Tobie. CAP. I.

1   Tobie, of the linage and of the cite of Neptalim, that is in the ouere partis of Galilee, aboue Nason, after the weie that ledith to the west, in the left hauende the cite of Sofeth, 2   whan he was ca&yogh;t in the da&yogh;es of Salmanasar, king of Assiries, ner the latere in caitifte sett, the weie of treuthe he forsoc not, 3   so that alle thingus that he my&yogh;te han, eche dai to the caityue brethern that weren of his kinrede he delede. 4   And whan he was alle &yogh;ungere in the linage of Neptalim, ner the latere no childli thing he dide in deede. 5   After whan alle wenten to the goldene calues, the whiche Jeroboam, king of Irael, made, this alone flei&yogh; the cumpanye of alle; 6   and wente to Jerusalem, to the temple of the Lord, and there honourede the Lord God of Irael, alle his firste frutis and his dymys treuli offrende; 7   so that in the thredde &yogh;er to the conuertid fro Jentilis and to comelingus he mynystrede alle tithing. 8   These thingus, and to these lic, after the lawe of God a litil child he kepte wel. 9   Whan forsothe he was maad a man, he toc a wif, Anne, of his linage; and he gat of hir a sone, his own name puttende to hym; 10   whom fro the time that he began to speken, he ta&yogh;te to dreden God, and to abstenen fro alle synne. 11   Thanne whan by caytifte he was come, with his wif and sone, in to the cite Nynyue, with al his linage, 12   and alle eeten of the metis of Jentilis, this kepte his soule, and neuere is

defoulid in metis of hem. 13   And for he was myndeful of the Lord in al his herte, God &yogh;af to hym grace in the si&yogh;te of king Salamanasar; 14   and &yogh;af to hym power to go whider euere he wolde, hauende fredam to do what euere he hadde wold. 15   Thanne he wente bi alle that weren in the caitifte, and monestingus of helthe he &yogh;af to hem. 16   Whan forsothe he was come in to Ragis, cite of Medis, and of these thingus with the whiche he was wrshipid of the king, hadde ten talentis of siluer; 17   and with myche cumpanye of his kinrede, he sa&yogh; Gabel nedi, that was of his linage, he &yogh;af to hym the seid peis of siluer, vndir writing. 18   Forsothe after miche of time king Salmanasar dead, whan his sone Senacherub regnede for hym, and hadde the sonus of Irael hatesum in his si&yogh;te, 19   Tobie wente eche dai bi al hys kinrede, and coumfortide hem, and deuidede to eche, as he my&yogh;te, of his facultees; the hungri men he fedde, 20   and to the nakide he &yogh;af clothis, and to the deade and the slaine besi he fond sepulture. 21   After whan king Senacherub was turned a&yogh;een, fleende fro Jude the veniaunce that abouten hym God hadde do for his blasfemye, and wroth slo&yogh; manie of the sonus of Irael, Tobie biriede the bodies of hem. 22   And wher it was told to the king, he comandide hym to be slain, and toc al his substaunce. 23   Tobie forsothe with his sone and with wif fleende, nakid lurkide, for manie looueden hym. 24   After forsothe fiue and fourti da&yogh;es, the king his sonus slowen; 25   and Tobie is turned a&yogh;een to his hous, and al his faculte restorid to hym.

CAP. II.

1   Aftir these thingus forsothe, whan was the feste dai of the Lord, and shulde be maad a good meteshipe in the hous of Tobie, 2   he seide to his sone, Go, and bring summe men of oure linage, dredend God, and ete thei with vs. 3   And whan he shulde gon, turned a&yogh;een he tolde to hym, oon of the sonus of Irael slain to lyn in the strete; and anoon stertende out fro his mete sete, leuende the mete, fastende cam to the bodi; 4   and takende it, he bar to his hous priueli, that whil the sunne were go doun, slee&yogh;li he shulde birien it. 5   And whan he hadde hid the bodi, he eet bred with weiling and trembling, 6   remembrende that woord, that the Lord seide by Amos, the profete, &YOGH;oure feste da&yogh;es shul be turned in to weiling and sorewing. 7   Whan forsothe the sunne hadde go doun, he wente, and biriede it. 8   Forsothe alle hise ne&yogh;heboris vndernomyn hym, seiende, Now bi cause of this thing thou art comaundid to be slain, and vnnethe thou hast scapid the maundement of deth, and eft thou biriest the deade? 9   But Tobye, more dredende God than the king, ca&yogh;te the bodies of the slaine, and hidde in his hous, and in the mydny&yogh;tus biriede hem. 10   It fel forsothe, that on a dai weri of biriyng, comende hom, he hadde cast hymself beside the wal, and hadde faste slept; 11   and fro the nest of swalewis to hym slepende hote toordis fellen in vp on his e&yogh;en; and was maad blind. 12   This forsothe temptacioun therfore the Lord suffride to come to hym, that to the aftercomeres shulde exsaumple be &yogh;iuen of his pacience, as and of holi Job. 13   And whan fro his time that he began to speke,

euermore he dredde God, and kepte his hestis, he sorewide not a&yogh;en God, that the veniaunce of blindnesse cam to hym; 14   but vnmouable in the drede of God abod stille, gracis doende to God alle the da&yogh;es of his lif. 15   For as to blisful Job asaileden the kingus, so to this fader and moder and his cosynes scorneden his lif, seiende, 16   Where is thin hope, for the whiche almesse deede and sepulturis thou didist? 17   Tobie forsothe blamede hem, seiende, Wileth not so speken, 18   for the sonus of halewis wee ben, and that lif wee abijden, that God is to &yogh;iue to hem that ther feith neuermor chaungen fro hym. 19   Anne forsothe, his wif, wente to weuyng werc eche dai, and of the trauaile of hir hondis the liflode, that she my&yogh;te gete, she bro&yogh;te. 20   And it is do, that takende a kide of she get, she bro&yogh;te hom. 21   Of the whiche bletende the vois whan hir man hadde herd, seide, Looketh, lest parauenture it be stoln, but &yogh;eldeth it to his lordis; for it is not leeful to vs, or to eten of stelthe any thing or to touchen. 22   At these thingis his wif wroth answerde, Openli vein is maad thin hope, and thine almesse deedis now han aperid. 23   And in these and in othere suche maner woordis she putte reprof to hym. CAP. III.

1   Thanne Tobie inwardli weilede, and began to pre&yogh;e with teres, 2   seyende, Ri&yogh;twis thou art, Lord, and alle thi domes ben ri&yogh;twise, and alle thi weies merci,

and treuthe, and dom. 3   And now, Lord, haue mynde of me, ne take thou veniaunce of my synnes, ne remembre thou my giltis, or of my fader and moder. 4   For wee han not obeshid to thin hestis, and wee ben taken in to wasting, and caitifte, and deth, and in to fable, and in to reprof to alle naciouns, in the whiche thou hast scatered vs. 5   And now, Lord, grete ben thi domys; for wee han not don aftir thin hestis, and wee han not go cleerli befor thee. 6   And now, Lord, after thi wille do with me merci, and comaunde in pes my spirit to be resceiued; it is spedful forsothe to me more to dien than to liuen. 7   And so the same dai fel, that Sara, the do&yogh;ter of Raguel, in Ragis, cite of Medis, and she herde the repref of oon of the handwymmen of hir fadir; 8   for she was take to seuene men, and a deuel, Asmodius bi name, slo&yogh; hem, anoon as thei weren gon in to hir. 9   Thanne whan she blamede the child womman for hir gilte, she answerde to hir, seiende, See wee no more of thee sone or do&yogh;ter vp on erthe, thou sleeresse of thi men; 10   whether and slen thou wilt me, as and thou slowe seuene men? At this vois she wente in to the ouere bed place of hir hous, and thre da&yogh;is and thre ny&yogh;t she eet not, ne dranc; but in orisoun abidende stille, 11   with teres she pre&yogh;ede God, that fro this reprof he shulde deliueren hir. 12   It is do forsothe the thridde dai, whil she fulfilde the orisoun, 13   blessende the Lord, she seide, Blessid is thi name, God of oure fadris, that whan thou were wrathid, thou shalt do merci, and in time of tribulacioun synnes thou for&yogh;iuest to hem, that inwardli clepen thee. 14   To thee, Lord, I turne my face, and to thee myn e&yogh;en I

rere. 15   I aske, Lord, that fro the bond of this repref thou asoile me, or certis fro aboue the erthe thou delyuere me. 16   Thou wost, Lord, for neuere I coueitide man, and clene I haue kept my soule fro alle lust. 17   Neuere with pleieres I mengde me, ne with hem that in li&yogh;tnesse gon parcener I &yogh;af me. 18   An husbonde forsothe with thi drede, not with my lust, I consentide to taken. 19   And or I was vnwrthi to hem, or thei parauenture to me weren not wrthi; for parauenture to an other man thou hast kept me. 20   Forsothe in mannys power is not thi counseil. 21   That forsothe for certein hath eche man that herieth thee, for his lif, if in prouyng it were, shal ben crouned; if forsothe in tribulacioun it were, it shal be deliuered; and if in chastising it were, it shal ben leful to come to thi merci. 22   Forsothe thou hast not delit in oure leesingus; for after tempest thou makist reste, and after teres sheding and weiling, ful out io&yogh;ing thou heeldest in. 23   Be thi name, God of Irael, blessid in to worldus. 24   In that time ben herd ful the pre&yogh;eeris of bothe in the si&yogh;te of the glorie of the most good God; and ther is sent an aungil of the Lord, 25    the holi Rafael, that he shulde curen hem bothe, whos orisouns o time in the si&yogh;te of the Lord ben rehersid. CAP. IV.

1   Thanne whan Tobie wende his pre&yogh;eere to ben herd, that he my&yogh;te dien, he clepide to hym Tobie, 2   his sone, and seide to hym, Here, my sone, the woordis of my mouth, and hem in thi herte as foundemens mak togidere. 3   Whan God shal

take my soule, my bodi birie; and wrshipe thou shalt han to thi moder alle the da&yogh;es of thi lif; 4   forsothe myndeful thou owist to be, what and hou grete she suffride perilis for thee in hir wombe. 5   Whan forsothe and she haue fulfild the time of hir lif, thou shalt birien hir aboute me. 6   Alle forsothe the da&yogh;es of thi lif in mynde haue thou God, and bewar, lest any time to synne thou consente, and leie aside the hestis of oure God. 7   Of thi substaunce do almesse deede, and wile thou not turne awei thi face fro any pore man; so forsothe it shal be do, that neither fro thee be turned awei the face of the Lord. 8   What maner wise thou shalt moun, so be thou merciful. 9   If myche were to thee, abundauntli &yogh;if; if litil ther were, also litil gladli studie to parten. 10   Forsothe a good meede to thee thou tresorist in the dai of nede; 11   for almesse deede fro alle synne and fro deth delyuereth, and shal not suffre the soule to gon in to dercnesses. 12   Gret trost shal ben almesse deede befor the most goode God to alle men doende it. 13   Tac heede to thee, sone, fro alle fornicacioun, and, beside thi wif, neuer suffre thou synne of euel los to knowen. 14   Pride neuer in thi wit or in thi woord suffre thou to han lordshipe; in it forsothe al perdicioun toc begynnyng. 15   Who so euere any thing to thee wercheth, anoon &yogh;eeld his meede, and the meed of thin hiryd man algate anent thee abijde not. 16   That of an other thou hatist to be do to thee, looke thou, that any time thou do not to an other. 17   Thi bred with the hungri and with the nedi ett, and of thi clothis nakide men couere. 18   Thi bred and thi win vp on the sepulture of the ri&yogh;twise ordeyne, and wile thou not of

it eten and drinke with the sinful. 19   Counseil euermor of the wise man seek. 20   Alle time blesse God, and aske of hym, that thi weies he make redi, and alle thi counseilis in hym abijde stille. 21   I shewe also to thee, my sone, me to han &yogh;iue ten talentus of seluer, whil &yogh;it thou were a litil faunt, to Gabel, in Ragis, cite of Medis; and the writ of it anent me I haue; 22   and therfore enserche, what maner to hym thou come, and resceyue of hym the aboue membrid wei&yogh;te of siluer, and restore to hym his writ. 23   Wile thou not dreden, sone myn; a pore lijf forsothe wee bern, but manye goodis wee shul han, if wee drede God, and gon awei fro alle synne, and do wel. CAP. V.

1   Thanne answerde Tobie to his fader, and seide, Alle thingus, what euere thou hast comaundid to me, fader, I shal do; hou forsothe this monei I shal enserche, 2    I knowe not; he me knowith not, and I hym vnknowe; what tocne shal I &yogh;iue to hym? but neither the weie, bi the whiche me goth thider, any time I knew. 3   Thanne his fader answerde to hym, and seide, Forsothe his writ anent me I haue, the whiche whanne thou to hym shewist, anoon he shal &yogh;elde the monee. 4   But go now, and enserche to thee sum feithful man, that go with thee, saued his meede, whil &yogh;it I liue, that thou resceyue it. 5   Thanne Tobie gon out, fond a &yogh;ung man stondende, ful fair, gird, and as redi to gon; 6   and vnknowende that an aungil of God he was, grette hym, and seide, Whennus han wee thee, goode &yogh;unge man? 7   And he answerde, Of the sonus of Irael. And Tobie seide to hym, Hast thou knowen the weie, that ledeth in to the regioun of Medis? 8   To whom he answerde, I haue knowen, and alle the

weies of it oftesithes I haue go, and haue dwellid anent Gabel, &yogh;oure brother, that dwelleth in Ragis, cite of Medis, that is sett in the hil of Exbatenys. 9   To whom Tobie seith, Suffre me, I beseche, to the time these thingus I telle to my fader. 10   Thanne Tobie, gon in, shewide alle these thingus to his fader; vpe the whiche the fader, wundrid, pre&yogh;ede, that he shulde comen in to hym; 11   and so gon in, salutide hym, and seide, Io&yogh;e to thee euermor be! 12   And Tobie seith, What io&yogh;e to me shal be, that in derknesses sitte, and the li&yogh;t of heuene see not? 13   To whom seith the &yogh;unge man, In strong inwit be thou; ful nee&yogh; it is that of God thou be curid. 14   And so seide Tobie to hym, Whether shalt thou mown ful lede my sone to Gabel in to Ragis, cite of Medis, and whan thou comest a&yogh;een, I shal &yogh;elde thee thi meede? 15   And the aungil seide to hym, I shal leden, and a&yogh;een lede hym to thee hol. 16   To whom answerde Tobie, I pre&yogh;e thee, shew to me, of what hous, and of what linage thou art? 17   To whom Rafael, the aungil, seide, The kinrede thou askist of the hirid man, or that hirid man, that with thi sone go? 18   But lest parauenture I make thee stirid, I am Azarie, the sone of grete Ananye. 19   And Tobie answerde, Of gret kinrede thou art; but I aske, be thou not wroth, for I wolde knowe thi kinrede. 20   Forsothe the aungil seide to hym, I sound shal lede, and sound shal a&yogh;een bringe to thee thi sone. 21   Forsothe Tobie answerende seide, Wel go &yogh;ee, and the Lord be in &yogh;oure weie, and his aungil folewe with &yogh;ou. 22   Thanne alle thingus maad redi, that weren to be born in the weie, Tobie dide farewel to his fader and to his moder; and thei wente bothe togidere. 23   And whan thei weren

go forth, his moder began to wepen, and sein, The staf of oure elde thou hast taken awei, and hast sent ouer fro vs; neuere hadde be that monee, 24   for the whiche thou sentist hym; 25   forsothe oure porenesse suffiside to vs, that richessis wee shulden counte that, that oure sone wee se&yogh;en. 26   And Tobie seide to hir, Wile thou not wepen; saf shal comen oure sone, and saf shal a&yogh;een turne to vs, and thin e&yogh;en shul seen hym. 27   I leeue forsothe, that the goode aungil of God folewe hym, and wel shal disposen alle thingus, that ben don aboute hym, so that with io&yogh;e he be turned a&yogh;een to vs. 28   At this vois ceside his modir to wepen, and was stille. CAP. VI.

1   Tobie forsothe wente forth, and an hound folewide hym, and he abod the firste abiding biside the flod of Tigris. 2   And he wente out for to wasshen his feet; and lo! a gret fish wente out for to deuouren hym. 3   Whom dredende Tobie criede out with a gret vois, seiende, Lord, he asaileth me. 4   And the aungil seide to hym, Cach his fin, and dra&yogh; it to thee. The whiche thing whan he hadde do, he dro&yogh; it in to the drie, and it began to quappe befor his feet. 5   Thanne the aungil seide to hym, Opene this fish, and his herte and galle and mawe lei vp to thee; these thingus forsothe ben profitabli necessarie to medicynes. 6   The whiche thingus whan he hadde do, he

rostide his flesh, and beren with hem in the weie; the tother thei saltiden, that shulden suffise to them in the weie, to the time that thei shulden ful come in to Ragis, cite of Medis. 7   Thanne Tobie askide the aungil, and seide to hym, I beseche, Asarie, brother, that thou sei to me, what remedie shuln han these thingus, that of the fish thou hast comaundid to be kept. 8   And the aungil answerende seide to hym, A parcel of his herte if thou putte vp on the colis, his smoke putteth out al the kinde of deuelis, outher fro man or fro womman, so that he come no more nee&yogh; to hem. 9   And the galle is worth to e&yogh;en to ben enointid, in the whiche were rime, and thei shul ben hol. 10   And Tobie seide to hym, Where wilt thou, that wee dwelle? 11   And the aungil answerende seith, Heer is a man, Raguel bi name, nee&yogh; of thi linage, and this hath a do&yogh;ter, Sara bi name; but any other he hath saue hir, neither male ne femele. 12   To thee is due al his substaunce; and thee behoueth to han hir wif. 13   Aske thanne hir of hir fader; and he shal &yogh;iue to thee hir wif. 14   Thanne answerde Tobie, and seide, I haue herd, for she hath ben take to seuene men, and thei ben deade; but and these thingus I haue herd, for a deuel slo&yogh; hem. 15   I drede thanne, lest parauenture and these thingus fallen to me; and sithen I am alone to my fader and moder, I putte doun the eelde of hem wyth sorewe to helle. 16   Thanne aungil Rafael seide to hym, Here me, and I shal shewe to thee, who ben, to whom mai the deuel han maistrie; 17   in hem, that wedloc so taken, that God fro them and fro ther mynde thei closen

out, and to ther lustis so thei taken heede, as an hors and a mule, in the whiche is not vnderstonding, hath vpon hem the deuel power. 18   Thou forsothe, whan thou shalt taken hir, gon in to the bed place, bi thre da&yogh;es be thou continent fro hir, and no thing other but to preieeris thou shalt stonde in with hir. 19   That ny&yogh;t forsothe the mawe of the fish brent, the deuel shal be dryuen awei. 20   The secunde forsothe ny&yogh;t in the coupling of holi patriarkis thou shalt ben admittid. 21   The thridde forsothe ny&yogh;t blessing thou shalt gete, that sonus be goten of &yogh;ou sounde. 22   The thridde forsothe ny&yogh;t ouerpassid, thou shalt take the maiden with the drede of the Lord, and for looue of sonus more than of lust lad, that in the sed of Abraham thou gete blessing in sonus. CAP. VII.

1   Forsothe thei wenten in to Raguel; and Raguel resceyuede hem with io&yogh;e. 2   And Raguel, beholdende Tobie, seide to Anne, his wif, Hou lic is this &yogh;unge man to oure auntis sone. 3   And whan these thingus he hadde seid, he seith, Whennus be &yogh;ee, &yogh;unge men, my brethern? And thei seiden, Of the linage of Neptalim wee ben, of the caitifte of Nynyue. 4   Raguel seide to them, Knowe &yogh;ee Tobie, my brother? The whiche answerden, Wee han knowen. 5   And whan he spac of hym manye goode thingus, the aungil seide to Raguel, Tobie, of the whiche thou askest, is thisis fader. 6   And Raguel putte hym

self, and with teres kiste hym, and wepende vp on his necke, 7   seide, Blessing be to thee, sone myn; for of good and of the beste man thou art sone. 8   And Anne, his wif, and Sara, the do&yogh;ter of hem, wepten. 9   After forsothe that thei hadden spoken, Raguel comaundede a wether to be slain, and to be maad redi a feste. And whan he beso&yogh;te them to sitte doun to the mete, 10   Tobie seith, Heer I to dai shal not ete, ne drinke, but if first myn asking thou conferme, and thou behote to &yogh;iue to me Sara, thi do&yogh;ter. 11   The whiche woord herd, Raguel dradde, witende what fel to thoo seuene men; and he began to dreden, lest parauenture lic maner to this shulde fallen, and he die. And whan he doutede, and &yogh;af not any answere to the askere, 12   the aungil seide to hym, Wile thou not dreden to &yogh;iuen hir to this; for to this dredende God wif thi do&yogh;tir is due; therfore an other my&yogh;te not han hir. 13   Thanne seide Raguel, I doute not, that God preieeris and my teres in his si&yogh;te hath taken. 14   And I trowe, for the Lord therfore made &yogh;ou to come to me, that and this shulde be ioyned to hir kin after the lawe of Moises; and now wile thou not bern doute, for to thee hir I shal take. 15   And takende the ri&yogh;t hond of his do&yogh;ter toc to the ri&yogh;t hond of Tobie, seiende, God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, be with &yogh;ou, and he ioine &yogh;ou, and fulfille his blissing in &yogh;ou. 16   And the chartre taken, thei maden the conscripcioun of the wedloc. 17   And after these thingus thei plenteuousli eeten, blessende God. 18   And Raguel clepede to hym Anna, his wif, and comaundede to hir, that she shulde make redi an other bed place. 19   And he bro&yogh;te in to it Sara, his do&yogh;ter, and

she wepte; and he seith to hir, In strong inwit be thou, do&yogh;ter myn; the Lord of heuene &yogh;iue to thee io&yogh;e, for the no&yogh;e that thou hast suffrid. CAP. VIII.

1   Aftir forsothe that thei suppeden, thei bro&yogh;ten the &yogh;unge man in to hir. 2   And so Tobie recordid of the woordis of the aungil, bro&yogh;te forth of his bagge a part of the mawe, and putte it vp on the quike colis. 3   Thanne aungil Rafael ca&yogh;te the deuel, and bond hym in the desert of the ouere Egipt. 4   Thanne Tobie beso&yogh;te the maiden, and seide to hir, Sara, rijs, and pre&yogh;ee wee to dai to God, and to moru, and the secunde moru; for these thre ny&yogh;tis wee shul be ioined to God; the thridde forsothe ny&yogh;t passid ouer, wee shul ben in oure wedloc; 5   sonus forsothe of halewis wee ben, and wee moun not so be ioyned as and Jentilis, that vnknowen God. 6   Risende forsothe togidere, bisili thei pre&yogh;eden bothe togidere, that helthe shulde be &yogh;iue to hem. 7   And Tobie seide, Lord God of oure fadris, blesse thee heuenus, and erthis, and se, and wellis, and flodis, and eche thi creature, that is in hem; 8   thou madist Adam of the slim of erthe, and thou &yogh;eue to hym helpe, Eue. 9   And now, Lord, thou wost, for not bicause of leccherie I take my sister, but for onli loue of bringing forth of childre, in the whiche be blessid thi name in to worldis `of worldis. 10   Also seide Sara, Haue merci to vs, Lord, haue merci to vs, and eelde wee bothe togidere hole. 11   And it is do aboute chykenys crowing,

Raguel comaundede his seruauns to be clepid, and thei wenten with hym that thei delue a biriel. 12   Forsothe he dradde, lest lic maner shulde falle to hym, that and to the tothere seuene, that wenten in to hir. 13   And whan thei hadden maad redi the pit, Raguel gon a&yogh;een to his wif, 14   seide to hir, Send oon of thin hand wimmen, and see she, if he is dead, that I birie hym, befor it waxe li&yogh;t. 15   And she sente oon of hir hand wimmen, the whiche gon in to the bed place, fond hem saue and sounde, slepende togidere with hem self. 16   And she, turned a&yogh;een, told good message. And thei blesseden the Lord, Raguel, that is, and Anna, his wif, and seiden, 17   Wee blessen thee, Lord God of Irael, for it falleth not to vs, as we wenden; 18   forsothe thou hast do with vs thi mercy, and hast closid out fro vs the enemy pursuende vs. 19   Don thou hast mercy to thi two alone. Mac hem, my Lord, to bless thee more fulli, and to offre to thee sacrifise of thi preising, and of ther helthe, that the vnyuersite of Jentilis knowe, for thou art God alone in al erthe. 20   And anoon Raguel comaundede to his seruauntis, that thei shulden fille the pit, that thei hadden maad, befor that it waxe li&yogh;t. 21   To his wif forsothe he seide, that she shulde ordeyne a feste, and make redi alle thingus, that in to metis weren necessarie to weie goeris. 22   Also two fatte kijn, and foure wetheres he made to be slain, and plenteuous metus to ben maad redi to alle his ne&yogh;hebores, and to alle his frendis. 23   And Raguel adiurede Tobie, that two wikis he shulde dwelle anent hym. 24   Of alle thingus forsothe that Raguel weldede, the half part he &yogh;af to Tobie; and he made this scripture,

that the half part that lafte ouer, after ther deth shulde come to the hous of Tobie. CAP. IX.

1   Thanne Tobie clepide to hym the aungil, whom forsothe he wende a man; and seide to hym, Azarie, brother, I aske, that thou herkne my woordis. 2   If myself I take to thee a seruaunt, I shal not ben euene worthi to thi prouidence. 3   Ner the latere I beseche thee, that thou take to thee bestis, or seruyses, and go to Gabel in to Ragis, cite of Medis, and &yogh;eld to hym his writ; and thou shalt resceyuen of hym mone, and pre&yogh;e hym to comen to my bridalis. 4   Forsothe thiself wost, that my fadir noumbreth the da&yogh;is, and if I shul tarien o dai more, his lijf shal be maad sori. 5   And certis thou seest, hou Raguel hath coniurid me, whos adiurement I mai not dispisen. 6   Thanne Rafael, takende foure of the seruauns of Raguel, and two camailis, wente in to Ragis, cite of Medis, and findende Gabel &yogh;af to hym his writ, and resceyuede of hym al the monee; 7   and shewede to hym of Tobie, the sone of Tobie, alle thingus that ben don. And he made hym to come with hym to the bridalis. 8   And whan he was come in to the hous of Raguel, he fonde Tobie sittende; and stirtende thei kisten hem togidere. 9   And Gabel wepte, and blesside God, and seide, Blesse thee the Lord God of Irael, for the sone thou art of the beste man, and ri&yogh;twis, and dredende God, and doende almesse deedis; 10   and be ther seid blessing vp on thi wif, and vp on &yogh;oure

fadris and modris, 11   and see &yogh;ee &yogh;oure sonus, and sonus of &yogh;oure sonus, vn to the thridde and ferthe ieneracioun; and be &yogh;our seed blessid of God of Irael, that regneth in to worldys of worldis. 12   And whan alle hadden seid Amen, thei wenten to the feste; but and with drede of the Lord thei enhaunteden the feste of bridalis. CAP. X.

1   Whan forsothe Tobie made abidingus bi enchesoun of the bridalis, his fadir Tobie was stirid, seiende, Wenest thou, whi my sone abit, and whi he is withholden there? 2   Wenest thou, lest Gabel be dead, and no man &yogh;elde to hym the monei? 3   Forsothe he began to be sori, and Anna, his wif, with hym; and thei begunne bothe togidyr to wepe, for thi that the sett dai ther sone was not turned a&yogh;een to hem. 4   Thanne wepte his modir with vnremediable teris, and seide, Allas me! my sone, wherto sente wee thee to pilgrimagen, the li&yogh;t of oure e&yogh;en, the staf of oure eelde, solace of oure lif, hope of oure after bringing forth of childer? 5   Alle thingis togidere in thee oon hauende, wee shulden not lete thee gon fro vs. 6   To whom seide Tobie, Be stille, and wile thou not be disturbid; hol is oure sone; feithful inow is that man, with the whiche wee senten hym. 7   She forsothe no wise my&yogh;te take coumfort, but eche dai stertende out, beheeld aboute, and wente aboute alle the weies, bi the whiche semede hope of turnyng a&yogh;een, that afer she my&yogh;te seen hym comende,

if it my&yogh;te be do. 8   But forsothe Raguel seide to his sone in lawe, Dwel heer, and I shal senden a messager of helthe fro thee to Tobie, thi fader. 9   To whom Tobie seide, I knew, that my fader and my moder now counten the da&yogh;es, and ther spirit is tormentid in hem. 10   And whan with manye woordis Raguel pre&yogh;ede Tobie, and he hym bi no resoun wolde heren, he toc to hym Sara, and the half part of al his substaunce, in childer, in hand wymmen, in bestis, in camailis, and in kijn, and myche monee; and saaf and io&yogh;ende he lafte hym fro hym, 11   seiende, The holi aungil of the Lord be in &yogh;oure weie, and ful bringe &yogh;ou sound, and finde &yogh;ee alle thingus ri&yogh;te aboute &yogh;oure fadris and modris, and see myn e&yogh;en &yogh;oure sonus, rathere than I die. 12   And the fader and moder, takende ther do&yogh;ter, kisten hyr, and laften hir to gon, 13   monestende hir to wrshipen hir fader and moder in lawe, to looue the husbonde, to reule the meyne, to gouerne the hous, to &yogh;iue hirself vnreprefable. CAP. XI.

1   And whan thei weren turned a&yogh;een, thei camen to Carre, that is in myddel wei a&yogh;en Nynyuen, the elleuenthe dai. 2   And the aungil seide, Tobie brother, thou wost, what maner thou laftist thi fader. 3   And so if it plese to thee, go wee beforn; and with softe pas the meyne, togidere with thi wif and with the bestys, folewe thei oure wei. 4   And whan that hadde plesid, that thei shulden go, Rafael

seide to Tobie, Tac with thee of the galle of the fish, forsothe it shal be necessarie. And so Tobie toc of that galle, and thei wenten. 5   Anne forsothe sat beside the weie eche dai in the euese of the hil, fro whennus she my&yogh;te beholden fro aferr. 6   And whil fro the same place she beheeld his comyng, she sa&yogh; aferr, and anoon she know&yogh; hir sone comende; and rennende she tolde to hir husbonde, seiende, Lo! thi sone cometh. 7   And Rafael seide to Tobie, But wher thou shalt gon in to thin hous, anoon honoure the Lord thi God, and gracis doende to hym, ne&yogh;he to thi fader, and kis hym. 8   And anoon anointe vp on hys e&yogh;en of that galle of the fish, that thou berest with thee; wite thou forsothe, for anoon his e&yogh;en shul ben opened, and thi fader shal seen the li&yogh;t of heuene, and in thi si&yogh;te he shal io&yogh;en. 9   Thanne the hound ran beforn, that togidere was in the weie, and, as a messager comende nei&yogh;, with the faunyng of his tail he io&yogh;ede. 10   And risende vp the blinde fader, stumblende with the feet, began to rennen, and, the hond &yogh;iuen to the child, he cam a&yogh;en to meete with his sone. 11   And takende he kiste hym, with his wijf, and thei begunnen bothe to wepe with io&yogh;e. 12   And whan thei hadden honourid God, and do gracys, thei seten togidere. 13   Thanne Tobie, takende of the galle of the fish, enointede the e&yogh;en of his fadir. 14   And he suffrede as almost half an hour, and the ryme of his e&yogh;en began, as the fellis of an ey, to gon out. 15   The whiche Tobie takende, dro&yogh; fro his e&yogh;en, and anoon he resceyuede

si&yogh;t. 16   And thei glorifieden God, he, that is, and his wif, and alle that knewen hym. 17   And Tobie seide, I blesse thee, Lord God of Irael, for thou hast chastisid me, and thou hast sauyd me; and lo! 18   I see Tobie, my sone. Also after seuen da&yogh;es Sara, the wif of his sone, cam in, and al the meyne, and the bestis hole, and the camailis, and myche monee of the wif, but and the monee that he hadde taken of Gabel. 19   And he tolde to his fader and moder alle the benefetus of God, that he hadde don abouten hym bi the man, that hym hadde lad. 20   And ther camen Achior and Nabath, `cosynes to Tobie, io&yogh;ende to Tobie, togidere thankende to hym of alle goodis, that God hadde shewid abouten hym. 21   And bi seuene da&yogh;es etende, with gret io&yogh;e thei gladeden. CAP. XII.

1   Thanne Tobie clepide to hym his sone, and seide to hym, What moun wee &yogh;iue to this holi man, that with thee cam? 2   Tobie answerende seide to his fadir, Fader, what meede shul wee &yogh;iue to hym, or what thing wrthi mai ben to the benefetis of hym? 3   Me he hath led, and a&yogh;een bro&yogh;t hol; the monee fro Gabel he toc; a wif he me made to han, and the deuel fro hir he refreynede; io&yogh;e he dide to hir fader and to hir moder; me myself fro the deuouring of the fish he delyuerede; thee also to seen the li&yogh;t of heuene he made; and with alle goodis bi hym wee ben fulfild; what to hym to these thingus wrthi wee shuln moun &yogh;iue? 4   But I aske thee, fader, that thou pre&yogh;e hym, if parauenture

he shal vouche saf the half of alle thingus, what euere ben bro&yogh;t, to take to hym. 5   And clepende hym his fader and the sone, token hym a part, and thei begunne to pre&yogh;en, that he vouche saaf the half part of alle thingus, that thei bro&yogh;ten, acceptid to han. 6   Thanne he seide to hem priueli, Blesseth God of heuene, and beforn alle thingus liuende knoulecheth to hym, for he hath don his merci with &yogh;ou. 7   Forsothe the sacrament of the king to hiden is good; the werkis forsothe of God to shewen and to knowlechen is wrshipeful. 8   Good is orisoun with fasting, and almesse deede more than tresores of gold to hiden; 9   for almes deede fro deth deliuereth, and it is that purgeth synnes, and shal make to finde euere lastende lif. 10   Thei forsothe that don synne and wickenesse, ben enemys of ther soule. 11   Thanne I opene to &yogh;ou the treuthe, and shal not hide fro &yogh;ou the priue woord. 12   Whan thou pre&yogh;edest with teris, and thou biriedest the deade, and laftist the mete, and the deade bi dai thou hiddest in thin hous, and the ny&yogh;t thou biriedest, I offride thin orisoun to the Lord. 13   And for thou were acceptid to God, it was nedful that temptacioun shulde preue thee. 14   And now the Lord sente me, that I shulde hele thee, and Sara, the wif of thi sone, fro the deuel deliueren. 15   I forsothe am Rafael, aungil, oon of the seuene that stonden befor the Lord. 16   And whan these thingus thei hadden herd, thei ben disturbid, and fellen doun tremblende vp on ther face. 17   And the aungil seide to hem, Pes to &yogh;ou, wileth not dreden; 18   forsothe whan I was with &yogh;ou, I was bi the wil of God. 19   Forsothe I was seen with &yogh;ou to eten and

to drinken; but I inuysible mete, and drink that of men mai not ben seen, vse. 20   Time is thanne, that I turne a&yogh;een to hym, that me sente; &yogh;ee forsothe blesseth God, and telleth out alle his merueilis; hym blisseth, and syngeth to hym. 21   And whan these thingus he hadde seid, he is born awei fro the si&yogh;te of hem; and thei my&yogh;ten seen hym no mor. 22   Thanne thei, throwen doun bi thre houris in to the face, blessiden God. CAP. XIII.

And risende thei tolden alle his merueilis. 1   Forsothe the eldere Tobie, openende his mouth, blesside God, and seide, Lord, thou art gret in to with oute ende, and in to alle worldis thi reume; 2   for thou scourgist, and sauest; ledest to hellis, and a&yogh;een bringist; and ther is not that ascape thin hond. 3   Knoulecheth to the Lord, &yogh;ee sonus of Irael, and in the si&yogh;te of Jentilis preiseth hym; 4   for therfore he scaterede &yogh;ou among Jentilis, that vnknowen God, that &yogh;ee tellen out his merueilis, and maken hem to knowen, for there is noon other God almy&yogh;ti biside hym. 5   He chastiseth vs for oure wickednesse; and he shal sauen vs for oure wickednesse; and he shal sauen vs for his mercy. 6   Beholdeth thanne, what thingis he hath do with vs, and with drede and trembling knoulecheth to hym; and the king of worldis enhaunseth in &yogh;oure werkus. 7   I forsothe in the lond of my caitifte shal knouleche to hym; for he hath shewid his mageste in to a synful folc. 8   Beth conuertid also, &yogh;ee synful men, and doth ri&yogh;twisnesse befor God, leeuende that he doth mercy with vs. 9   I forsothe and my

soule in hym shuln gladen. 10   Blesseth the Lord, &yogh;ee alle chosen of hym; doth da&yogh;es of gladnesse, and knoulecheth to hym. 11   Jerusalem, cite of God, the Lord hath chastisid thee in the werkis of thin hondis. 12   Knouleche thou to God in thi goodis, and blesse God of worldys, that he bilde a&yogh;een in thee his tabernacle, and clepe a&yogh;een to thee alle thi caitiues; and thou io&yogh;e into alle worldis of worldis. 13   With shynende li&yogh;t thou shalt shyne, and alle the costus of erthe shuln honoure thee. 14   Naciouns fro aferr shuln come to thee, and bringende &yogh;iftus shuln honouren in thee the Lord, and thi lond in to halewing thei shuln han; 15   forsothe a gret name thei shul inwardli clepen in thee. 16   And cursid shuln ben, that despise thee, and dampned shul be, that blasfemen thee; and blessid shul be that bilden vp thee. 17   Thou forsothe shalt gladen in thi sonus, for alle shul be blessyd, and be gedered togidere to the Lord. 18   Blessid alle that loouen thee, and that io&yogh;en vp on thi pes. 19   My soule, blesse the Lord, for he hath delyuered Jerusalem, his cite, fro alle his tribulaciouns, the Lord oure God. 20   Blessid I shal be, if ther weren relikis of my sed to be seen the clerte of Jerusalem. 21   The &yogh;atus of Jerusalem of safijr and of smaragd shul be bild, and of precious ston al the cumpas of his wallis. 22   And of whyit ston and clene gold alle his streetis shul ben pauyd; bi his tounus alleluia shal be sungen. 23   Blessid the Lord that enhauncide it, that his reume be in to worldys of worldys vp on it. Amen.

CAP. XIV.

1   And the woordis of Tobie ben ful endid; and after that he is li&yogh;tid to seen, he liuede two and fourti &yogh;er, and he sa&yogh; the sonus of his sonus sonus. 2   And so fulfild an hundrid &yogh;er and twelue, he is biryed wrshipefulli in Nynyue. 3   Of sixe and fifti &yogh;er forsothe he lafte the li&yogh;t of e&yogh;en; forsothe in the sixtithe &yogh;eer of age he resceyuede. 4   The remnaunt forsothe of his lif was in io&yogh;e, and with good profit of the drede of God he passide in pes. 5   In the hour forsothe of his deth he clepide to hym Tobie, his sone, and seuene &yogh;unge sonus of hym, his sonus sonus, and seide to hem, 6   Nee&yogh;h shal be the destruccioun of Nynyue, forsothe the woord of God falleth not of; and oure brethern, that ben scaterid fro the lond of Irael, shul be turned a&yogh;een to it. 7   Al forsothe the desert lond of it shal be fulfild, and the hous of God, that in it was brent, shal be bild a&yogh;een, and thider shul turne a&yogh;een alle men dredende God. 8   And Jentilis shuln leue there maumetus, and thei shul come to Jerusalem, and dwellen in it. 9   And ther shul io&yogh;en in it alle kingus of erthe, honourende the king of Irael. 10   Hereth thanne, my sonus, &yogh;oure fader; serueth to the Lord in drede and in treuthe; and inwardli secheth, that &yogh;ee do that ben plesaunt to hym. 11   And to &yogh;oure sonus comaundeth, that thei do ri&yogh;twisnessis and almesse deedis; that thei be myndeful of God, and blesse God in alle time, in treuthe and in al his vertue. 12   Now thanne, my sonus, hereth me, and wileth not dwellen heer, but what euere dai &yogh;ee birie &yogh;oure moder aboute me in o

biriele, fro that tyme dresseth &yogh;oure goingus, that &yogh;ee go hennus; 13   forsothe I see that his wickednesse ende shal &yogh;iue to it. 14   It is do forsothe after the deth of his moder, Tobie wente awei fro Nynyue, with his wif, and sonus, and sonus of sonus, and is turned a&yogh;een to his fader and moder in lawe. 15   And he fond hem sound in good eelde. And the cure of hem he bar, and he closide the e&yogh;en of hem; and al the eritage of the hous of Raguel he perceyuede, and he sa&yogh; the fifte ieneracioun, the sonus of his sonus. 16   And fulfild nynti and nyne &yogh;er in the drede of the Lord, with io&yogh;e thei birieden hym. 17   Al forsothe his kinrede, and al his ieneracioun, in good lif, and in holy conuersacioun, abod stille, so that thei weren acceptid bothe to God and to men, and to alle dwellende in the lond. Here endith the book of Tobie, and now begynneth the prologe of Judith.

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