Baucis et Philemon — Section 3

Latin

English

1intereā 3mediās 2fallunt 5sermōnibus 4hōrās

9sentīrī 6-que 8moram 7prohibent. 1erat 3alveus 2illic

4fāgineus 8dūrā 6clāvō 5suspēnsus 7ab 9ānsā;

1is 3tepidīs 2implētur 4aquīs 7artūs 5-que 8fovendōs

6accipit. 1in 2mediō 4torus 3est 5dē 6mollibus 7ulvīs

8impositus 9lectō 10spondā 12pedibus 11-que 13salignīs;

3vestibus 2hunc 1vēlant 4quās 5nōn 8nisi 10tempore 9fēstō

7sternere 6cōnsuērant, 11sed 12et 13haec 17vīlis 16-que 19vetus 18-que

14vestis 15erat, 23lectō 20nōn 21indignanda 22salignō.

2accubuēre 1deī.

Meanwhile they while away the intervening hours with conversations

and prevent the delay from being realised. There was there a bathtub

made of beech, suspended from a nail by a sturdy handle;

this is filled with warm water and

receives limbs which need warming. In the middle is a mattress

of soft sedge placed on a bed with a frame and feet made of willow;

they cover this with a coverlet which not

they were accustomed to spread over it except at holiday time, but even this

coverlet was both cheap and ancient, not to be deemed unworthy of

the willow couch. The gods reclined.

Content — what is happening

The couple while away the intervening hours with conversation so that the gods do not feel the delay.
A beechwood basin, hung from a nail by a sturdy handle, is filled with warm water to bathe the guests’ weary limbs.
A couch with a willow frame and a soft sedge mattress is made up and spread with a coverlet kept only for holidays — cheap and old, yet no disgrace to such a couch.
The gods take their places and recline.