Liber Thobis, 5

1. tunc Tobias respondit patri suo et dixit omnia quæcumque præcepisti mihi faciam pater

1. Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.

2. quomodo autem hanc pecuniam inquiram ignoro ille me nescit neque ego illum quod signum dabo illi sed neque viam qua pergatur illuc aliquando cognovi

2. But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth me not, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.

3. tunc pater suus respondit illi et dixit chirografum quidem ejus penes me habeo quem dum illi ostenderis statim restituet

3. Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.

4. sed perge nunc et inquire tibi aliquem fidelem virum qui eat tecum salva mercede sua dum adhuc vivo ut recipias ea

4. But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.

5. tunc egressus Tobias invenit juvenem splendidum stantem præcinctum et quasi paratum ad ambulandum

5. Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.

6. et ignorans quod angelus Dei esset salutavit eum et dixit unde te habemus bone juvenis

6. And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?

7. at ille respondit ex filiis Israël et Tobias dixit ei nosti viam quæ ducit in regionem Medorum

7. But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?

8. cui respondit novi et omnia itinera ejus frequenter ambulavi et mansi apud Gabelum fratrem nostrum qui moratur in Rages civitate Medorum quæ posita est in monte Exbathanis

8. And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.

9. cui Tobias ait sustine me obsecro donec hæc ipsa nuntiem patri meo

9. And Tobias said to him: Stay for me, I beseech thee, till I tell these same things to my father.

10. tunc ingressus indicavit universa hæc patri suo super quæ admiratus pater rogat ut introiret ad eum

10. Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.

11. ingressus itaque salutavit eum et dixit gaudium tibi semper sit

11. So going in he saluted him, and said: Joy be to thee always.

12. et Tobias ait quale mihi gaudium erit qui in tenebris sedeo et lumen cæli non video

12. And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness, and see not the light of heaven?

13. cui ait juvenis forti animo esto in proximo est ut a Deo cureris

13. And the young man said to him: Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand.

14. dixit itaque illi Tobias numquid poteris perducere filium meum ad Gabelum in Rages Medorum et cum redieris restituam tibi mercedem tuam

14. And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.

15. et dixit ei angelus ego eum ducam et reducam ad te

15. And the angel said to him: I will conduct him thither, and bring him back to thee.

16. cui Tobias respondit rogo te indica mihi de qua domo aut de qua tribu es tu

16. And Tobias said to him: I pray thee, tell me, of what family, or what tribe art thou?

17. cui Rafaël angelus dixit genus quæris mercennarii an ipsum mercennarium qui cum filio tuo eat

17. And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?

18. sed ne forte sollicitum te reddam ego sum Azarias Ananiæ magni filius

18. But lest I should make thee uneasy, I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias.

19. et Tobias respondit ex magno genere es tu sed peto ne irascaris quod voluerim cognoscere genus tuum

19. And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.

20. dixit autem illi angelus ego sanum ducam et sanum tibi reducam filium tuum

20. And the angel said to him: I will lead thy son safe, and bring him to thee again safe.

21. respondens autem Tobias dixit bene ambuletis et sit Deus in itinere vestro et angelus ejus comitetur vobiscum

21. And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.

22. tunc paratis omnibus quæ erant in via portanda fecit Tobias vale patri et matri suæ et ambulaverunt ambo simul

22. Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.

23. cumque profecti essent cœpit flere mater ejus et dicere baculum senectutis nostræ tulisti et transmisisti a nobis

23. And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.

24. numquam esset ipsa pecunia pro qua misisti eum

24. I wish the money for which thou hast sent him, had never been.

25. sufficiebat enim nobis paupertas nostra ut divitias conputaremus hoc quod videbamus filium nostrum

25. For poverty was sufficient for us, that we might account it as riches, that we saw our son.

26. dixitque ei Tobias noli flere salvus perveniet filius noster et salvus revertetur ad nos et oculi tui videbunt eum

26. And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.

27. credo enim quoniam angelus Dei bonus comitetur ei et bene disponat omnia quæ circa ipsum geruntur ita ut cum gaudio revertatur ad nos

27. For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.

28. ad hanc vocem cessavit mater ejus flere et tacuit

28. At these words his mother ceased weeping, and held her peace.