Baucis

In all my life, I have never been a score of miles from this spot.

My father lived in this house before me, and when I married Bossus, I brought her here.

Have you lived happily through these many years?

Bossus, the stranger asks if we have lived happily together.

The stranger has traveled far and wide, and he knows that the humblest home is happy if love dwells there.

that is a true saying fill my cup with milk once more philemon and then tell me how your days have passed

Pious folk, from whom I parted, be my greeting here renewed, if ae still as open-hearted taste the bliss of doing good."

Baucis, a little woman, very old: "Gently, stranger, lest thou cumber, best ware of my spouse hath need.

He but gains from longest slumber strength for briefest waking deed."

"Tell me, mother, art thou even she to whom my thanks I bear, I, the youth whose life was given by your kind united care? Art thou Baucis, who the coldly fading mouth refreshment gave?"

The husband appears.

"Thou, Philemon, who so boldly drew my treasure from the wave? From your fire, so quickly burning, from your silver-sounding bell, changed my doom to fortune turning when the dread adventure fell.

Let me pray, devotedly kneeling, till my burdened heart be free."

He walks forward upon the downs.

Pious folk, from whom I parted, Be my greeting here renewed, If ye still, as open-hearted, Taste the bliss of doing good.

Baucis, a little woman, very old.

Gently, stranger, lest thou cumber Best whereof my spouse hath need; He but gains from longest slumber Strength for briefest waking deed.

Tell me, mother, art thou even She to whom my thanks I bear, I, the youth whose life was given By your kind united care? Art thou Baucis, who the coldly Fading mouth refreshment gave? The husband appears.

Thou, Philemon, who so boldly Drew my treasure from the wave? From your fire, so quickly burning, From your silver-sounding bell, Changed my doom to fortune turning, When the dread adventure fell.

Forth upon the sandhills stealing, Let me view the boundless sea; Let me pray, devoutly kneeling, Till my burdened heart be free.

He walks forward upon the downs.

Philemon to Baucis.

When Jupiter went wandering on the earth in search of adventures other than the wooing of some maiden, he often made Mercury his companion, for this slender young god was his favorite among all the dwellers of Olympus.

One day both the gods, disguised as travelers, stopped at the hut of an aged couple named Philemon and Baucis, and pretending weariness they asked to be allowed to rest.

The old couple were delighted that strangers had honored their humble roof, and in order to extend the hospitality still further, Philemon decided to kill the one thing he had that could furnish meat for the guests.

This was a large fat goose, who had no mind to be killed and eaten, even to supply a meal for gods, so when the old man tried to catch him he sought refuge between Jupiter's knees.

When the ruler of the gods learned that the couple intended to sacrifice their one possession, he was greatly touched by their kindness, but would not allow them to kill the trusting bird that had fled to him for protection.

Then the good wife Baucis set before her guests olives and cornell berries preserved in vinegar and cheese with eggs cooked in the ashes.

She laid earthen cups and dishes on the table, which she had already rubbed with sweet-smelling herbs, and placed beside them an earthen pitcher full of their best wine.

When the simple meal was going on and the guests were partaking of a dessert of apples and wild honey, Baucis was so fluttered over her duties as hostess that she did not observe the pitcher, but old Philemon looked on in astonishment at the wine which renewed itself in the pitcher as fast as it was poured out.

And when we'd been turned away from many a rich man's door, we found shelter with two poor old cottagers." who gladly shared their humble supper with us out of charity.

Those worthy old souls, Philemon and his wife Baucis, were terrified when we showed ourselves in our true shape next morning.

But they soon had their reward, for Zeus promised to grant whatever they should ask.

"Then I suppose they asked to be made king and queen of that country," said Tantalus.

"Though I cannot say I ever heard of a King Philemon or a Queen Baucis." "No," replied Hermes.

"The only thing they wanted was never to be parted or to leave the cottage where they had been so happy together.

Zeus promised that they never should, and when they had ended their lives in peace at the same moment, they were changed into two oak trees which are still flourishing where their cottage stood." Tantalus thought to himself, "What a stupid old couple.

She, however, seemed ready to make him amends for speaking so sternly and breaking a cake of ambrosia in her snowy hands, she gave him half of it with a gracious look.

If erst still, as open-hearted, taste the bliss of doing good.

Baucis, a little woman, very old.

Gently, stranger, lest thou cumber, best ware of my spouse hath need.

He but gains from longest slumber strength for briefest waking deed.

Tell me, mother, art thou even she to whom my thanks I bear? I, the youth whose life was given by your kind united care? Art thou Baucis, who the coldly fading mouth refreshment gave?

The husband appears.

Thou, Philemon, who so boldly drew my treasure from the wave? From your fire, so quickly burning, from your silver-sounding bell, changed my doom to fortune turning, when the dread adventure fell.

Let me pray, devotedly kneeling, till my burdened heart be free.

in this place? In all my life, I have never been a score of miles from this spot.

My father lived in this house before me, and when I married Bossus, I brought her here.

Have you lived happily through these many years?

Bossus, the stranger asks if we have lived happily together.

The stranger has traveled far and wide, and he knows that the humblest home is happy if love dwells there.

that is a true saying fill my cup with milk once more philemon and then tell me how your days have passed

It is said that when they were building walls about the city, Zethus' strength enabled him to lift huge stones into place, but that Amphion's skills as a musician was too great that when he played his lair, stones yet more huge rose of themselves and took their place in the wall.

The story of Baucis and Philemon shows how Zeus could reward those who respected the law of hospitality and punish those who violated it.

In a certain place where now is a marsh frequented by wild birds was once a village.

Here Zeus came in the guise of a mortal, and with him his son Hermes, winged sandals laid aside.

All were barred against them.

Yet one, a little house thatched with reeds, received them.

Here good old Baucis and her husband Philemon had grown old together, taking happiness even out of their poverty by bearing it together with contented hearts.

Here then came the immortals, and bending down their heads, entered the low door.