A pleasant new Ballad of Tobias, wherein is shewed the wonderful things that chanced unto
him in his youth, and how he wedded a yong Damsel that had had seven husbands, and,
never enjoyed their company, who were all slain by a wicked Spirit. To a new tune
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IN Ninivy old Toby dwelt,
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an Aged man and blind was he,
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And much afflictions he had felt,
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which brought him unto poverty:
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He had by Anna his true Wife,
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one onely Son and eke no more,
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Which was the comfo[r]t of his life,
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[and] he by him did set great store.
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[He bro]ught him up most vertuously,
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[in t]rue obedience and in aw,
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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 passe,
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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 Gabael go,
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to Raguels house in Media Land,
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For I did lend him long agoe,
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ten Talents on his onely Band.
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My father dear Tobias said,
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at your command streight will I go.
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How shall I get the mony paid,
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seeing the man I nere did know.
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Take here the Writings then quoth he,
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which is sufficient being 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 Angell in the shape of man
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Which thing he did not know God Wot,
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the Lord did so appoint it than.
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Tobias with his blessed guide,
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went on his journy than with speed,
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Until they came to Tygris side,
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At the fair flood they did abide:
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Tobias would go with him [th]er[e,]
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by reason of the Summers heat,
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A mighty fish pnt him in fear,
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which leapt out of the waters great,
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Cut up the fish the Angell 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 withall:
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When this was done away they went,
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and coming neer their journys end,
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Weel 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 vertuous life,
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And when we come unto that place,
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Ile 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 married 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 have 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 he 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 Sara met them fair and bright,
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And after Salutations done
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she brought them to her parents sight.
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GReat cheer they made & down they sate
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& al for yong Tobias sake
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And after long and pleasant chat,
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betwixt these two a match they make.
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By Moses Law they married were,
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the bride bed chamber prepard likewise
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When young Tobias came in there
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the tears fell down from Saras eyes.
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A pan of coles 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 savor every where,
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And by that sweet and pretious smell,
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the Wicked Spirit was displact,
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Within that room he could not dwell,
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Where out away he went in hast.
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In bed they laid this beautious bride,
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the chamber door they shut therefore,
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Young Toby lay down 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 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 it be so that dead he be,
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he shall be buried by my hands.
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This maiden joyfull news did bring,
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Tobias is alive quoth she.
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When Raguel heard then 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 dayes he kept,
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Thereto came many a friendly guest,
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in sorrow now no more they slept.
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Azarias went streightway,
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unto the feast Gabriel brought,
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Rejoycing at his marriage day,
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did pay the mony that he ought,
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But yet old Toby and his Wife,
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did all the time 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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yonng Toby with his lovely Bride.
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To Ninivie did homewards passe,
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with goods and Cattel on each side,
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But Toby and the Angell bright
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before his Wife made hast to go,
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For to prepare all things arright,
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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 espyd 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 stumbled out,
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for he was blind and could not see,
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Young Toby with the fishes gall,
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rubd both his eyes immediately.
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Whereat the Whitenesse of his eye.
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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 on every side,
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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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