14
The middle of the tenth hour had well nigh arrived, when the master-bidder, seeing the guests who were bidden collected, came and shook the king.
15
He gained his attention with difficulty, and hinting that the mealtime was getting past, talked the matter over with him.
16
The king listened to this, and then turning aside to his potations, commanded the guests to sit down before him.
17
This done, he asked them to enjoy themselves, and to indulge in mirth at this somewhat late hour of the banquet.
18
Conversation grew on, and the king sent for Hermon, and enquired of him, with fierce denunciations, why the Jews had been allowed to outlive that day.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.