Baucis & Philemon Section 5

Ite Simul!/ parent ambo baculisque levati

Go together!/ They obeyed and, supported by sticks,

Nituntur longo vestigia ponere clivo

They struggled to place [their] steps on the long hillside

Tantum aberant summo, quantum semel ire sagitta

They were as far away from the top as an arrow, fired in one shot,

Missa potest; flexere oculos et mersa palude

Can go; they turned their eyes and saw in the distance

Cetera prospiciunt, tantum sua tecta manere

The rest submerged in marsh, only their own home remained.

dumque ea mirantur, dum deflent fata suorum

And while they gazed in wonder at this, while they wept at the fates of their own.

Illa vetus dominis etiam casa parva duobus

That old cottage, small even for two occupants

Vertitur in templum; furcas subiere columnae

Was turned into a temple; columns took the place of the forked supports

Stramina flavescunt aurataque tecta videntur

The straw turned yellow and the roof appeared to be gilded

Caelataque fores adopertque marmore tellus

and the doors carved and the ground covered in marble.

talia tum placido saturnius edidit ore:

Then the son of Saturn spoke such things with a calm mouth:

“Dicite, iuste senex et femina coniuge iusto

“Say, just old man, and woman worthy of a just husband,

digna, quid optetis.” cum Baucide pauca locutus

what you wish for.” Having spoken a few [words] with Baucis

Iudicium superis aperit commune Philemon:

Philemon revealed [their] joint decision to the Gods: