baucis and philemon quote bank

locum requiemque petentes

seeking a place to rest

pia Baucis anus

the dutiful old woman Baucis

ubi caelicolae parvos tetigere penates

when the heaven-dwellers arrived at the small household

anima producit anili

the breath of an old woman

sordida terga suis nigro pendentia tigno

sooty back of a pig hanging from a black beam

haec vilisque vetusque vestis erat

this bedspread was and both cheap and ancient

totiens haustum cratera repleri sponte sua

the mixing bowl, having been drained so many times, Refilled of its own accord

concipiunt… preces

form prayers

unicus anser erat, minimae custodia villae

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

'di… sumus'

we are gods

'meritasque luet vicinia poenas impia'

the irreligious neighbourhood will pay the penalty it deserves

'relinquite vestra tecta!'

leave behind your dwelling!

baculis… levati

supported by their staffs

mersa palude cetera

the rest submerged by a marsh

tantum sua tecta manere

only their house remains

vertitur in templum

is turned into a temple

adopertaque marmore tellus

and the earth covered with marble.

'dicite… quid optetis'

say what you desire

'esse sacerdotes… poscimus'

we ask to be priests

'auferat hora duos eadem'

may the same hour take away the two of us

frondere Philemona Baucis… conspexit

Baucis noticed that Philemon was growing leaves

'vale… o coniunx'

goodbye, o spouse