A reading from the book of Esther.

Now in the days of Ahazuerus, the Ahazuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,

in those days when King Ahazuerus sat on his royal throne in Seuss of the Citadel, in the

third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his

officials and servants. The army of Persia and media and the nobles and governors of the provinces

were before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of

his greatness for many days, 180 days.

And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel,

both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the Garden of the King's Palace.

There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings

fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars,

and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother of pearl,

and precious stones. Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds,

and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. And drinking was according to this

edict. There is no compulsion, for the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.

Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahazueras.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine,

he commanded Mahuman, Bistha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zithar and Karthus, the seven eunuchs who served

in the presence of King Ahazueras, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown

in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command

delivered by the eunuchs. At this, the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

...