John Trapp on Esther 2:4

Verſe 4. And let the maiden] Herein unhappy that the got her honour with the loſſe of her honeſty: and that ſo many maids are made miſerable for her ſake.

That pleaſeth the King] Heb. That is good in his eyes. The eye is the lamp and ornament of the whole body: and yet that moſt lightſome part doth oft-times draw the ſoul into utter darkneſſe; whileſt by thoſe windows of wickedneſſe, and loop-holes of luſt, Satan windeth himſelf into the heart, and maketh it impudicitiae cloacam (as Venus's temple on the top of Lebanon is called by Euſebius) a very ſink, and jakes of all leudneſſe and abomination.

Be Queen inſtead of Vaſthi] This was held a great buſineſſe, and a ſufficient recompence. The bramble held it a goodly thing to reigne over the trees;Judg. 9. not ſo the vine and fig-tree.

And the thing pleaſed the King] Becauſe it added more fuel to the fire of his luſt, and that he may lengthen out his dayes in dalliance and wantonneſſe: ut libidine libidinem provocante, nihil niſi muliebris fiat, ſaith an Expoſitour here,Feuardent. that he might be the right ſucceſſour of Sardanapalus, who buried himſelf in the boſomes of his harlots, and left behinde him this infamous Epitaph.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] [non-Latin text not transcribed].

An Epitaph ſit for an oxe, ſaith Ariſtotle. The Kings of Perſia are noted for effeminate, fitter for a Canopy then a Camp; and affecting ſuch ſights, [illegible: 1 letter]bi Imperator Apparator, lanx phalanx, acies facies, bella labella, ſpicula pocula, ſcutum ſcortum, &c.

And he did ſo] According to the counſel of thoſe Court-paraſites (whoſe word is that of Stratocles, Mihi placet quicquid Regi placet) he walked in the wayes of his heart, and in the ſight of his eyes, Plut. in vit. Demetr. little thinking that for all theſe things God would bring him into judgement. But ſuch Governours the wicked world deſerveth,Eccleſ. 11.9. as being it ſelf totus in maligno poſitus, 1 John 5. When Phoc[illegible: 1 letter]s, that filthy traytour, reigned at Conſtantinople, Cedrinus ſaith, that a certaine honeſt poor man was very earneſt with God to know why ſuch a man (or rather monſter) was ſet up; he was anſwered againe by a voice, that there could not be a worſe man found; and that the ſins of Chriſtians did require it.