33-34 Epexegesis, or explanation, of _disgrace_. Cf. ll. 250-252.
36 offensee, in the correct etymological sense of "wounded." Vashti left an "aching void" in the king's heart.
39 L'Inde, now usually _l'Indus_, is generally the river, and rarely _India_, in Racine's writings.
40 comparaitre, always used of appearance in answer to official summons.
41 indompte, a classical epithet. Cf. _indomitique Dahae_, Verg. Aen. VIII. 728. The warlike and nomadic character of the Scythians increased in the mind their geographical remoteness. The Parthians are supposed to have sprung from Scythian exiles. The two races occupied the vast regions of north-western Asia.
45 heureux, like "happy," often = "successful."
49 agite refers of course to _il_ in l. 50.
51 The exquisite taste and modesty of the queen's narrative has been commented upon in Introd. section IV.
54 ma race et mon pays. We are told (Book of Esther, ii. 5-7) that Mordecai, who had taken Esther for his daughter, had been carried away from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; whence it follows that Esther, too, was not only a Jewess by race, but a native of Palestine. The Book of Esther (ii. 20) says she had not showed "her kindred nor her people."
56 peuple means: 1. "nation;" 2. "mass of common people," in contradistinction to _la noblesse_; 3. "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_.