Baucis et Philemon, lines 26-48

interea medias fallunt sermonibus horas sentirique moram prohibent.

Meanwhile, they while away the intervening hours with conversations and prevent the delay from being realised.

erat alveus illic fagineus dura clavo suspensus ab ansa;

There was a bath tub there made of beech suspended from a nail by its sturdy handle;

is tepidis inpletur aquis artusque fovendos accipit.

it is filled with warm water and receives limbs that need warming.

in medio torus est de mollibus ulvis impositus lecto sponda pedibusque salignis;

In the middle is a mattress made of soft sedge which has been placed on a bed with a frame and feet made of willow;

vestibus hunc velant quas non nisi tempore festo sternere consuerant:

they cover this with a coverlet which, expect at holiday time, they had not been accustomed to strew over it:

sed et haec vilisque vetusque vestis erat, lecto non indignanda saligno.

but this coverlet was both cheap and ancient, not be deemed unworthy of the willow couch.

accubuere dei.

The gods reclined on it.

interea totiens haustum cratera repleri sponte sua per seque vident succrescere vina;

Meanwhile they see the mixing bowl that had been drained so often refilled of its own accord and the wine increase by itself;

attoniti novitate pavent manibusque supinis concipiunt Baucisque preces timidusque Philemon

astonished by the strangeness, they are afraid and with their hand facing upwards both Baucis and fearful Philemon begin to pray

et veniam dapibus nullisque paratibus orant.

and they beg pardon for the feast and lack of preparations.

unicus anser erat, minimae custodia villae, quem dis hospitibus domini mactare parabant.

There was one goose, the guardian of the very small cottage, which the masters were preparing to kill for their godly guests.

ille celer penna tardos aetate fatigat eluditque diu tandemque est visus ad ipsos confugisse deos.

It, swift with its wings, wore out those slow with age and eluded them for a long time and at last it seemed to have fled for refuge to the gods themselves.

superi vetuere necari “di” que “sumus, meritasque luet vicinia poenas impia” dixerunt;

The gods forbade it from being killed and said “We are god, and your irreligious neighbourhood will pay the penalties it deserves;

“vobis immunibus huius esse mali dabitur”

“It will be given to you to be exempt from this evil”