Act 3 — 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.

Boaz: On the day that thou buyest the field from the hand of Naomi, thou also takest Ruth, the Moabitess, for thy wife, according to our custom and law.

Kinsman: Then I will not redeem the land, for I cannot take Ruth for my wife. Take thou my right to redeem it and buy it for thyself.

Boaz [taking off his shoe and giving it to the Kinsman, he says to the witnesses]: Ye are witnesses this day that I have bought this parcel of land from Naomi and that I buy also, as my wife, Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Of all this ye are witnesses.

Citizens: We are witnesses. [Bow.]

[Kinsman returns shoe to Boaz and walks off. Ruth and Naomi come through the street.]

Boaz: Ye are well met, Naomi, my kinswoman, and Ruth. I have good news for you; I have bought your land and I can now take Ruth for my wife. Come, all ye fellow-citizens, for the wedding feast is prepared at my house!

[Takes Ruth by the hand.]

Naomi: Blessed am I that I should live to see this good thing come to pass! The Lord hath been most gracious unto me!

End