Liber Ruth, 3
1. postquam autem reversa est ad socrum suam audivit ab ea filia mi quæram tibi requiem et providebo ut bene sit tibi
1. After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.
2. Booz iste cujus puellis in agro juncta es propinquus est noster et hac nocte aream hordei ventilat
2. This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.
3. lava igitur et unguere et induere cultioribus vestimentis ac descende in aream non te videat homo donec esum potumque finierit
3. Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.
4. quando autem jerit ad dormiendum nota locum in quo dormiat veniesque et discoperies pallium quo operitur a parte pedum et proicies te et ibi jacebis ipse autem dicet tibi quid agere debeas
4. And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.
5. quæ respondit quicquid præceperis faciam
5. She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.
6. descenditque in aream et fecit omnia quæ sibi imperaverat socrus
6. And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.
7. cumque comedisset Booz et bibisset et factus esset hilarior issetque ad dormiendum juxta acervum manipulorum venit abscondite et discoperto a pedibus ejus pallio se projecit
7. And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.
8. et ecce nocte jam media expavit homo et conturbatus est viditque mulierem jacentem ad pedes suos
8. And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,
9. et ait illi quæ es illaque respondit ego sum Ruth ancilla tua expande pallium tuum super famulam tuam quia propinquus es
9. And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.
10. et ille benedicta inquit es Domino filia et priorem misericordiam posteriore superasti quia non es secuta juvenes pauperes sive divites
10. And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich.
11. noli ergo metuere sed quicquid dixeris mihi faciam tibi scit enim omnis populus qui habitat intra portas urbis meæ mulierem te esse virtutis
11. Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12. nec abnuo me propinquum sed est alius me propinquior
12. Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.
13. quiesce hac nocte et facto mane si te voluerit propinquitatis jure retinere bene res acta est sin autem ille noluerit ego te absque ulla dubitatione suscipiam vivit Dominus dormi usque mane
13. Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.
14. dormivit itaque ad pedes ejus usque ad noctis abscessum surrexitque antequam homines se cognoscerent mutuo et dixit Booz cave ne quis noverit quod huc veneris
14. So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.
15. et rursum expande inquit palliolum tuum quo operiris et tene utraque manu qua extendente et tenente mensus est sex modios hordei et posuit super eam quæ portans ingressa est civitatem
15. And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,
16. et venit ad socrum suam quæ dixit ei quid egisti filia narravitque ei omnia quæ sibi fecisset homo
16. And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17. et ait ecce sex modios hordei dedit mihi et ait nolo vacuam te reverti ad socrum tuam
17. And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law.
18. dixitque Nœmi expecta filia donec videamus quem res exitum habeat neque enim cessabit homo nisi conpleverit quod locutus est
18. And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.
