The Story of Ruth (1960)

Tom Tryon: Mahlon

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Quotes 

• Ruth : Since you say your God is everywhere... perchance I am stepping on him right now.

  Mahlon : Indirectly, yes, the Earth being one of his creations.

  Ruth : The Earth? Then you may as well claim that he made the moon too.

  Mahlon : It is told that he made two great lights in the heavens. The greater to rule the day and the lesser to rule the night.

  Ruth : And all other luminous objects in the sky, I suppose.

  Mahlon : Yes. And one closer by.

• Ruth : Why do you look at me like that?

  Mahlon : Because you are so beautiful, so very beautiful. Don't you know that you are?

  Ruth : I have never thought about it.

  Mahlon : No one has ever told you? No man has ever looked at you as I do?

  Ruth : If... if he has, I have not seen it.

  Mahlon : You were not watching for it. Isn't it pleasant, even for a priestess to be told that she is beautiful, especially when it's true?

  Ruth : Is beauty so important?

  Mahlon : The beauty that's within, as I know it is with you.

  Ruth : How do you know?

  Mahlon : I am older than you, and the years teach.

• Mahlon : [to Elimelech and Chilion as the three are imprisoned by the Moabites]  It is my doing. I had no right to bring this down on you.

  Elimelech : No. The sin is on my head. I am punished for leaving our people in Bethlehem in time of trouble. I was rich, but denied the poor. I had bread, but denied the hungry. I had substance, but took it with me.

• Mahlon : Suppose you wish to pray, but you're not near an image of Chemosh.

  Ruth : Then I go to him.

  Mahlon : Well, suppose a soldier of Moab is wounded on a field of battle and cannot get to an image of Chemosh to pray for his life.

  Ruth : Then he thinks of Chemosh.

  Mahlon : But the Chemosh he's thinking of is invisible at the time he thinks of him. In my work, gracious lady, I have sometimes repaired your god. Isn't it hard to believe that a god who cracks and crumbles and can be repaired by a mere artisan like myself can be the same god who makes the birds sing and the sun rise and set? How can a god whose own head gets broken mend the broken heads of his soldiers?