[_All sing harvest song as they reap. While they are singing_ RUTH _comes in and begins to pick up the grain._]

_Second Reaper_ [_looking toward the entrance to the field_]: The master is coming, the great Boaz!

[_All reapers look in that direction as they stand, resting their sickles on the ground._ BOAZ _enters._]

_Boaz:_ The Lord be with you!

_Reapers:_ The Lord bless thee!

[_All go to work again, singing as before._ BOAZ _walks among them; he sees_ RUTH _and watches her._]

_Boaz_ [_to the_ HEAD REAPER]: My good man, I would speak a word with thee; come hither.

_Head Reaper:_ Speak, O master!

_Boaz:_ Whose damsel is this that gathereth grain after the reapers?

_Head Reaper:_ My master, she is Ruth, the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi, thy kinswoman. She hath been gleaning here since early morning.

_Boaz:_ Go, bid the reapers not to harm her, and bid them let fall purposely some of the handfuls of grain for her.

[_The_ HEAD REAPER _bows low and goes back among the reapers._]

_Boaz_ [_to_ RUTH]: Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, but stay here by my reapers. Let thine eyes be on the reapers, and do thou glean that which they leave behind. When thou art athirst, go unto the vessels and drink that which the young men have drawn.

_Ruth_ [_bows to the ground_]: Why have I found such favor in thine eyes, seeing that I am a stranger in the land?

_Boaz:_ It has been told me of thy great kindness to thy mother-in-law, Naomi; how thou didst leave thine own people to come with her and be among strangers; and how thou didst leave thy G.o.ds to take the G.o.d of the children of Israel.

The Lord will bless thee for this.

_Ruth:_ I thank thee, O great Boaz, for thou hast comforted me and thou hast spoken friendly words unto me.

_Boaz:_ Come hither at meal times and eat of the bread and dip thy morsel in the vinegar with my reapers.

[_The reapers have departed._ BOAZ _goes off._]

_Ruth:_ The Lord G.o.d is truly good unto me!

SCENE III

PLACE: At the gate of the city.

CHARACTERS: Boaz, a Cousin of Naomi, Ten Citizens, Ruth, Naomi.

[_Several citizens stand in groups, talking._ BOAZ _enters._]

_Boaz_ [_speaks to one of the group_]: Hast thou seen my cousin pa.s.s this way? I am seeking him.

_First Citizen:_ Nay, good sir, I have not seen him.

_Boaz:_ I must speak with him; I will wait here by the city gate; perchance he will come soon.

[_One or two citizens pa.s.s by and speak to_ BOAZ, _saying, "Good-day, sir." Enter_ KINSMAN.]

_Boaz:_ Ho, Kinsman, turn aside! I would have a word with thee. Sit thee down.

[KINSMAN _sits down._]

_Kinsman:_ What wilt thou, Cousin?

_Boaz:_ I would speak about a matter of importance; wait thou here until I can bring witnesses. [_He turns to citizens._] A piece of land is about to be sold; will ten citizens witness this deed?

_Citizens:_ Aye, indeed. [_They come forward._]

_Boaz:_ Sit ye down here. [_They sit down._] [_To_ KINSMAN]: Dost thou remember Naomi, our kinswoman, who went with her husband and two sons to the land of Moab?

_Kinsman:_ Yea, I do know Naomi.

_Boaz:_ She selleth a parcel of land which was her husband's. Now, thou art nearest of kin to Naomi, so I thought to advise thee that thou mayest have the first chance to redeem the land in the presence of the elders of the city. If thou dost not care to redeem it, then the right to redeem it cometh to me, for I am next of kin. What wilt thou do?

_Kinsman:_ I will buy the land from our kinswoman, Naomi.

_Boaz:_ On the day that thou buyest the field from the hand of Naomi, thou also takest Ruth, the Moabitess, for thy wife, according to our custom and law.

_Kinsman:_ Then I will not redeem the land, for I cannot take Ruth for my wife. Take thou my right to redeem it and buy it for thyself.

_Boaz_ [_taking off his shoe and giving it to the_ KINSMAN, _he says to the witnesses_]: Ye are witnesses this day that I have bought this parcel of land from Naomi and that I buy also, as my wife, Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Of all this ye are witnesses.

_Citizens:_ We are witnesses. [_Bow._]

[KINSMAN _returns shoe to_ BOAZ _and walks off._ RUTH _and_ NAOMI _come through the street._]

_Boaz:_ Ye are well met, Naomi, my kinswoman, and Ruth. I have good news for you; I have bought your land and I can now take Ruth for my wife. Come, all ye fellow-citizens, for the wedding feast is prepared at my house!

[_Takes_ RUTH _by the hand._]

_Naomi:_ Blessed am I that I should live to see this good thing come to pa.s.s! The Lord hath been most gracious unto me!

END

CHAPTER VII

THE DRAMATIZATION OF _QUEEN ESTHER_