Baucis et Philemon (better version)

Iuppiter huc specie mortali cumque parente

Jupiter came here in human form and, with his father,

venit Adlantiades positis caducifer alis

came the wand-bearing descendant of Atlas, having set aside his wings.

mille domos adiere locum requiemque petentes

They approached a thousand houses, seeking a place to rest;

mille domos clausere serae. tamen una recepit

bolts shut a thousand homes. However, one received (them),

parva quidem stipulis et canna tecta palustri

a small (one) it is true, covered with stalks and marshy reeds.   

sed pia Baucis anus parilique aetate Philemon

But the dutiful old woman Baucis and Philemon of similar age

illa sunt annis iuncti iuvenalibus, illa

were united in their young years in that cottage,

consenuere casa paupertatemque fatendo

grew old in that cottage and, by acknowledging their poverty

effecere levem nec iniquia mente ferendo

and by bearing it with a not unequal mind, they made it unimportant.

nec refert, dominos illic famulosne requiras:

And it does not matter whether you look for masters or servants there,

tota domus duo sunt, idem parentque iubentque

the two are the whole household, the same (people) obey and give orders.

ergo ubi caelicolae parvos tetigere penates

Therefore when the heaven dwellers arrived at the small house

submissoque humiles intrarunt vertice postes

and entered the lowly doorposts with lowered head,

membra senex posito iussit relevare sedili

the old man ordered (them) to relax their limbs on the couch set out,

quo superiniecit textum rude sedula Baucis

over which the busy Baucis placed a rough woven cloth.    

inde foco tepid cinerem dimovit et ignes

Then she separated the warm ash in the hearth and roused

suscitat hesternos foliisque et cortice sicco

the fires of yesterday, fed (them) with leaves and dry bark,

nutrit et ad flammas anima producit anili

brought forth the flames with the breath of an old woman

multifidasque faces ramaliaque arida tecto

and brought down torches split into many pieces and dry sticks from the roof,

detulit et minuit parvoque admovit aeno

made them smaller and applied them to a small bronze pot.         

quodque suus coniunx riguo conlegerat horto

And she stripped a cabbage of its leaves, which her husband had gathered

truncat holus foliis; furca levat illa bicorni

from the well watered garden; with a two-pronged fork he lifted

sordida terga suis nigro pendentia tigno

the sooty back of a pig hanging on a black beamse

servatoque diu resecat de tergore partem

and cut off a thin slice from the long-preserved back

exiguam sectamque domat ferventibus undis

and, having cut it up, softened it in boiling waters.         

Interea medias fallunt sermonibus horas

Meanwhile they whiled away the intervening hours with conversations

sentirique moram prohibent.Erat alveus illic

and prevented the delay from being realised.There was

fagineus dura clavo suspensus ab ansa;

a bathtub there made of beechwood, suspended from a nail by a sturdy

is tepidis impletur aquis artusque fovendos

handle; this was filled with warm water and received limbs which needed

accipit. In medio torus est de mollibus ulvis

warming. In the middle (of the house) was a mattress of soft sedge   

inpositus lecto sponda pedibusque salignis.

placed on a bed with a frame and feet made of willow.

Vestibus hunc velant, quas non nisi tempore festo

They covered this with a blanket which they were not accustomed

sternere consuerant: sed et haec vilisque vetusque

to lay over it except at holiday time, but even this blanket was both

vestis erat, lecto non indignanda saligno

cheap and old, not to be deemed unworthy of the willow bed.

Accubuere dei.

The gods reclined (on it). 

Interea totiens haustem cratera repleri

Meanwhile they saw the mixing bowl which had been drained so many times

sponte sua per seque vident succrescere vina.

refilled of its own accord and the wine increasing by itself.

Attoniti novitate pavent manibusque supinis

Astonished by the strangeness, they were afraid and, with hands facing upwards,

concipiunt Baucisque preces timidusque Philemon

both Baucis and fearful Philemon began to form prayers

et veniam dapibus nullisque paratibus orant.

and begged pardon for the feast and lack of preparations.

unicus anser erat, minimae custodia villae:

There was a single goose, guardian of the very small house,

quem dis hospitibus domini mactare parabant.

which the owners were preparing to kill for the gods, their guests.

ille celer penna tardos aetate fatigat

The goose, swift with its wings, wore (them) out, slow through age,

eluditque diu tandemque est visus ad ipsos

eluded them for a long time and finally seemed to have fled

confugisse deos. superi vetuere necari

for refuge to the gods themselves. The gods forbade it to be killed    

'di' que 'sumus, meritasque luet vicinia poenas

and said "We are gods and this irreligious neighbourhood will pay

impia' dixerunt; vobis inmunibus huius

the penalty it deserves; it will be granted to you to be exempt

esse mali dabitur.

from this destruction.

ac nostros comitate gradus et in ardua montis

 Just leave your house and

accompany our steps and go together with us to the steep parts

ite simul.” parent ambo baculisque levati      

of the mountain." Both obeyed and, supported by their staffs,

nituntur longo vestigia ponere clivo.

strove to place their footsteps on the long slope.

tantum aberant summo, quantum semel ire sagitta

They were as far away from the top as an arrow, once sent,

missa potest: flexere oculos et mersa palude

can go; they turned their eyes and saw the rest (of the houses)

cetera prospiciunt, tantum sua tecta manere.

submerged by a marsh and only their house remaining.

dumque ea mirantur, dum deflent fata suorum,

While they were marvelling at these things, while they were weeping for the fates of their neighbours,

illa vetus, dominis etiam casa parva duobus

that old house, small even for its two owners

vertitur in templum; furcas subiere columnae,

was turned into a temple; columns replaced the poles,

stramina flavescunt aurataque tecta videntur

the thatch became yellow and a golden roof was seen,

caelataeque fores adopertaque marmore tellus.

doors engraved and the earth covered with marble.

talia tum placido Saturnius edidit ore:

Then the son of Saturn uttered the following (words) with a calm expression:

“dicite, iuste senex et femina coniuge iusto

"Honest old man and woman worthy of an honest husband, tell me

digna, quid optetis.” cum Baucide pauca locutus

what you desire." Having spoken a few (words) with Baucis

iudicium superis aperit commune Philemon:

Philemon revealed their joint decision to the gods:

“esse sacerdotes delubraque vestra tueri

"We ask to be priests and to guard your shrine

poscimus, et quoniam concordes egimus annos,

and, since we have spent the years in harmony,

auferat hora duos eadem, ne coniugis umquam

may the same hour take away the two of us and neither may I ever

busta meae videam neu sim tumulandus ab illa.”

see the grave of my wife nor may I have to be buried by her."

vota fides sequitur. templi tutela fuere,

 

Fulfilment followed their prayers. They were guardians of the temple

donec vita data est. annis aevoque soluti

as long as life was given to them. When, weakened by years and time,

ante gradus sacros cum starent forte locique

they were standing in front of the sacred steps (of the temple) 

narrarent casus, frondere Philemona Baucis,

and were relating the events of the place, Baucis noticed Philemon

Baucida conspexit senior frondere Philemon.

growing leaves and the aged Philemon noticed Baucis growing leaves.