[_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 gods to take the God 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 God 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 pass 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 pass 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.