A pleasant new Ballad of Tobias, wherein is shown the wonderful things which chanced
to him in his Youth; and how he wedded a young Damsell that had had seven Husbands,
and never enjoyed their company: who were all slaine by a wicked Spirit.
To a Delicate new Tune.
|
IN Ninivie old Toby dwelt,
|
an aged man and blind was he,
|
And much affliction he had felt,
|
which brought him unto poverty:
|
He had by Anna his true wife,
|
one only Son and eke no more.
|
Which was the comfort of his life,
|
and he by him did set great store
|
He brought him up most vertuously,
|
in true obedience and in Awe,
|
And every day he did apply,
|
to feare the Lord, and keep his Law:
|
Upon a time it came to passe,
|
he calld to him his Son with speed,
|
And thus to him these words did frame,
|
my Son (quod he) thou know'st my need:
|
Thou must unto Gabael goe,
|
to Raguels house in Meddia land,
|
For I did lend him long agoe,
|
ten talents of his only Band:
|
My Father deare Tobias said
|
at your command streight will I goe,
|
Now shall I get the Money paid
|
seeing the man I nere did know?
|
Take here the Writtings then (quod he)
|
which is sufficient being seene.
|
And get a Guide to goe with thee,
|
sith thou the way hast never been.
|
A Guide Tobias soone had got.
|
an Angel in the shape of man.
|
Which thing he did not know God wot,
|
the Lord did so appoint it then.
|
Tobias with his blessed Guide,
|
went on his journey then with speed,
|
Untill they came to Tigris stde,
|
at the faire Flood they did abide,
|
Tobias would goe wash him there,
|
by reason of the Summers heat,
|
A mighty Fish put him in feare,
|
which leapt out of the waters great.
|
Cut up the Fish, the Angel said,
|
but keepe the Liver, Heart, and Gall,
|
To doe the same be not afraid,
|
great cures there shall be done withal:
|
When this was done, away then went,
|
and comming neere the journies end,
|
Wee'l lodge to night the Angel said,
|
with Raguel thy Fathers friend,
|
He hath a Daughter faire of face,
|
and also of a vertuous life
|
And when we come into that place
|
Ile speak that she may be thy wife:
|
Why Azarias then (quod he)
|
for so he did the Angle call,
|
I wis she is no wife for me,
|
swift death doth to her Lovers fall.
|
Seven men to her hath married been,
|
which in her love did take delight,
|
When her Bed-chamber they had seen,
|
they have not lived halfe the night:
|
A wicked Spirit loves her so,
|
he will not suffer any man,
|
With her into the Bed to goe,
|
but works his death doe what he can.
|
The Angel said good courage take,
|
for so it shall not be with thee,
|
For such perfumes I will thee make
|
the wicked spirit a way shall flee:
|
To Raguels home away they went,
|
where Sara met them faire and bright,
|
And after Salutations done,
|
she brought them to her Parents stght.
|
|
|
|
|
The second Part, to the same tune.
|
GReat chear they mad, & down they sate
|
& all for young Tobias sake,
|
And after long and pleasant chat,
|
betwixt these two a match they make,
|
By M[o]ses Law they married were,
|
the Brids-Bed-chamber prepar'd like wise
|
When young Tobias came in there,
|
the teares fell down f[r]om Sarahs eyes.
|
A pan of Coles he brought with him,
|
the Fishes heart and Liver there
|
Within the fire he did cast in
|
which cast a saviour every where,
|
And by that sweet and precious smel
|
the wicked Spirit was displac't,
|
Within that roome he could not dwell,
|
where out away he went in hast.
|
In Bed they laid the beautious Bride,
|
the chamber doore they shut therefore,
|
Young Toby lay down by her side,
|
whom he did think to see no more,
|
And therefore Raguel in the night;
|
for him before had made a grave.
|
And to his Wife he wept and said,
|
there is no means his life to save.
|
One of the Mardens send quoth he,
|
to see how all the matters stand,
|
If it be so that dead he be,
|
he shall be buried by my hands.
|
This Maiden joyfull newes did bring,
|
Tobias is alive quoth she)
|
When Raguel heard then of this thing,
|
he did rejoyce exceedingly,
|
For joy he made a solemne feast,
|
the Bridall fourteen daies he kept,
|
Thereto came many a friendly Guest,
|
in sorrow now no more they slept.
|
Azarias we[n]t streight away,
|
unto the Feast Gabiel brought,
|
Rejoycing at his marriage day,
|
did pay the money that he ought.
|
But yet old Toby and his wife
|
did all the time in sorrow dwell,
|
They thought their Son had lost his life
|
and nothing cold their griefe expell:
|
His aged mother every day,
|
did watch the highway side,
|
And for his welfare oft did pray,
|
no meat nor drink she could abide.
|
But when the Wedding ended was,
|
young Toby with his lovely Bride
|
To Ninivie did homewards passe,
|
with Goods and Cattel on each side,
|
But Toby and the Angell bright,
|
before his wife made hast to goe,
|
For to prepare all things aright,
|
his lovely Bride to welcome the.
|
His Mother watching in the way,
|
full soon espi'd her tender Son,
|
Rejoycing at the happy day,
|
she told her Husband he was come,
|
Whereat old Toby stumbled out,
|
for he was blind and could not see,
|
Young Toby with his Fishes Gal,
|
rubb'd both his eyes immediatly.
|
Whereat the whitenesse of his eyes,
|
incontinent did fall out quite,
|
So that before he did arise.
|
he had againe his perfect sight:
|
Great joy there was on every side,
|
young Toby told his Father all,
|
Who went to meete his lovely Bride,
|
wi[t]h joy and mirth that was not small.
|
|
|
|
|