John Trapp on Esther 1:10

Verſe 10. On the ſeventh day] Here we have Luxurioſi convivii luctuoſum exitum, a ſad end of a luxurious feaſt. Sin uſually endeth tragically. On the ſix former dayes of the feaſt having farced his body with good chear like a wool-ſack, and inflamed it with wine wherein was exceſſe, he bethinks himſelf of other pleaſures: Vina parant animos Veneri. Ariſtophanes calleth wine the milk of Venus, and fuell of luſt. Ovid. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Ariſt. Lib. 1. de poenit. c. 4. Ambroſe ſaith that luſt is fed with feaſts, nouriſhed with delicacies, kindled with wine, ſet on flame with drunkenneſſe. A belly filled with wine foameth out filthineſſe, ſaith Hierom.

When the heart of the King was merry with wine] The property whereof is to exhilarate the heart of man, as the Scripture ſpeaketh. Pluto calleth wine the mitigater of mans miſery. Euripides ſaith, Qui non hilareſcit bibendo, nihil ſapit. Judg. 9.13. Pſal. 104.15. In Cyclope. But Ahaſuerus his heart was over-merry; the wine was ſo in that the wit was out: drunkenneſſe had bereft this Polyphemus of his eye of right reaſon. This is a vice hateful in all, but in a Ruler moſt of all. See Prov. 31.4. with the Note. What mad work made Alexander the Great many times in his drunkenneſſe, killing thoſe then whom he would afterwards have revived, if he could,Plato. [illegible: 1 letter] with his own heart-blood? Therefore it was that the Carthaginians forbade their Magiſtrates all uſe of wine: Solon puniſhed drunkenneſſe in a Ruler with death. And Ferdinand the firſt Emperour of Germany, ſharply reproved the Embaſſadours of the Electours and Princes ſent to an Imperial Diet, for their quaffing and careleſſe performance of their truſt, Vol. Max. Chriſt. 397. ſaying, Abſtinete à maledictâ ebrietate, &c. Abſtaine, for ſhame, from this curſed drunkenneſſe, (which is neither good for body nor ſoul) and look better to your offices.

He commanded Mehuman] Theſe ſhould have adviſed him better (for now drunkenneſſe had robbed him of himſelf, and laid a fool in his roome, wine had over-ſhadowed his wiſdome,Vino ſapientia obumbratur. lib. 23. cap. 1. Lib. 11. Antiq. cap. 6. as Pliny phraſeth it) and not have been ſo ready to execute his unreaſonable and illegal commands. For the Perſians had a Law (Joſephus ſaith) that Matrons ſhould not be ſeen at feaſts among men; though Harlots might. But Kings are never without their Court-Paraſites, who will humour them in any thing, and whoſe ſong is, Mihi placet quicquid Regi placet, That which pleaſeth the King, pleaſeth me, howſoever.