Esther | Page 3

the noble character of the queen, is as touching as it is lofty. The poet found it entirely in the Bible, which should be read side by side with the play from beginning to end. Several inspirations, notably that of the beautiful prayer in the first act, are drawn from the "Rest of the Book of Esther," i.e., those chapters which being found only in the Greek, and neither in the Hebrew nor in the Chaldee MSS., are relegated to the Apocrypha.
Racine follows the theory of the Abbé de Saci, and takes the Ahasuerus of Scripture to be the Darius of secular history. Modern criticism, however, inclines to see in him neither Darius, nor, as has been proposed on the authority of the "Rest of the Book of Esther" (xii. 2), Artaxerxes Longimanus, but Xerxes, the immediate successor of Darius.
The idea of a Chorus is borrowed from the Greeks, as Racine expressly declared in his preface. In this play, as in Greek tragedy, the Chorus comments upon the action as it unfolds itself, and the great interests at stake lift the poet to lofty heights of lyrical inspiration. The lyrics of the chorus, far from being a relapse into the pernicious practice, prevalent before the time of Corneille, of providing such passages for the mere display of the actor's ability, are pure chants and hymns, like the Cantiques Spirituels which Racine composed subsequently in detached form, and are a highly appropriate ornament to religious plays such as Esther and Athalie.
Of the form into which the poet has cast his materials, it is impossible to speak too highly. It is adequate praise to say that the language, in its perfect simplicity and exquisite beauty, is in keeping with the elevation of the thought, which is that of the Scriptures themselves. Nor should the constructive skill be unnoticed with which the dramatist has filled in the characters sketched by the Bible; the humility and grace of Esther's account of her own triumph (ll. 31-80), the art with which Haman betrays his cruel nature by the very offer of services he makes to the queen (ll. 1151-4), the adroitness of the court he pays to the king (ll. 593-7), and his readiness of resource in adversity (ll. 1142-67).
The subjoined chronological table will enable the student to follow the events referred to in the play.
B. C. 718 Shalmaneser takes the kingdom of Israel captive. 606 Nebuchadnezzar takes the kingdom of Juda captive. 606-536 Captivity of the Jews under the Assyrians. 587 Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem and destroys the temple. 536 Cyrus, King of Persia, conquers Balthasar, King of Babylon, and suffers the Jews to return to their own country. 529-522 Cambyses II. reigns over Persia. 522-521 Pseudo-Smerdis " " 521-485 Darius " " 485-465 Xerxes " " 465-425 Artaxerxes Longimanus "
[1]These words recur most frequently in her later correspondence with St. Cyr.

PROLOGUE.
LA PIETE.
Du séjour bienheureux de la Divinité Je descends dans ce lieu, par la Grace habité. L'Innocence s'y pla?t, ma compagne éternelle, Et n'a point sous les cieux d'asile plus fidèle. Ici, loin du tumulte, aux devoirs les plus saints 5 Tout un peuple naissant est formé par mes mains. Je nourris dans son coeur la semence féconde Des vertus dont il doit sanctifier le monde. Un roi qui me protége, un roi victorieux, A commis à mes soins ce dép?t précieux. 10 C'est lui qui rassembla ces colombes timides, éparses en cent lieux, sans secours et sans guides. Pour elles à sa porte élevant ce palais, Il leur y fit trouver l'abondance et la paix.
Grand Dieu, que cet ouvrage ait place en ta mémoire. 15 Que tous les soins qu'il prend pour soutenir la gloire Soient gravés de ta main au livre où sont écrits Les noms prédestinés des rois que tu chéris. Tu m'écoutes. Ma voix ne t'est point étrangère. Je suis la Piété, cette fille si chère, 20 Qui t'offre de ce roi les plus tendres soupirs. Du feu de ton amour j'allume ses desirs. Du zèle qui pour toi l'enflamme et le dévore La chaleur se répand du couchant à l'aurore. Tu le vois tous les jours, devant toi prosterné, 25 Humilier ce front de splendeur couronné, Et confondant l'orgueil par d'augustes exemples, Baiser avec respect le pavé de tes temples. De ta gloire animé, lui seul de tant de rois S'arme pour ta querelle, et combat pour tes droits. 30 Le perfide intérêt, l'aveugle jalousie S'unissent centre toi pour l'affreuse hérésie; La discorde en fureur frémit de toutes parts; Tout semble abandonner tes sacrés etendards, Et l'enfer, couvrant tout de ses vapeurs funèbres, 35 Sur les yeux les plus saints a jeté ses ténèbres. Lui seul, invariable et fondé sur la foi, Ne cherche, ne regarde et n'écoute que toi; Et bravant du demon l'impuissant artifice, De la religion