_Naomi:_ I must go. I came to this country happy--with my husband and two sons--but misfortune has dealt bitterly with me. My husband first died, and now my two sons, your husbands, are taken from me. I am old and sad. I have no one left to comfort me. I must go back to mine own people. Leave me, my daughters, and God bless you! [_Both daughters weep._] _Orpah_ [_weeping and kissing_ NAOMI]: If thou wilt be happier, then thou must leave us. I will return to my mother's house as thou sayest. [_She goes off slowly, weeping._] [RUTH _still stands by weeping. Takes hold of_ NAOMI'S _hand._] _Naomi:_ Behold, Orpah, thy sister-in-law, has gone back to her people and unto her gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law. _Ruth:_ Intreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. _Naomi:_ Since thou art so steadfastly minded to go with me, Ruth, I will cease urging thee. Come, thou mayest go with me to Bethlehem. SCENE II PLACE: In the barley fields of Boaz. TIME: The harvest season. CHARACTERS: Boaz, Ruth, Head Reaper, Reapers, Gleaners. [_The reapers come in with their sickles, followed by the gleaners._] _Head Reaper:_ Truly we have a wonderful harvest this year! _First Reaper:_ Yea, we will have food enough for ourselves and for all the poor in our city of Bethlehem. _Head Reaper:_ It is the great God that hath given us this bounty. [_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.