And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had ordered all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Neither. Hebrew, "and the drinking was according to the law. "Greek, "was not according to the pre-established law "(Haydock) as the usual custom was altered, on this occasion; and thus both may be accurate. The Persians had commonly a king of the feast, whose orders all were obliged to obey in drinking. (Horace i. Ode 4.) (Ecclesiasticus xxxii. 1.)
This was an occasion of quarrels, (St. Jerome) and of intoxication. Agesilaus followed the example of Assuerus. Darius, and Cyrus the younger, gloried in being able to drink much wine without being deranged. (Calmet)
--Reges dicuntur urgere culullis, Et torquere mero, quem perspexisse labor ant, An sit amicitia dignus.
-- (Horace ad Pison.) Among friends, these "absurd laws "were laid aside. Siccat inequales calices conviva, solutus Legibus insanis.
-- (Horace ii. Sat. 6.) (Calmet) This may suggest to Christians, that they ought not to urge any to get drunk, (St. Augustine, ser. 231. de Temp.) lest they should be condemned by the very hea...
Even though from the historical point of view it simply appears to show the abundance of riches and the luxury of delights of a powerful king, … according to the holier mystery of our most powerful king, namely, Our Lord Christ, this preparation of a most magnificent banquet signifies the greatness of the spiritual riches and the excellence of the living treasures that he distributes according to the measure of his dispensation to each of his faithful. - "Explanation on the Book of Esther 1"
