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Jean Racine - Esther
"crowd."
57 intérêt, whose meaning is always "a matter of interest," will have to be variously translated; e.g.,
"prize," "cause," "need," etc.
58 arrêt is the decision at which, when reached, a "stop" is made. Hence, "decree," "edict," and here
"doom."
59 brigue is correctly defined by Mr. Saintsbury as "the whole process of endeavoring to secure a favor
by interest and influence." - Suffrages is here used of the claims to preference put forward by
each.
69 Note that tandis que has two uses: 1 "during the time that," and 2. "whereas." Pendant que has
only the former.
75 dès has always the force of "as early as," but the translation must vary.
79-80 Cf. Book of Esther, ii. 18: "And he made a release to the provinces and gave gifts . . ." Line 80 is
figurative: the king's releases and gifts did not actually "invite" the masses of his subjects (see N. to l. 56)
to the royal nuptials, but "made them partake of the joy" of these nuptials. - Leurs princes =
Ahasuerus and his new queen. Leurs, a constructio ad sensum with the collective
singular peuple.
84 Literally true of the then known world, since the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the
Persian Empire extended from the Indus in the East to the Hellespont in the West.
88 sont cessées. Cesser was both transitive and intransitive, as early as the sixteenth century:
hence the passive is legitimate, and lays additional stress on the state resulting from the action.
89 ennuis = "troubles." Trouble (cf. l. 1170) = "agitation."
92 encor. See App. I, Metre.
96 jusque has always the force of "as far as," but must be variously translated.
98 avis. Cf.: C'est moit avis. - Avis au lecteur. - Quand je serai prêt, je vous en donnerai avis. - Le
Président prit l'avis de la chambre. - Il donne trof d'avis.
99 découvrir here, as several times in this play, "to reveal." Cf. Merchant of Venice, (Act II. Sc. vii.)
"Draw aside the curtains and discover the several caskets."
Pratiques, like our "practices," always unfavorable when = "doings."
100 domestiques = "officers of the household." The "Rest of the Book of Esther" gives their names,
Gabatha and Tharra, and states that they were keepers of the palace (xii. 1).
101-110 These lines are a graceful allusion to St. Cyr, and to Mme. de Maintenon herself. See Introd.
section III.
105 profanes, here, as in l. 155, is an especially apt word, since it suggests not only the seclusion in
which these maidens live within the palace, but also the difference between their religion and that of the
court.
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