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

Noli timere, fili mi: pauperem quidem vitam gerimus, sed multa bona habebimus si timuerimus Deum, et recesserimus ab omni peccato, et fecerimus bene.

Father, answered the young Tobias, I will do all thy bidding;

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

Tunc respondit Tobias patri suo, et dixit: Omnia quæcumque præcepisti mihi faciam, pater.

but as for recovering the money, I have little hope. Here is one who is a stranger to me, and I to him; what proof can I bring forward? Meanwhile, I must find my way to Rages, and of that I have no experience.

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.

Quomodo autem pecuniam hanc requiram, ignoro: ille me nescit, et ego eum ignoro: quod signum dabo ei? sed neque viam per quam pergatur illuc aliquando cognovi.

Nay, said his father, I have the man’s bond here; do but shew him that, and he will restore the money without more ado.

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.

Tunc pater suus respondit illi, et dixit: Chirographum quidem illius penes me habeo: quod dum illi ostenderis, statim restituet.

Up then, and find some man of credit, that will go with thee upon condition of a due reward; must I die before thou bring the money back to me?

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

Sed perge nunc, et inquire tibi aliquem fidelem virum, qui eat tecum salva mercede sua, ut dum adhuc vivo, recipias eam.

With that, his son went out, and at the door stood a young man of noble mien, all girt about, as if he were ready for a journey.

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

Tunc egressus Tobias, invenit juvenem splendidum stantem præcinctum, et quasi paratum ad ambulandum.

Little he knew that this was an angel of God, as he gave him welcome; Fair sir, he asked, whence comest thou?

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?

Et ignorans quod angelus Dei esset, salutavit eum, et dixit: Unde te habemus, bone juvenis?

And on hearing that he had been among the men of Israel, Why then, said he, thou knowest the road from here to Media?

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.

At ille respondit: Ex filiis Israël. Et Tobias dixit ei: Nosti viam quæ ducit in regionem Medorum?

I know it well, he answered; no step of it but I have marched often enough, when I would visit a fellow-countryman of ours who lives there; one Gabelus. The city where he dwells, Rages, is in Media, in the hill-country about Ecbatana.

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

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 Ecbatanis.

Wait for me here, Tobias asked of him, while I give my father news of this.

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.

Cui Tobias ait: Sustine me obsecro, donec hæc ipsa nuntiem patri meo.

Then he went back, and told the story to his father, who was all astonishment, and would have the stranger brought in.

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

Tunc ingressus Tobias, indicavit universa hæc patri suo. Super quæ admiratus pater, rogavit ut introiret ad eum.

So in he came, and wished him abiding happiness.

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

Ingressus itaque salutavit eum, et dixit: Gaudium tibi sit semper.

Happiness! Tobias said; little happiness for me, that sit here in the dark, and see never the light of day!

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

Et ait Tobias: Quale gaudium mihi erit, qui in tenebris sedeo, et lumen cæli non video?

Take courage, the stranger said, God means thy soon recovery.

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.

Cui ait juvenis: Forti animo esto: in proximo est ut a Deo cureris.

Then Tobias asked, Wilt thou take my son with thee, and guide him to Media, to Rages, and so to the house of Gabelus? There shall be a reward awaiting thee on thy return.

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

Dixit itaque illi Tobias: Numquid poteris perducere filium meum ad Gabelum in Rages civitatem Medorum? et cum redieris, restituam tibi mercedem tuam.

I will take him there, said the angel, and bring him home again besides.

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

Et dixit ei angelus: Ego ducam, et reducam eum ad te.

Then Tobias would know of what household or tribe he came.

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

Cui Tobias respondit: Rogo te, indica mihi de qua domo aut de qua tribu es tu.

It was indeed no other than the angel Raphael that spoke to him; What, he answered, is it my lineage, not myself, thou wouldst have for thy son’s escort?

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

Cui Raphaël angelus dixit: Genus quæris mercenarii, an ipsum mercenarium qui cum filio tuo eat?

But set thy mind at rest; my name is Azarias, and a man of renown, Ananias, was my father.

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

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

Forgive me, Tobias said, for doubting thy lineage; thou comest of good stock indeed.

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

Et Tobias respondit: Ex magno genere es tu. Sed peto ne irascaris quod voluerim cognoscere genus tuum.

Raphael, then, promised to conduct the boy safely and bring him safely home,

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

Dixit autem illi angelus: Ego sanum ducam, et sanum tibi reducam filium tuum.

and Tobias bade them good speed; God be with you, said he, on your journey, and may his angel bear you company!

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.

Respondens autem Tobias, ait: Bene ambuletis, et sit Deus in itinere vestro, et angelus ejus comitetur vobiscum.

Then, when his pack was ready, the young Tobias bade his father and mother farewell, and the travellers set out together.

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.

Tunc paratis omnibus quæ erant in via portanda, fecit Tobias vale patri suo et matri suæ, et ambulaverunt ambo simul.

Now that the boy had gone, his mother fell a-weeping; Here was the only support of our old age, said she, why hast thou passed him on into other hands?

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

Cumque profecti essent, cœpit mater ejus flere, et dicere: Baculum senectutis nostræ tulisti, et transmisisti a nobis.

Would to God the money thou hast sent him to claim had never been thine!

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

Numquam fuisset ipsa pecunia, pro qua misisti eum:

We were content in our poverty; the very sight of the lad was riches enough.

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.

sufficiebat enim nobis paupertas nostra, ut divitias computaremus hoc, quod videbamus filium nostrum.

Dry thy tears, Tobias answered; safe will he fare, this son of ours, and safe return; those eyes shall have sight of him again.

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.

Dixitque ei Tobias: Noli flere: salvus perveniet filius noster, et salvus revertetur ad nos, et oculi tui videbunt illum.

I hold it for truth that some good angel of the Lord escorts him, to see that all goes well with him and grant him happy return.

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

Credo enim quod angelus Dei bonus comitetur ei, et bene disponat omnia quæ circa eum geruntur, ita ut cum gaudio revertatur ad nos.

Thus comforted, the mother dried her tears and complained no more.