A pleasant New BALLAD of TOBIAS:
Wherein is shewed what wonderful Things happend to him in his Youth; and how he wedded
young Damsel that had seven Husbands, but never enjoyed their Company, being all
slain by an evil Spirit.
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IN Nineve old Toby dwelt,
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An aged Man, and blind was he,
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And much Affliction he had felt,
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Which brought him into Misery.
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He had by Anne his true Wife,
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One only Son and eke no more,
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Which was the Comfort of his Life,
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And he by him did set great Store.
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He brought him up so virtuously,
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In true Obedience and Awe,
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That every Day he did apply
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To fear the Lord and keep his Law.
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Upon a Time it came to pass,
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He calld his Son to him with Speed,
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And thus to him these Words did frame,
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My Son, quoth he, thou knowst my Need.
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Thou must unto Gabeal go,
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To Raguels House in Media Land,
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For I did lend him long ago,
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Ten Talents on his only Bond.
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My Father dear, Tobias said,
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At your Command straight will I go,
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How shall I get the Money paid,
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Seeing the Man I neer did know.
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Take then the Writings here with thee,
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Which are sufficient to be seen,
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And get a Guide to go with thee,
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Since thou the Way hast never been.
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A Guide Tobias soon had got,
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An Angel in the Shape of Man;
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Which Things he did not know, God wot,
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The Lord had it appointed then.
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Tobias with his blessed Guide,
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Went on his Journey thus with Speed,
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Until they came to Tigris Side.
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At the fair Flood they did abide.
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Tobias would go wash him there,
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By Reason of the Summers Heat,
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A mighty Fish put him in Fear,
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Which leapd out of the Waters deep.
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Take up the Fish, the Angel said,
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And keep the Liver, Heart and Gall,
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To do the same be not afraid,
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Great Cures there shall be done withal.
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When this was done away they went,
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And coming near their Journeys End,
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Well lodge to Night, the Angel said,
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With Raguel thy Fathers Friend.
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He hath a Daughter fair of Face,
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And also of a virtuous Life.
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And when we come unto that Place,
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Ill speak that she may be thy Wife.
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Why, Azarias then, quoth he,
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(For so they did the Angel call)
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I wish she be no Wife for me,
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Swift Death doth all her Lovers fall.
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Seven Men to her hath married been,
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Which in her Love did take Delight,
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When in her Bed-chamber theyd been,
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They did not live out Half the Night.
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A wicked Spirit loves her so,
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He will not suffer any Man,
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With her into the Bed to go.
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But works his Death do all they can.
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The Angel said, good Courage take,
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For so it shall not be with thee,
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For such Perfumes I will thee make,
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The wicked Spirit away shall flee.
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To Raguels Home away they run,
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Where Sarah met them fair and bright,
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And after Salutations done,
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She brought them to her Fathers Sight
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Great Chear there was, and down they set,
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And all for young Tobias Sake,
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And after long and pleasant Chat,
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Betwixt them two a Match they make.
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By Moses Law they married were,
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The Brides Chamber prepard likewise,
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But when Tobias came in there,
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The Tears ran down from Sarahs Eyes.
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A Pan of Coals he brought with him,
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The Fishs Heart and Liver there,
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Within the Fire he did cast in,
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Which cast a Flavour every where.
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And by that sweet and pleasant Smell,
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The wicked Spirit was displacd,
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Within that Room he could not dwell,
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Whence out away he went in Haste.
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In Bed they laid the beauteous Bride,
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Their Chamber-door was shut therefore,
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Young Toby lying by her Side,
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Whom they did think to see no more.
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And therefore Raguel in the Night,
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For him before had made a Grave,
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And to his Wife he wept and said,
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There is no Means his Life to save.
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One of the Maidens send, quoth he,
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To see how all the Matter stands,
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And if so be, that he be dead,
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He shall be buried by my Hands.
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This Maiden joyful News did bring,
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Tobias is alive, quoth she;
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When Raguel heard of this Thing,
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He did rejoice exceedingly.
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For Joy he made a solemn Feast,
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The Bridal fourteen Days they kept,
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For there came many a friendly Guest;
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In Sorrow now no more they slept.
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Azarias went straightway,
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Unto a Feast which Raguel bought,
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Rejoicing at his Marriage-Day,
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And paid the Money that he ought.
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But yet old Toby and his Wife,
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Did all the while in Sorrow dwell;
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They thought their Son had lost his Life,
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And nothing could their Grief expel.
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His aged Mother every Day
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Did watch upon the High-way Side,
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And for his Farewel oft did pray,
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No Meat nor Drink she could abide,
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But when the Wedding ended was,
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Young Toby with his lovely Bride.
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To Nineve did homewards pass,
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With Goods and Chattles by his Side.
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But Toby and his Angel bright,
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Before his Wife made Haste to go,
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For to prepare all Things aright,
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His lovely Bride to welcome Home.
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His Mother watching in the Way,
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Full soon espyd her tender Son,
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Rejoicing at that happy Day,
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She told her Husband he was come.
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Whereat old Toby tumbled out,
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For he was blind and could not see,
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Young Toby with the Fishs Gall,
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Rubbd both his Eyes immediately,
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Whereat the Whiteness of his Eyes,
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Incontinent did fall out quite,
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So that before he did arise,
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He had again his perfect Sight.
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Great Joy there was, and down they sat,
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Young Toby told his Father dear,
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Who went to meet his lovely Bride,
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With Joy and Mirth that was sincere.
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