Ovid Lines 26-50 - Analysis

◇ = Analysis of Latin || ✪ = Notes on context

Made of beech¹⁸ suspended from a nail by a sturdy handle;

◇18: fagineus: enjambment – used to emphasise the rustic nature of Baucis and Philemon’s poor existence. They make everything they need and from the materials they can find around them.

To strew over it except at holiday time, but even this coverlet was

Both cheap and old¹⁹, not to be deemed unworthy of the willow couch.

◇19: vilisque vetusque vestis: the alliteration of ‘v’ and assonance of the double ‘-que’ emphasise the cheapness and age of the coverlet.

To strew [over it] except at holiday time, but even this coverlet was

Both cheap and old, not to be deemed unworthy²⁰ of the willow couch.

◇20: non indignanda: an example of litotes (deliberate understatement), with Ovid making clear that the tired, old coverlet is in perfect keeping with the condition of the bed it rests on.

Meanwhile they see the mixing bowl, which had been drained so many times²¹,

✪21: totiens haustum: the implication being that the gods were really enjoying themselves, with the miracle that the wine was constantly replenishing itself.

Meanwhile they see the mixing bowl²², which had been drained so many times,

Refilled²² of its own accord and the wine increasing²² by itself;

◇22: cratera repleri … succrescere vina: an example of chiasmus – object, verb, verb, object.

Refilled of its own accord²³ and the wine increasing by itself²³;

◇23: sponte sua per seque … (succrescere): the two similar phrases in juxtaposition emphasise the miracle of the replenishing wine; whilst the sibilance is probably deliberate to imitate the fizz of the wine refilling.

Astonished by the strangeness of this occurrence, they fear, and with hands facing upwards²⁴

✪24: manibus supinis: the normal way to pray, by turning the face to heaven and raising the hands with the palms turned upwards.

There was just one²⁵ goose, the guardian of the very small house,

◇25: unicus: the position of this word at the beginning of the line further emphasises the poverty of the couple, clearly this is all they could afford.

There was just one goose, the guardian²⁶ of the very small house,

✪26: custodia: another example of doctrina (the author’s learning) – Ovid is referring to the famous story of the geese which saved the Capitol from the invading Gauls, by waking up the Romans with their cackling.

And beg pardon for the feast²⁷ and lack of preparations.

There was just one goose, the guardian of the very small house²⁷,

Which its guardians²⁷ were preparing to kill for the gods, their guests;

◇✪27: dapibus … minimae … villae … domini: these words reveal Ovid’s sense of humour, as clearly the old couple were very poor and with meagre resources. The feast was anything but suitable for the gods, being nothing more than a simple meal; similarly Baucis and Philemon did not have a large country estate as implied by ‘villa’; furthermore, to use the word ‘dominus’ would imply that a person was the head of a household, with slaves – Baucis and Philemon are clearly not doing this; therefore, all of these choices of vocabulary were clearly deliberate and for comic effect.

That goose, swift with its wings²⁸, wore them out as they were slow with age²⁸,

◇28: celer penna tardos aetate: balanced phrasing – adjective, noun repeated, with both nouns in the ablative. The juxtaposition of penna and tardos emphasises how easy it was for the goose to escape. It had wings, but the old couple were slow because of their age.

It eluded them for a long time and finally²⁹ seemed to have fled for refuge

◇29: diu tandemque: the juxtaposition of these two words, both of which express a considerable length of time, emphasises the futility of the chase and the need to catch the goose.

And said, “We are gods, and the irreligious³⁰ neighbourhood will pay the penalty

◇30: impia: a good example of enjambment; the sentence was clearly complete at the end of the previous line, but Ovid adds this word in order to be able to give the reason for the villagers’ punishment.

It deserves³¹; it will be granted to you to be exempt from

◇31: meritas: emphatic positioning as it is at the beginning of the new clause and emphasises that the punishment will be deserved.