Baucis et Philemon 26-48

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.