Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/340

 answered: “I  know  it.”  Then  the  young  Tobias  introduced  him to his  father,  who  asked  him:  “Canst  thou  conduct  my  son  to Gabelus,  at  Rages?”

The young  man  replied:  “I  will  conduct  him  thither,  and bring him  back  to  thee.”  Then  Tobias  blessed  the  two  young men, praying:  “May  you  have  a good  journey;  may  God  be  with you on  your  way,  and  may  His  Angel  accompany  you.”  Then they both  set  out  on  their  journey,  and  the  dog  followed  them. But his  mother  wept  and  said  to  her  husband: “Thou  hast  taken the staff  of  our  old  age,  and  hast  sent  him  away.”

On the  evening  of  the  first  day  the  travellers  reached  the banks of  the  river  Tigris. Tobias, heated  and  warm,  sat  down on the  bank  and  put  his  feet  into  the  water. Suddenly an enormous  fish  came  up  to  devour  him. Tobias cried  out  to  the Angel: “Sir,  he  cometh  upon  me!”  The  Angel,  seeing  his  terror, exclaimed: “Take  him  by  the  gill  and  draw  him  to  thee.”  He did  so,  and  when  the  fish  lay  panting  before  his  feet,  the  Angel said: “Take  out  his  heart,  his  gall  and  his  liver,  for  these  are useful medicines.”  Then,  making  a fire,  Tobias  broiled  some  of the  fish,  which  furnished  a repast;  then  he  salted  a portion  of  what remained, to  serve  as  provision  for  the  journey.

When they  came  to  a certain  city,  Tobias  said  to  his  guide: “Where wilt  thou  that  we  lodge?”  The  Angel  answered:  “There is here  a man  named  Raguel,  a kinsman  of  thy  tribe,  who  has  a daughter  named  Sara:  and  thou  must  take  her  to  wife.”  Tobias replied: “I  hear  that  she  hath  been  given  to  seven  husbands, and they  all  died,  and  a devil  killed  each  of  them  on  the  night of his  wedding.”

Tobias said  this,  because  he  was  the  only  son  of  his  aged parents, and  if  such  a misfortune  should  befall  him,  it  would bring down  their  old  age  with  sorrow  to  the  grave. The Angel answered that  the  devil  had  such  power  over  those  who  in  their marriage banish  God  from  their  heart,  and  think  only  of  gratifying