CLV(i)
2 In those days when king Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the castle of Susa,
3 he gave a banquet in the third year of his reign for all his chief officials and courtiers:the retinue of Persia and Media, the highborn and the chiefs of the provinces who were before him,
4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the esteem and beauty of his greatness, for many days--180 days.
5 And when these days were fulfilled, the king gave a seven-day banquet in the court of the king's garden pavilion for all the people found in the castle of Susa, from the greatest unto the smallest.
6 Awnings of pale cotton and blue wool were held with cord lines of fine linen and purple material on silver ring-bands and marble columns. There were couches of gold and silver on a pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and black marble.
7 Drinks were served in gold vessels, some vessels being diverse from other vessels, and the royal wine was abundant, according to the means of the king.
8 Yet drinking was according to this edict:There was to be no bother, for the king had made this deliberation to every wine steward of his household to serve according to each man's approval.
9 Queen Vashti too gave a banquet for the women at the royal house of king Xerxes.