And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
And þe kyng seide to hir, yhe, in þe secounde dai, aftir þat he was hoot of þe wiyn, Hester, what is thin axyng, þat it be youun to þee, and what wolt thou be doon? Yhe, thouy thou axist þe half part of my rewme, thou schalt gete.