Scriptural poems being several portions of Scripture digested into English verse / by John Bunyan.

CHAP. III.

THen Naomi said, Shall I not, my Daughter, Seek Rest for thee, that thou do well hereafter? And is not Boaz, with whose Maids thou wast, One of the nearest Kinsmen that thou hast? Behold, this Night he in his Threshing-Floor Is winnowing Barley, wash thy self therefore, Anoint thee, put thy Cloaths on, and get down Unto the Floor; but make not thy self known, Till he hath eat and drank, and shall prepare To lie him down; then take good notice where He goes about to take his Night's Repose, And go thou in there, and lift up the Cloaths From off his Feet, and likewise lay thee down, And what thou hast to do he will make known. And she made answer, Whatsoever thou Hast me commanded, will I gladly do. And down unto the Floor she hasted, and Forthwith fulfill'd her Mother-in-Law's Command. So now when Boaz had his Heart refresh'd, With Meat and Drink, he laid him down to rest, Near to the heap of Corn; she softly came, Uncover'd's Feet, and lay down by the same. And, lo! at Midnight, as he turn'd him round, He was afraid, for at his Feet he found A Woman lay: Who art thou? then said he. I am thine Handmaid Ruth, replyed she, Over thine Handmaid therefore spread thy Skirt, I pray, because thou a near Kinsman art.

Blessed be thou, said he, because thou hast Made manifest more Kindness at the last, Than at the first, in that thou didst, my Daughter, No young Men, whether poor or rich, go after: And now, my Daughter, be not thou afraid, I will do to thee all that thou hast said: For all the City of my People knows, Thou art a Woman truly vertuous; And now, though I am Kin undoubtedly, Yet there is one that's nearer Kin than I: Tarry this Night, and when 'tis Morning light, If he will like a Kinsman do thee right, We'll let him, but if not, I my self will, As the Lord lives, till Morning lie thou still. And till the Morning at his Feet she lay, And then arose about the break of Day; And he gave her a Charge, not to declare That there had any Womankind been there: He also said, Bring here thy Veil, and hold To me; she did, and thereinto he told Six Measures full of Barley, and did lay It on her, and she hasted thence away. And when unto her Mother-in-Law she came, Art thou, said she, my Daughter, come again? Then what the Man had done she told, and said, He these six Measures full of Barley laid Upon me, for said he, This I bestow, Least to thy Mother thou should'st empty go. Then, said she, sit still Daughter, till thou see What the Event of this Intrigue will be; For till the Man this Day hath made an end, No Satisfaction will on him attend.