Till Moab’s high-set plain and warm, wide valleys
  Wherefrom clear-watered Arnon westward sallies,
  Rejoiced they reached:  there welcome found and there
  Release from want, of wealth a goodly share.

  With these Elimelech and his precious ones,
  His wife Naomi and his two brave sons,
  Mahlon and Chilion, Jordan’s shrunken tide
  Crossed, and at Hesbon stayed and occupied.

  And there they prospered for a blessed time
  Until Elimelech in his lordly prime,
  Hasting those cattle-spoilers to pursue,
  The ambuscading sons of Anak slew.

  Then Chilion and Mahlon, by the voice
  Of their good mother guided, made their choice
  Amongst the maids of Moab for their wives: 
  And so, a ten years’ space lived joyful lives.

  Till pestilence o’ertook the brothers; naught
  Of wives’ or mothers’ care availed them aught,
  But, blessing both, their sight was quenched in gloom;
  Three widows wept o’er their untimely tomb.

  Then when their days of mourning now were o’er,
  Fresh tidings came from Jordan’s further shore: 
  “Judaea’s years of famine now are passed,
  And joyous plenty crowns her fields at last.”

  Naomi then outspake:  “Dear daughters lone,
  Yea, dearer for their sakes who now are gone
  Than if indeed ye were my very own
  Born children, hearken to Naomi’s voice
  Who of all Moabs’ maids made you her choice!

  “Good wives and fond, as ever cherished
  Husband, were ye unto my two sons dead,
  Diligent weavers of their household wool,
  True joy-mates when their cup of bliss was full,
  Kind comforters in sorrow or in pain. 
  Alloy was none, but one to mar life’s golden chain.

  “No child, dear Orpah, loving Ruth, have ye
  To suckle or to dance upon your knee,
  No other sons have I your hearts to woo—­
  Grandchildren can be none from me to you. 
  Therefore, my daughters, O, consider well
  Since you are young, and fair and so excel
  In every homecraft, were it not more wise
  No longer to refuse to turn your eyes
  Towards the suitors brave who, now your days
  Of mourning are accomplished, fix their gaze
  Upon your goings?  Verily now ’twere right
  That you should each a noble Moabite
  Espouse, till, with another’s love accost,
  Your childless grief in motherhood be lost. 
  And I, why should I tarry longer here
  To be a burden on you year by year? 
  Kinsfolk and friends have I at Bethlehem
  Where plenty reigns; I will go back to them—­”
  Then much they both besought her to remain,
  And yet her purpose neither could restrain;
  Therefore her goods to gather she began
  Against the passing of the caravan. 
  But Ruth and Orpah each prepared also
  Beside her unto Bethlehem to go.