A Pleasant Ballad of Tobias, wherein is shewed
what wonderful things chanced to him in his Youth, and how he wedded a young
Damsel that had had several Husbands, but never enjoyed their Company, be-
ing all slain by an evil Spirit. To a pleasant New tune.
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IN Ninivie 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 unto misery:
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He had by Anna, 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 vertuously
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in true obedience, and in awe,
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And 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 (quod he) thou knowst my need,
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Thou must unto Gabael 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 band.
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My Father (dear Tobias said)
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at your command strait 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 is 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 thing he did not know God wot,
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the Lord had so 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 he did go wash him there,
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by reason of the Summers heat,
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A mighty Fish put him to fear,
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which leapt out of the waters deep.
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Cut 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 thty went,
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and coming near their journeys end,
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Well lodge tonight, 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 vertuous 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 Azarius (then quoth he,
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for so they did the angel call)
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I wis she is no wife for me,
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swift death doth all her Lovers fall.
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Seven Men to her have marryd been,
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which in her love did take delight:
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When her bed-chamber they had seen,
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they had not lived 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 what 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 cheer there was, & down they sat
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and all for young Tobias sake,
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And after long and pleasant chat,
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between them two a match they make,
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By Moses law they married were,
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the brides bed-chamber prepared likewise,
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When young Tobias came in there,
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the tears fell down from Sarahs eyes.
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A Pan of Coals he brought with him,
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the Fishes heart and liver there;
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Within the fire he did cast in,
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which cast a savour 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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but out he went in haste.
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In bed they laid the beauteous Bride,
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the Chamber-door was shut therefore;
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Young Toby lying by her side,
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whom he 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 went 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 matters stands,
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And if so be that dead he be
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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 rejoyce 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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There came many a friendly Guest,
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in sorrow now no more they slept.
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Azarius went straight way,
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unto the feast Gabael brought;
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Rejoycing 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 this 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 expell,
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His aged mother every day
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did watch the High-way side,
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And for his welfare 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 Ninivie dide homewards pass,
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with Goods and Chattels on each 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 ho.
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His mother watching in the way,
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full soon espied her tender Son:
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Rejoycing 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 Fishes Gail,
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rubd both his eyes immediatly.
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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 all:
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Who went to meet his lovely bride,
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with joy and mirth that was not small.
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