Yield wisely, and not foolishly resist. Yield wisely now, and let me hence depart Cheered to have healed a little here the hurt With which the daughter of God's people bleeds!" How little prospered this his new appeal, Saul learned, when Ruth, as not having heard even, said: "At least let me, if I indeed must leave My children double orphans so, let me Now go and see them in their helpless sleep, And take a farewell of them with my eyes. But who will care for them when I am gone? I cannot, will not, go away from them. Nay, ye may bind me, ye may slay me, drag Me hence may ye, alive or dead, but make Me go with my own feet away from them, My children, in their innocent infancy, And leave them to pine motherless, forlorn, And perish in their innocent infancy-- That is beyond your strength--I will not go-- A mother may defy the Sanhedrim!" Ruth spoke dry-eyed, with holy mother's wrath, Sublime in her indignant eloquence. Saul, not unmoved, although inexorable, Said: "Woman, as thy wish is, thou shalt go Freely to see thy children. May the sight Dispose thee to a better mind! Come back Ready to say, 'For their sake, I renounce My folly, I will be true Jewish mother To them, so let me stay,'--and thou shalt stay. Ruth going, Rachel thought, 'Shall I too go With her, that I may help her bear to part From her dear babes?' Quickly resolved behind To tarry, she, Ruth gone, went up to Saul, And said: "I pray thee, Saul, let Rachel go Instead of Ruth to prison. Let Ruth bide To nurse her children. I will take her place Gladly in her captivity, and be A surety for her. Young and strong am I, And I will be a firm good surety, Saul, Not fleeing and not complaining, always there,-- And if, hereafter ever, it should seem Needful to have Ruth come herself to prison, Why, she will still be here, under thy hand, As now, so then, to be hence thither led. Be kind, and have me bound straightway, before Ruth comes again, that she be left no choice But to let Rachel have her wilful way, Perceiving that I have my bonds on me To go to prison with her, if not without, While much I wish to go without her--wish, And, by thy kind permission, have the power. Dost thou not think, Saul"--wherewith Rachel smiled On Saul a starlight smile, which made him feel How high she was above him in her sphere Unconsciously--"Dost thou not think that I Will make as good a prisoner as Ruth?"