George Leo Haydock, on Esth 7:4

“For we are given up, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. And would God we were sold for bondmen and bondwomen: the evil might be borne with, and I would have mourned in silence: but now we have an enemy, whose cruelty redoundeth upon the king.”

“Perish. Three terms of the same import express the greatness of the misery. (Haydock) — King. Whose revenue will be greatly impaired, (Calmet) and character injured, for having given such power to a monster. (Haydock) — The kings of Persia had taken many precautions not to be thus deluded, having appointed officers, who were styled “the eyes and ears” of the king, purposely to obtain all necessary information. But these eyes were often darkened; these ears were often deaf, (Calmet) and unwilling to act with fidelity; (Haydock) though their diligence in make secret transactions known, caused the people to look upon their kings as gods. (Apul. Mund. Cyrop. viii.) (Calmet)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.