Liber Ruth

Postquam autem reversa est ad socrum suam, audivit ab ea: Filia mea, quæram tibi requiem, et providebo ut bene sit tibi.

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.

Postquam autem reverte es ad socru suo, audi ab illa: filia meo, quaere ad te requie, et provide ut bene es ad te.

Booz iste, cujus puellis in agro juncta es, propinquus noster est, et hac nocte aream hordei ventilat.

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.

Booz isto, de que puellas in agro iunge es, propinquo nostro es, et hoc nocte area de hordeo ventila.

Lavare igitur, et ungere, et induere cultioribus vestimentis, et descende in aream: non te videat homo, donec esum potumque finierit.

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.

Lava ergo, et unge, et indue cultu ad vestimentos, et descende in area: non homine vide te, usque que esu et potu finie.

Quando autem ierit ad dormiendum, nota locum in quo dormiat: veniesque et discooperies pallium, quo operitur a parte pedum, et projicies te, et ibi jacebis: ipse autem dicet quid agere debeas.

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.

Quando autem i ad dormi, noto loco in quo dormi: et veni et discooperie palle, quo operi ab parte de pedes, et proiici te, et ibi iace: ipso autem dic quid age debe.

Quæ respondit: Quidquid præceperis, faciam.

She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.

Que responde: omni praecipie, fac.

Descenditque in aream, et fecit omnia quæ sibi imperaverat socrus.

And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.

Et descende in area, et fac omni socru ad se impera que.

Cumque comedisset Booz, et bibisset, et factus esset hilarior, issetque ad dormiendum juxta acervum manipulorum, venit abscondite, et discooperto pallio, a pedibus ejus se projecit.

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.

Cumque Booz comede, et bibe, et facto es hilariore, et i ad dormi juxta acervo de manipulos, veni absconde, et disce pallio, ab pedes de illo se proicie.

Et ecce, nocte jam media expavit homo, et conturbatus est: viditque mulierem jacentem ad pedes suos,

And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,

Et ecce, nocte jam medio homine expa, et conturba es: et vide muliere iace ad pedes suo,

et ait illi: Quæ es? Illaque respondit: Ego sum Ruth ancilla tua: expande pallium tuum super famulam tuam, quia propinquus es.

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.

Et dic ad illo: que es? Et me es: Ruth ancilla tuo responde illa: expande palle tuo super famula tuo, quia propinquo es.

Et ille: Benedicta, inquit, es a Domino, filia, et priorem misericordiam posteriore superasti: quia non est secuta juvenes, pauperes sive divites.

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.

Et illo: menedica, dic, es ab Domino, filia, et priore misericordia postera supersta: quia non es seque iuvene, paupere sive divite.

Noli ergo metuere, sed quidquid dixeris mihi, faciam tibi. Scit enim omnis populus, qui habitat intra portas urbis meæ, mulierem te esse virtutis.

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.

Ne vol ergo metue, sed omni dic ad me, fac ad te. Sci nam omni populo, qui habita intra portas de urbe meo, muliere te es de virtute.

Nec abnuo me propinquum, sed est alius me propinquior.

Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.

Nec abnue me propinquo, sed es alio me propinquo.

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.

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, so the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.

Quiesce hoc nocte: et fac mane, si te vol de propinquitate iure retine, bene re age es: sin autem illo ne vol, me suscipe absque ullo dubitatione te, Domino vive. Dormio usque mane.

Dormivit itaque ad pedes ejus, usque ad noctis abscessum. Surrexit itaque antequam homines se cognoscerent mutuo, et dixit Booz: Cave ne quis noverit quod huc veneris.

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.

Dormi itaque ad pedes de illo, usque ad nocte abscessu. Surge itaque antequam homines cognosce se mutuo, et Booz dic: cave ne qui nosce quod huc veni.

Et rursum: Expande, inquit, pallium 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,

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,

Et iterum: expande, dic, palle tuo, quo operi, et tene ambo manu. Quo extende, et tene, metior es sexu modio de hordeo, et pone super illa. Que porta ingredior es civitate,

et venit ad socrum suam. Quæ dixit ei: Quid egisti, filia? Narravitque ei omnia, quæ sibi fecisset homo.

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.

Et veni ad socru suo. Que dic ad illo: quid age, filia? Et narra ad illo omni, homine ad se fac que.

Et ait: Ecce sex modios hordei dedit mihi, et ait: Nolo vacuam te reverti ad socrum tuam.

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.

Et dic: ecce sexu modio de hordeo da ad me, et dic: ne vol vacuo te reverte ad socru tuo.

Dixitque Noëmi: Expecta, filia, donec videamus quem res exitum habeat: neque enim cessabit homo, nisi compleverit quod locutus est.

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.

Et dic Noëmo: expecta, filia, usque que vide quem re exitu que habe: neque nam homine cessa, nisi quod locuto es comple.