The Story of Baucis and Philemon
8:909 Thus Achelous ends: his audience
hear
8:910 With admiration, and admiring,
fear
8:911 The Pow'rs of Heav'n; except
Ixion's Son,
8:912 Who laugh'd at all the Gods,
believ'd in none:
8:913 He shook his impious head, and
thus replies.
8:914 These legends are no more than
pious lies:
8:915 You attribute too much to heav'nly
sway,
8:916 To think they give us forms,
and take away.
8:917 The rest of better minds, their sense declar'd
8:918 Against this doctrine, and with
horror heard.
8:919 Then Lelex rose, an old experienc'd
man,
8:920 And thus with sober gravity began;
8:921 Heav'n's pow'r is infinite: Earth,
Air, and Sea,
8:922 The manufacture mass, the making
Pow'r obey:
8:923 By proof to clear your doubt;
in Phrygian ground
8:924 Two neighb'ring trees, with walls
encompass'd round,
8:925 Stand on a mod'rate rise, with
wonder shown,
8:926 One a hard oak, a softer linden
one:
8:927 I saw the place, and them, by
Pittheus sent
8:928 To Phrygian realms, my grandsire's
government.
8:929 Not far from thence is seen a
lake, the haunt
8:930 Of coots, and of the fishing
cormorant:
8:931 Here Jove with Hermes came; but
in disguise
8:932 Of mortal men conceal'd their
deities;
8:933 One laid aside his thunder, one
his rod;
8:934 And many toilsome steps together
trod:
8:935 For harbour at a thousand doors
they knock'd,
8:936 Not one of all the thousand but
was lock'd.
8:937 At last an hospitable house they
found,
8:938 A homely shed; the roof, not
far from ground,
8:939 Was thatch'd with reeds, and
straw, together bound.
8:940 There Baucis and Philemon liv'd,
and there
8:941 Had liv'd long marry'd, and a
happy pair:
8:942 Now old in love, though little
was their store,
8:943 Inur'd to want, their poverty
they bore,
8:944 Nor aim'd at wealth, professing
to be poor.
8:945 For master, or for servant here
to call,
8:946 Was all alike, where only two
were all.
8:947 Command was none, where equal
love was paid,
8:948 Or rather both commanded, both
obey'd.
8:949 From lofty roofs the Gods repuls'd before,
8:950 Now stooping, enter'd through
the little door:
8:951 The man (their hearty welcome
first express'd)
8:952 A common settle drew for either
guest,
8:953 Inviting each his weary limbs
to rest.
8:954 But ere they sate, officious
Baucis lays
8:955 Two cushions stuff'd with straw,
the seat to raise;
8:956 Coarse, but the best she had;
then rakes the load
8:957 Of ashes from the hearth, and
spreads abroad
8:958 The living coals; and, lest they
should expire,
8:959 With leaves, and bark she feeds
her infant fire:
8:960 It smoaks; and then with trembling
breath she blows,
8:961 'Till in a chearful blaze the
flames arose.
8:962 With brush-wood, and with chips
she strengthens these,
8:963 And adds at last the boughs of
rotten trees.
8:964 The fire thus form'd, she sets
the kettle on
8:965 (Like burnish'd gold the little
seether shone),
8:966 Next took the coleworts which
her husband got
8:967 From his own ground (a small
well-water'd spot);
8:968 She stripp'd the stalks of all
their leaves; the best
8:969 She cull'd, and them with handy
care she drest.
8:970 High o'er the hearth a chine
of bacon hung;
8:971 Good old Philemon seiz'd it with
a prong,
8:972 And from the sooty rafter drew
it down,
8:973 Then cut a slice, but scarce
enough for one;
8:974 Yet a large portion of a little
store,
8:975 Which for their sakes alone he
wish'd were more.
8:976 This in the pot he plung'd without
delay,
8:977 To tame the flesh, and drain
the salt away.
8:978 The time beween, before the fire
they sat,
8:979 And shorten'd the delay by pleasing
chat.
8:980 A beam there was, on which a beechen pail
8:981 Hung by the handle, on a driven
nail:
8:982 This fill'd with water, gently
warm'd, they set
8:983 Before their guests; in this
they bath'd their feet,
8:984 And after with clean towels dry'd
their sweat.
8:985 This done, the host produc'd
the genial bed,
8:986 Sallow the feet, the borders,
and the sted,
8:987 Which with no costly coverlet
they spread,
8:988 But coarse old garments; yet
such robes as these
8:989 They laid alone, at feasts, on
holidays.
8:990 The good old housewife, tucking
up her gown,
8:991 The table sets; th' invited Gods
lie down.
8:992 The trivet-table of a foot was
lame,
8:993 A blot which prudent Baucis overcame,
8:994 Who thrusts beneath the limping
leg a sherd,
8:995 So was the mended board exactly
rear'd:
8:996 Then rubb'd it o'er with newly
gather'd mint,
8:997 A wholsom herb, that breath'd
a grateful scent.
8:998 Pallas began the feast, where
first was seen
8:999 The party-colour'd olive, black,
and green:
8:1000 Autumnal cornels next in order
serv'd,
8:1001 In lees of wine well pickled,
and preserv'd.
8:1002 A garden-sallad was the third
supply,
8:1003 Of endive, radishes, and succory:
8:1004 Then curds, and cream, the
flow'r of country fare,
8:1005 And new-laid eggs, which Baucis'
busie care
8:1006 Turn'd by a gentle fire, and
roasted rare.
8:1007 All these in earthen ware were
serv'd to board;
8:1008 And next in place, an earthen
pitcher stor'd,
8:1009 With liquor of the best the
cottage could afford.
8:1010 This was the table's ornament
and pride,
8:1011 With figures wrought: like
pages at his side
8:1012 Stood beechen bowls; and these
were shining clean,
8:1013 Varnish'd with wax without,
and lin'd within.
8:1014 By this the boiling kettle
had prepar'd,
8:1015 And to the table sent the smoaking
lard;
8:1016 On which with eager appetite
they dine,
8:1017 A sav'ry bit, that serv'd to
relish wine:
8:1018 The wine itself was suiting
to the rest,
8:1019 Still working in the must,
and lately press'd.
8:1020 The second course succeeds
like that before,
8:1021 Plums, apples, nuts, and of
their wintry store
8:1022 Dry figs, and grapes, and wrinkled
dates were set
8:1023 In canisters, t' enlarge the
little treat:
8:1024 All these a milk-white honey-comb
surround,
8:1025 Which in the midst the country-banquet
crown'd:
8:1026 But the kind hosts their entertainment
grace
8:1027 With hearty welcome, and an
open face:
8:1028 In all they did, you might
discern with ease,
8:1029 A willing mind, and a desire
to please.
8:1030 Mean-time the beechen bowls went round,
and still,
8:1031 Though often empty'd, were
observ'd to fill;
8:1032 Fill'd without hands, and of
their own accord
8:1033 Ran without feet, and danc'd
about the board.
8:1034 Devotion seiz'd the pair, to
see the feast
8:1035 With wine, and of no common
grape, increas'd;
8:1036 And up they held their hands,
and fell to pray'r,
8:1037 Excusing, as they could, their
country fare.
8:1038 One goose they had ('twas all they could
allow),
8:1039 A wakeful centry, and on duty
now,
8:1040 Whom to the Gods for sacrifice
they vow:
8:1041 Her with malicious zeal the
couple view'd;
8:1042 She ran for life, and limping
they pursu'd:
8:1043 Full well the fowl perceiv'd
their bad intent,
8:1044 And would not make her master's
compliment;
8:1045 But persecuted, to the Pow'rs
she flies,
8:1046 And close between the legs
of Jove she lies:
8:1047 He with a gracious ear the
suppliant heard,
8:1048 And sav'd her life; then what
he has declar'd,
8:1049 And own'd the God. The neighbourhood,
said he,
8:1050 Shall justly perish for impiety:
8:1051 You stand alone exempted; but
obey
8:1052 With speed, and follow where
we lead the way:
8:1053 Leave these accurs'd; and to
the mountain's height
8:1054 Ascend; nor once look backward
in your flight.
8:1055 They haste, and what their tardy feet deny'd,
8:1056 The trusty staff (their better
leg) supply'd.
8:1057 An arrow's flight they wanted
to the top,
8:1058 And there secure, but spent
with travel, stop;
8:1059 Then turn their now no more
forbidden eyes;
8:1060 Lost in a lake the floated
level lies:
8:1061 A watry desart covers all the
plains,
8:1062 Their cot alone, as in an isle,
remains.
8:1063 Wondring, with weeping eyes,
while they deplore
8:1064 Their neighbours' fate, and
country now no more,
8:1065 Their little shed, scarce large
enough for two,
8:1066 Seems, from the ground increas'd,
in height and bulk to grow.
8:1067 A stately temple shoots within
the skies,
8:1068 The crotches of their cot in
columns rise:
8:1069 The pavement polish'd marble
they behold,
8:1070 The gates with sculpture grac'd,
the spires and tiles of gold.
8:1071 Then thus the sire of Gods, with looks serene,
8:1072 Speak thy desire, thou only
just of men;
8:1073 And thou, o woman, only worthy
found
8:1074 To be with such a man in marriage
bound.
8:1075 A-while they whisper; then,
to Jove address'd,
8:1076 Philemon thus prefers their
joint request:
8:1077 We crave to serve before your
sacred shrine,
8:1078 And offer at your altars rites
divine:
8:1079 And since not any action of
our life
8:1080 Has been polluted with domestick
strife;
8:1081 We beg one hour of death, that
neither she
8:1082 With widow's tears may live
to bury me,
8:1083 Nor weeping I, with wither'd
arms may bear
8:1084 My breathless Baucis to the
sepulcher.
8:1085 The Godheads sign their suit. They run their
race
8:1086 In the same tenour all th'
appointed space:
8:1087 Then, when their hour was come,
while they relate
8:1088 These past adventures at the
temple gate,
8:1089 Old Baucis is by old Philemon
seen
8:1090 Sprouting with sudden leaves
of spritely green:
8:1091 Old Baucis look'd where old
Philemon stood,
8:1092 And saw his lengthen'd arms
a sprouting wood:
8:1093 New roots their fasten'd feet
begin to bind,
8:1094 Their bodies stiffen in a rising
rind:
8:1095 Then, ere the bark above their
shoulders grew,
8:1096 They give, and take at once
their last adieu.
8:1097 At once, Farewell, o faithful
spouse, they said;
8:1098 At once th' incroaching rinds
their closing lips invade.
8:1099 Ev'n yet, an ancient Tyanaean
shows
8:1100 A spreading oak, that near
a linden grows;
8:1101 The neighbourhood confirm the
prodigy,
8:1102 Grave men, not vain of tongue,
or like to lie.
8:1103 I saw my self the garlands
on their boughs,
8:1104 And tablets hung for gifts
of granted vows;
8:1105 And off'ring fresher up, with
pious pray'r,
8:1106 The good, said I, are God's
peculiar care,
8:1107 And such as honour Heav'n,
shall heav'nly honour share.