John Trapp on Esther 2:12

Verſe 12. Now when every maids turne was come] Their turnes then they took, and held it their happineſſe to loſe that which was their honour. See 1 Theſſ. 4.4. with the Note: their bodies were firſt adulterated, and then vitiated. This was abominable.

After that ſhe had beene twelve moneths] Time ſpent without ſpare, and wofully waſted in making proviſion for the fleſh to fulfil the luſts thereof: which the Prophet Amos rightly calleth a thing of nought, Chap. 6.13. with 4, 5, 6. Is time no better worth then to be thus rioted out in vanity? doth not eternity depend upon it, even the heavieſt weights upon the weakeſt wires? It is therefore a good rule that one giveth, Corrige praeteritum, rege praeſens, cerne futurum.

According to the manner of the women] Who of themſelves are apt enough (without an order to do ſo, as here) to caſt away too much time and coſt in tricking and trimming their bodies (thoſe painted ſheaths) as the Comedians have tartly taxed them; Negotu quantum in muliere unâ eſt! ſaith Plautus. What a deale of do is there with one woman in this kind! And Nôſti mores mulierum, ſaith Terence; du[illegible: 2 letters] moliuntur, dum comuntur, annus eſt. And as for the Perſian women,Lib. 12. cap. 1. Aelian ſaith that they were above all others moſt addicted to this vanity: and yet the haughty daughters of Zion are deeply cenſured, and heavily threatned, Eſay 3.18. where the Prophet gives us an Inventory of thoſe Ladies gallantry, and tells them that their fineneſſe ſhall be turned into filthineſſe, their neatneſſe become naſtineſſe.

For ſo were the dayes of their purification accompliſhed] What ſtrange preparation was here for the impure bed of an Heathen? Every Virgin muſt be ſix moneths purified, and ſix moneths perfumed. O God, ſaith one, what care and coſt is requiſite to that ſoul which ſhould be addreſſed a fit bride for thy holy and glorious Majeſty?

To wit, ſix moneths with oyle of myrrhe] To cleanſe them, and to clear up their countenances. Plin. 1.13 c. 1. & l.12. c. 15, 16

And ſix moneths with ſweet odours] Of theſe there is a lawful uſe, (why elſe were they created?) to pleaſe the ſenſe, refreſh the ſpirits, comfort the braine, &c. But the exceſſe and abuſe of them is utterly unlawful, and was juſtly puniſhed in Darius the laſt Perſian Monarch, and Muleaſſes King of Tunes, who ſo far affected ſweet odours, that he could not be without them whiles he was in the field againſt his enemy. Hereby it came to paſſe, that being overcome in battel by his own ſonne Amidas (another Abſolom) and purſued among the reſt that fled,Ba[illegible: 1 letter]th Exner. pag. 245. he was diſcovered and known who he was by the perfumes that he had about him, though to prevent it he had beſmeared himſelf with blood and duſt. Martial writing to his ſweet friend, ſaith, Poſthume, non benè olet, qui benè ſemper olet.

And another ſaith, That woman ſmelleth beſt which ſmelleth of nothing. Spiret autem foemina Chriſtum, ſaith Clemen Alexandrinus, Let women learn and labour to ſmell of Chriſt who is the royal Unction, and let them ever he anoynted with chaſtity, Padag. lib 2. cap. 8. that chiefeſt ointment.

And with other things for the purifying of women] Here was no end of exceſſe, and of expenſe: and all to ſatisfie the luſt of this impure Prince. Silver is laviſhed out of the bag, and much wealth caſt away upon theſe Minions, who had nothing elſe to do but to exerciſe their wits in deviſing ornaments and artifices,Hac in collum, hac in crines. Oras. 5. in Vertſ whereby they might get the Kings favour, and artaine to the Queendome. Tully telleth us that it was ordinary with the Kings of Perſia to beſtow upon their women ſuch a City to buy them bracelets, and ſuch a City for head-tires, &c. This was luxus planè monſtróſiſſi[illegible: 1 letter]us & prodigaliſſi[illegible: 2 letters], as one ſaith, moſt prodigious and prodigal luxury. So eagerly are the wicked bent upon the ſatisfying of their luſts, that they care not what coſt they caſt away upon them. Aske me never ſo much dowry, ſaith that Amouretto, Gen. 34.11, 12. Judah let go his ſignet, bracelets, and ſtaffe, to the Harlot. Joſephus reporteth of one Decius Mundus (Immundus rather) a Nobleman that to one Paulina, Lib. 18. cap. 4. a Lady in Rome, he offered as much as came to ſix thouſand pounds to ſatisfie his luſts but one night, and yet he could not bring her to his lure by ſuch a large offer: though afterwards (under the mask of Anubis, to which dogs-head ſhe was devoted) he found means to abuſe her: which was the deſtruction both of thoſe bawdy Prieſts, and their Temple.