Baucis et Philemon — Section 1

Latin

English

1Iuppiter 3hūc 4speciē 5mortālī 7cum 6-que 8parente

2vēnit 11Atlantiadēs 12positīs 10caducifer 13ālīs.

2mīlle 3domōs 1adiēre 5locum 7requiem 6-que 4petentēs:

10mīlle 11domōs 9clausēre 8serae. 1tamen 2ūna 3recēpit,

4parva 5quidem 7stīpulīs 8et 10cannā 6tēcta 9palūstrī,

11sed 12pia 14Baucis 13anus 17parīlī 15-que 18aetāte 16Philēmōn

22illā 19sunt 21annīs 19iūnctī 20iuvenālibus, 25illā

24cōnsenūēre 23casā 29paupertātem 26-que 27fatendō

31effēcēre 32levem 30nec 34inīquā 35mente 33ferendō.

1nec 2refert, 4dominōs 5illīc 7famulōs 6-ne 3requīrās:

3tōta 4domus 1duo 2sunt, 5īdem 7pārent 6-que 9iubent 8-que.

Jupiter came here in human form and, with his father, (came)

the wand-bearing descendant of Atlas, having set aside his wings.

They approached a thousand houses, seeking a place and rest:

However, one received (them), a small (one), it is true, covered with stalks — bars shut a thousand houses.

and marshy reeds.

But the dutiful old woman Baucis, and Philemon, equal in age,

were united in their younger years in that cottage, (and)

grew old together in that cottage, and by acknowledging

their poverty and made it light by bearing it not with an unfair mind.

And it does not matter whether you look for masters there or slaves:

the two are the whole house, they both obey and command.

Content — what is happening

Jupiter and Mercury arrive in Phrygia in human disguise — Jupiter in mortal form, Mercury without his winged sandals. The scene is set for a test of hospitality.
They approach a thousand houses seeking shelter. Every one rejects them — the doors are shut and bolted against them.
One small, humble cottage receives them: thatched with reeds, the home of an elderly couple, Baucis and Philemon, who have lived and grown old there together.
The couple's equality is introduced: they share everything, obey each other and command each other — the perfect image of a harmonious marriage rooted in simple contentment.