Ruth 2:14

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched [corn], and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

Ver. 14. And Boaz said unto her.] Here gratiarum actio erat ad plus dandum invitatio. Ruth's thankfulness was rewarded with more kindness. Efficacissimum genus est rogandi, gratias agere, saith Pliny. a As a little water poured into the pump when the springs lie low, bringeth up a great deal more together with it; so is it here.

And eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.] Here was plain fare. Nature is content with a little; and hunger hunteth not after delicates.

And she sat beside the reapers.] She sat to a side, and did not thrust in saucily amongst them, though favoured.

And he reached b her parched corn.] Which was great dainties in those days (1 Samuel 17:17 2Sa 17:28). Now-a-days, what marvel is it that we die so fast? saith Seneca, qui tot mortibus vivimus, who do live by the death of so many other creatures.

a In Panegyr.

b Sept., εβουνισεν αυτη, He reached unto her by heaps.