tree of genealogy; my family tree, from which future kings must spring. My sons shall be governors, from India unto Ethiopia, the whole power must be in my hands! then shall this pusillanimous king be hurled from pomp and throne, and I remain the root and founder of true royalty. This new edict, this puerile decree that none shall approach Ahasuerus, unless the regal fool waves the golden sceptre in advance, and if disobeyed, forsooth, a head must be severed to revenge insulted monarchy! This has met with contempt from those of bold minds. My colleagues to-day report how far they have gained on the minds of men in humble spheres—for without the people, all the bright and deep machinations of political intrigue must fail. It is the common herd must strike the blow—must shake the state of kings and dynasties. Before the people, however humble, if they be but bound in unity, all rank and title must crumble into dust; be it my aim to gain that ascendancy, and my success is certain.

Ter.
Noble Haman, they are well nigh weary of the despotic reins of government.

Big.
And more, I have so won upon their confidence, that they are but waiting for a word of mine to burst their bonds of silence, and boldly to assert and claim their rights.

Ham.
All goes on well, but let us proceed with caution, and when the fire of rebellious freedom blazes forth, it must be quenched in blood—in royal blood!

Ham.
That we must hurl the tyrant from his throne, and by his destruction, ensure our peace and safety.

Ham.
Yes, he must perish, and my own hand shall rid us of the despotic bar to our country's welfare.

Ham.
Myself, for he who frees the people from a tyrant's yoke, best knows the way to govern them. Oh, were these kingdoms mine, I'd show Assyria how a king should govern. Yes, my friends, my noble colleagues, ours must be a bold and decisive effort; a cutting down of a weak and womanlike government, a total reversion of ban laws, a probing of all ulcer or wen-like excrescences on the state. Do but mark the religious power of the rich robed priests—they absorb the wealth of our country, and for what? ecclesiastical dignity—dignity!—robbery! the robbery of the poor artisan and agriculturist to swell the unmeaning faces and pampered bodies of robed rascals, who make sanctity a mask for private plunder. This cannot, my friends, long exist—the noble power of mind will control it, and bold and daring spirits like us, wrest this wealth to—our own and the public use.

Ter.
Oh, most wise Haman! I long for the expected time. How happy will this kingdom be when you become its monarch!

Ham.
I joy to hear your praise, for were I king, I'd covet nothing but my people's love. Go now, my trusty friends; weigh well our counsel—let not the people lose their awakened spirit, bid them be ready, and as the lion of the forest lurks in ambush, waiting its destined prey, then springs forth to destroy—so let them watch, and at the fitting moment, burst on their foes, and shout the name of freedom throughout our land.

Big.
We go, most noble Haman, to obey thy will. Peace be with thee till we meet again.

Ham.
The lordly master-spirits of creation, however revolting to their own natures, must at times, and to swell a noble plot, have recourse to weak and shallow tools, such as these! [Points after them.] The architect who makes his plans, and sees the erection of his edifice before the foundation is dug, must yet employ the ignorant labourer; but the creations of his brain once erected, he despises the paltry help obtained from groveling worms. So I—my temple raised—will cast off these dull drudges, and make them as humble as the dust I tread on. [Exit.]

[The Queen's Apartment. Vashti, discovered, lying on a Couch, surrounded by her. Attendants.]

CHORUS.
With fragrant spice, and scented smoke,
Frankincense purified by fire,
The balmy gods we now invoke,
With every charm the queen inspire.
Celestial rays divinely bright,
Their halo throw around her head,
To meet our king this happy night,
With transports bless the royal bed!

Eun.
The noble Haman, counselor to our mighty king, implores an audience of your majesty.

Ham.
Hail, fair star of Persia! hail, mighty Vashti! whose beauty is dazzling as the mornings' light!

Ham.
[With hesitation.] Oh, glorious queen! forgive thy slave, for sooner would I dare the burning desert's heat; sooner would I meet the fiercest beast of prey, than breathe to thy gracious ear my dread commission.

Vash.
What meanest thou? I did not fear to disobey my sovereign's mandate, nor will I dread to hear his mighty pleasure, therefore say on, and let me know the worst.

Ham.
[With affected humility.] Who dare refuse thy bidding, gracious queen: yet pause—better not hear me than the word I speak should mar thy peace; which is to me more dear than is the fountain to the weary pilgrim.

Vash.
[Haughtily.] I am thy queen, and now command thee to make known thy mission.

Vash.
Thine? Am I not queen of all these vast dominions—is not my majesty acknowledged throughout Persia?

Ham.
It was, and by me will ever be held sacred. In obedience to thy gracious pleasure, know that the king in anger has held communion with the learned of our laws, who have decreed that as a punishment for your disobedience, you must be banished from this land for ever.

Vash.
Banished! what! I, their sovereign!—it cannot be! the great Ahasuerus is too merciful; he cannot mean that I, his queen—who for years have shared his bed and throne, who loves him, too, as kings are seldom loved; that I shall be thrust forth—despised—degraded! doomed to horrid banishment!

Ham.
Oh, gracious queen! not for the wealth of all the glorious east, would I deceive your majesty. Now, by the gods I swear, the king has—how can I bring my tongue to utter it?—he has willed that you must quit our land.

Vash.
Oh, trusty counselor! give me your sage advice—will you not plead for me? You who are before the throne of the great Ahasuerus, on all mighty occasions, and have his royal ear? He knows your wisdom, and will graciously attend to your advice.

Ham.
The sentence is recorded and registered; but only in name, bright idol, need this banishment exist. My heart is wholly yours; my person you may command; my wealth—nay, my life shall be at your feet. Without great Syria's pale I have a tranquil and a spacious mansion; there you may repose in safety, and when the cares of state will permit, I'll fly to your lovely arms as a sweet solace from all earthly torment.

Vash.
Insolent slave! how darest thou address such language to thy queen? My guards, seize on that man! [They turn away from her.] How! am I not obeyed?—what means this outrage? dare you refuse to do your queen's commands?—queen, did I say?—no, no, I am no more a sovereign. How, then, can the degraded Vashti claim a sovereign's homage?—No, I am banished, driven from my native land, where once my word was law, and these, who but an hour since flew at my slightest bidding—these very slaves now turn away, as if in mockery at my fallen glory.

Ham.
Most gracious queen! there is yet one who will be true to thee, as is the light that greets the rising day.

Vash.
Thou fawning hypocrite—insidious slave! now do I see thy treacherous design, nor will I believe the great Ahasuerus bid thee send me into banishment; but I will to his royal presence, and at his feet declare thy perfidy.

Ham.
[Very coolly.] Stay! remember that your power here exists no longer. The disobedient wife, the banished queen must now forget she ever had a voice within these walls!—see how your slaves despise their degraded mistress; mark how they scorn thy fallen majesty! Then think not you will gain the ear of him who in the beauty of another's charms will lose all memory of the degraded Vashti.

Ham.
That trouble is needless; here you will see your fate. [Shows her a roll of Papyrus.]

Vash.
No! give me death; but save me from horrid banishment! Haman! you will not suffer your queen to plead to you in vain? [He turns from her—she kneels to him.] See, I am at your feet—I to whom all vast Assyria once paid homage! Let your guards pierce my heart; yes, let me die! and as the life blood flows from this lacerated bosom, I'll bless thee for thy mercy! [Rises.] Still you reject me? then all is lost! Irene! my slaves! will none save the wretched Vashti? Ha! see, see! my royal husband—he comes! yet nearer—see! he raises his sabre! Strike, great Ahasuerus, and let me die! here, at thy feet, thy queen implores thee—strike! He laughs as if in mockery at my prayer—now he ascends the throne! shall I not take my place there?—do you refuse your queen? Do not raise the sceptre in anger—[Screams and falls.]—Gods! he has struck me!—my brain is on fire!—madness! death! banishment! ha! ha! ha! [She laughs hysterically.—Music—Haman coolly folds his Arms. Tableau.]

Ahasuerus	Robe and train of rose-colored velvet, richly trimmed, hanging sleeves. Under garments, white tucker. Persian turban, white shoes.
Haman	Tunic and robe of garnet velvet. White drapery, edged with gold, Persian turban, white shoes.
Muchacus	White linen garments, head uncovered.
Teresh and Bigthana	Drab cloth tunic, scarlet drapery, trimmed with gold, turban.
Mordecai	Dark cloth gabardine, girdle, round black hat, dark shoes. Second dress—Patched dark loose wrapper, hat and shoes as before. Third dress—Dark wrapper, sprinkled with white tufts to appear like snow, white wig and beard. Fourth dress—Rich tunic and draperies, toque of scarlet and gold tissue, scarlet half boots. Fifth dress—An astrologer's robe, with a large hood to cover the head.
Levi	Dark gabardine, girdle, coloured turban, striped stockings, black shoes.
Selim	Close dress of dark cloth, turban.
Barnazabus	Blue tunic, white and gold drapery, turban, shoes.
Vashti	White satin petticoat, crimson satin body and train, trimmed with gold, gold tissue turban, white satin shoes.
Esther	A low round dress of drab cambric, trimmed round the bottom with entwined ribbon, white ..., short sleeves, toque of white muslin, striped boots. Second dress—Under dress of white satin, round gown, and train of net, spotted and richly trimmed with silver. A deep round cape of the same fastened on each shoulder. Persian turban of silver tissue, richly ornamented, white satin shoes, sandalled.
Irene	Dress and turban of pink crepe.