"And it shall be, when he lies down, "And when he wakens, dearest Ruth, "Our fallen fortunes he'll retrieve, Then Ruth arose, and washed her face, Set forth to gain the threshing-floor, When Boaz left the merry feast, At midnight he awoke from sleep- "Who art thou? on what errand bent?” "Behold, 'tis Ruth!" she cried: "Protect me, kinsman! for alone In this wide world I bide. "Oh! shield me from the storms of life, Thy mantle o'er me spread; My husband was thy kinsman, lord, "Oh! blest, thrice blessed daughter! thou Henceforth shall be my care; The widow of Elimelech My favour, too, shall share: "Thy wisdom is beyond thy years, The young and gay thou hast not sought, "Name but thy wish, and I will grant Thy virtues and thy truth are known, "And now, my daughter, fear thou not, I am thy husband's nearest kin; "I do mistake; there still is one If he'll perform a kinsman's part, "Soon as the eastern sun shall gild Our city with his rays, I'll see this man;-if he consent, He but our law obeys. "Should he refuse, then fear thou not, I will thy guardian prove; A kinsman's part I will perform In honour and in love. "Lie down, sweet Ruth, till morning break, Depart before 'tis light! I would not give malicious tongues The power thy fame to blight." He gave her barley to sustain Then left the threshing-floor, and sought To the lone widowed one. Then he proceeded to the gate, And there proclaimed his fixed resolve "I'll purchase all her husband's land, "To Mahlon I'll raise up a name Then all the people gave a shout, And Ruth, the noble Princess Ruth, How throbbed the aged mother's heart The firstborn son of her loved Ruth 97 She laid him on her faithful breast, A pious matron, in the land, "Naomi! raise thy drooping head, "His mother's virtues shall descend A sevenfold blessing he will prove, "He shall sustain thy wasted strength, Resuscitate thine age, Restore the honours of thy house, "And from his loins there shall descend A blessing on the race Of fallen man, who, from his birth, Shall their Redemption trace!" MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. THUS PASSETH THE GLORY OF THE WORLD, WHY dost thou slumber, oh! my soul, Life and its glories pass away, Our pleasures glide so swiftly by, Oh! let delusive hope no more Cheat our fond hearts with dreams of bliss, But they have floated down the stream Death levels all distinctions here- |