OCR GCSE Latin - Verse Literature - Baucis et Philemon (Ovid) - Lines 36-50 - Translation and Style

interea totiens haustum cratera repleri

sponte sua per seque vident succrescere vina;

Meanwhile they see the mixing bowl, which had been drained so many times, refilled of its own accord and the wine increasing by itself.

attoniti novitate pavent manibusque supinnis

concipient Baucisque preces timidusque Philemon

et veniam dapibus nullisque paratibus orant.

Astonished by the strangeness (of the event), they fear, and with hands facing upwards, both Baucis and fearful Philemon (begin to) form prayers and beg pardon for the feast and lack of preparations.

unicus answer erat, minimae custodia villae,

quem dis hospitibus domini mactare parabant;

There was (just) one goose, guardian of the very small house, which the owners were preparing to kill for the gods, their guests;

ille celer penna tardos aetate fatigat

eluditque die tandemque est visis ad ipsos

confugisse deos. (next section)

the goose, swift with its wing(s), wore (them) out as they were slow through age, eluded them for a long time and finally seemed to have fled for refuge to the gods themselves.

superi vetuere necari

‘di’ que ‘sumus, meritasque luet civinia poenas

impia’ dixerunt; ‘vobis immunibus huius

esse mali dabitur. (next section)

The gods forbade it to be killed, and said, ‘We are gods, and the irreligious neighbourhood will pay the penalty it deserves; it will be granted to you to be exempt from this destruction.

modo vestra relinquite tecta

ac nostros comitate gradus et in ardua montis ite simul.’

Just leave your home and accompany our steps and go together with (us) to the steep parts of the mountain.’