IN ancient Times, ere Israel knew the way
Of kingly Power, when Judges bore the sway,
A certain Man of Bethlehem Judah fled,
By Reason of a Famine that overspread
The Land, into the Land of Moab, where
He and his Wife, and Sons, sojourners were.
⟨p. 8⟩His Name Elimelech, his eldest Son
Was called Mahlon, the other Chilion.
His Wife was Naomi, Ephrathites they were:
They went to Moab and continued there:
Where of her Husband Naomi was bereft,
And only she, and her Two Sons were left:
Who took them Wives of Moab in their Youth:
The Name of one was Orpah, the other Ruth:
And there they died ere twice Five Years were gone;
And Naomi was wholly left alone.
Then she arose, and her Step-daughters with her,
To leave the Land of Moab altogether:
For she had heard the Lord had visited
Her native Country, with increase of Bread.
Wherefore the Land of Moab she forsook,
And to her native Place her course she took,
Her Daughters with her: Whom she did desire,
That to their Mother's House they would retire:
The Lord, said she, be kind to you again,
As you to me, and to the dead have been:
God grant you each may be with Husbands blest,
And in the' Enjoyment of them, both find rest.
Then she embraced them, and there withal,
Down from their Cheeks, the Tears began to fall:
They wept aloud, and said, Most surely we
Unto thy People will return with thee.
But Naomi replied, Wherefore will ye,
My Daughters, thus resolve to go with me?
Are there yet any more Sons in my Womb,
That may your Husbands be in time to come?
Return again, my Daughters, go your way,
For I'm too Old to marry: Should I say
⟨p. 9⟩I've Hope? Should I this Night conceive a Son?
Would either of you stay till he is grown?
Would you so long without an Husband live?
Nay, nay, my Daughters, for it doth me grieve
Exceedingly, even for your sakes, that I
Do under this so great Affliction lie.
And here they wept again: And Orpah kissed
Her Mother, but Ruth would not be dismissed
But clave unto her: Unto whom she spake
And said, Behold, thy Sister is gone back,
With her own Gods, and People to abide,
Go thou along with her. But Ruth replied,
Entreat me not to leave thee, or return:
For where thou goest, I'll go, where thou sojourn,
I'll sojourn also: And what People's thine,
And who thy God, the same shall both be mine:
Where thou shalt die, there will I die likewise,
And I'll be buried where thy Body lies:
IN ancient Times, e'er Israel knew the way
Of kingly Power, when Judges bore the sway,
A certain Man of Bethlehem Juda fled,
By Reason of a Famine that o'erspread
The Land, into the Land of Moab, where
He and his Wife, and Sons, sojourners were.
⟨p. 8⟩His Name Elimelech, his eldest Son
Was called Mahlon, t'other Chilion.
His Wife was Naomi, Ephrathites they were:
They went to Moab and continued there:
Where of her Husband Naomi was bereft,
And only she, and her Two Sons were left:
Who took them Wives of Moab in their Youth:
The Name of one was Orpah, t'other Ruth:
And there they died e'er twice Five Years were gone;
And Naomi was wholly left alone.
Then she arose, and her Step-daughters with her,
To leave the Land of Moab altogether:
For she had heard the Lord had visited
Her native Country, with increase of Bread.
Wherefore the Land of Moab she forsook,
And to her native Place her course she took,
Her Daughters with her: Whom she did desire,
That to their Mother's House they would retire:
The Lord, said she, be kind to you agen,
As you to me, and to the dead have been:
God grant you each may be with Husbands blest,
And in th' Enjoyment of them, both find rest.
Then she embraced them, and there withal,
Down from their Cheeks, the Tears began to fall:
They wept aloud, and said, Most surely we
Unto thy People will return with thee.
But Naomi replied, Wherefore will ye,
My Daughters, thus resolve to go with me?
Are there yet any more Sons in my Womb,
That may your Husbands be in time to come?
Return again, my Daughters, go your way,
For I'm too Old to marry: Should I say
⟨p. 9⟩I've Hope? Should I this Night conceive a Son?
Would either of you stay till he is grown?
Would you so long without an Husband live?
Nay, nay, my Daughters, for it doth me grieve
Exceedingly, even for your sakes, that I
Do under this so great Affliction lie.
And here they wept again: And Orpah kiss'd
Her Mother, but Ruth would not be dismiss'd
But clave unto her: Unto whom she spake
And said, Behold, thy Sister is gone back,
With her own Gods, and People to abide,
Go thou along with her. But Ruth reply'd,
Intreat me not to leave thee, or return:
For where thou goest, I'll go, where thou sojourn,
I'll sojourn also: And what People's thine,
And who thy God, the same shall both be mine:
Where thou shalt die, there will I die likewise,
And I'll be buried where thy Body lies:
