%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Pleasant 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. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 07/06/2021 37255

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

R221268 IN Nineve old Toby dwelt, / an aged Man and blind was he, British Library - Bagford Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 41 1: 42 A Pleasant 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. 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 Seven Husbands, but never enjoyed their Company, being all Slain by an Evil Spirit. Printer W.O. ?-? W.O.

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction / health alcohol Americas animals / nature Bible / biblical figures buildings / architecture catastrophe children class clothing / appearance country / nation crime death economics / commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays / seasons infidelity labor / craft law London love maritime marriage military / war monstrosity mythology / Classical news nobility / court politics / government procreation punishment race / ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex / sexuality supernatural / magic travel trickery / deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth / age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 7/6/2021 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 7/6/2021 6:32:03 PM XBallad Henderson, Olivia Created XML Version of Ballad 7/6/2021 6:32:03 PM Transcription Supervisor McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2021 6:32:03 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Zisa, Jessica Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2021 6:32:03 PM Transcriptionist Two McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2021 6:32:03 PM Transcriptionist One Al halabieh, Deena Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/6/2019 Bibliographer Kristen McCants Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A Pleasant BALLAD of <hi rend="bold">TOBIAS:</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Wherein is shewed what wonderful Things chanced to him in his Youth; and</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">how he wedded a young Damosel that had had Seven Husbands, but never enjoyed</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">their Company, being all Slain by an Evil Spirit. <hi rend="bold">To a pleasant new Tune.</hi></hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="5" rend="left">Licens'd and Enter'd according to Order.</seg>
IN Nineve old Toby dwelt, an aged Man and blind was he, And much affliction he had felt, which brought him unto misery: 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 so vertuosly, in true obedience and in awe, And every day he did apply, to fear the Lord and keep his Law: Upon a time it came to pass, he call'd his Son to him with speed, And thus to him these words did frame, My Son, quoth he, thou know'st my need, Thou must unto Gabael go, to Raguels house in Media-land; For I did lend him long ago, ten talents on his only band. My Father dear, Tobias said, at your command strait will I go; How shall I get the mony paid, seeing the Man I ne'r did know? Take then the writings here with thee, which is sufficient to be seen; And get a Guide to go with thee, since thou the way hast never been. A Guide Tobias soon had got, an Angel in the shape of Man, Which thing he did not know, God wot, the Lord had so appointed then.
Tobias with his blessed Guide, went on his journy thus with speed, Until they came to Tigris-side, at the fair flood they did abide: Tobias would go wash him there, by reason of the Summer's heat, A mighty Fish put him in fear, which leapt out of the waters deep. Cut up the Fish, the Angel said, and keep the liver, heart, and gall, To do the same be not afraid, great cures there shall be done withal. When this was done, away they went, and comming near their jaurny's end, We'll lodge tonight, the Angel said, with Raguel thy Father's Friend: He hath a Daughter fair of face, and also of a vertuous life; And when we come unto that place, I'll speak that she may be thy Wife. Why Azarius then (quoth he) for so they did the Angel call, Iwis she is no Wife for me, swift Death doth all her Lovers fall. Seven Men to her have married been, which in her love did take delight; When her bed-chamber they had seen, they had not lived half the night: A wicked Spirit loves her so, he will not suffer any Man, With her into the bed to go, but works his death do what they 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 away shall flee. To Raguels home away they run, where Sarah met them, fair and bright, And after salutations done, she brought them to her Father's sight. Great cheer there was, and down they sat, and all for young Tobiass sake; And after long and pleasant chat, betwixt them two a match they make; By Moses Law they married were, the Bride's bed-chamber prepar'd likewise; When young Tobias came in there, the tears fell down from Sarahs eyes. A pan of coles he brought with him, the Fish's heart and liver there; Within the fire he did cast in, which cast a savour every-where: And by that sweet and pleasant smell, the wicked Spirit was displac'd: Within that room he could not dwell, and therefore out he went in haste. In bed they laid the beautious Bride, the chamber-door was shut therefore; Young Toby lying 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 Maidens send (quoth he) to see how all the matters stands, And if so be that dead he be, he shall be buried by my hands. This Maiden joyful news did bring, Tobias is alive, (quoth she.) When Raguel heard of this thing, he did rejoyce exceedingly.
For joy he made a solemn feast, the bridal fourteen days they kept, There came many a friendly Guest; in sorrow now no more they slept. Azarius went straightway, unto the feast Gabael brought; Rejoycing at his marriage-day, and paid the mony that he ought. But yet old Toby and his Wife, did all this while in sorrow dwell, They thought their Son had lost his life, and nothing could their grief expel; His aged Mother every day, did watch the high-way-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 Nineve did homewards pass, with Goods and Chattels on each side; But Toby and his Angel bright, before his Wife made haste to go, For to prepare all things aright, his lovely Bride to welcome ho. His Mother watching in the way, full soon espyed her tender Son; Rejoycing at that happy day, she told her Husband he was come: Whereat old Toby tumbled out, for he was blind and could not see; Young Toby with the Fish's gall, rub'd both his eyes immediately. Whereat the whiteness of his eyes, incontinent did fall out quite; So that before he did arise, he had again his perfect sight: Great joy there was, and down they sat, young Toby told his Father all; Who went to meet his lovely Bride, with joy and mirth that was not small.
London: Printed by and for W.O. and are to be sold by the Booksellers.