A Pleasant new Ballad of Tobias, wherein is shewed what
wonderful things chanced to him in his Youth; and how he wedded a young Damosel that
had had Seven Husbands, but never enjoyed their Company, being all slain by an evil Spirit.
To a pleasant New Tune.
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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 unto misery:
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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 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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be cal'd 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 know'st 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 ne'r 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 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 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 they went,
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and comming near their journeys end,
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We'l 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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I'le 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 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 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 wcked 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 Fathes sight.
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GReat cheer there was and 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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betwixt them two a match they make;
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By Moses Law they marraied were,
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the brides bed-chamber prepar'd 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 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 savour everywhere:
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And by that sweet and pleasant smell,
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the wicked spirit was displac't:
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within that room he could not dwell,
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whereout he went in haste.
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In bed they laid the beautious 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 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 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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Rejoy[c]ing 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 Nineve did 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 hast 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 espyed 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 Gall,
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rub'd both his eyes immediately.
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Whereat the whiteness of his eyes,
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incontient 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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