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.