RUTH AND NAOMI 47 And they said unto her, "Nay, surely we will return with thee unto thy people." [Daughters cleave unto her.] And Naomi said, "Turn again, my daughters, go your way! Nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me." And they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her. [Music, without reading, while ORPAH turns to go.] And Naomi said, "Behold, thy sister-in-law goeth back unto her people and unto her gods; return thou also after thy sisterin-law." [Music, as ORPAH pleads with RUTH to join her, and exits sadly, left.] And Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or 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, I will die, and there will I be buried. [RUTH grasps NAOMI's hands and vows:] "Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." [Music during dramatic pause, as NAOMI is convinced of RUTH'S loyalty.] And when Naomi saw that she was steadfastly minded, she left off speaking unto her. [The two women embrace and go off right. End of music.] So they two went forth, Naomi and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her out of the country of Moab, and they came to Bethlehem-Judah in the beginning of the barley harvest. |