Baucis et Philemon — Section 5

Latin

English

1ambo 2parent 3-que 4levātī 5baculīs

6nītuntur 7pōnere 8vestīgia 9longō 10clīvō.

1…1aberant 2tantum 3summō, 4quantum 5sagitta 6semel 9īre

7missa 8potest; 1flexēre 2oculōs 3et 6mersā 7palūde

4prōspiciunt, 5cētera 8tantum 9sua 10tēcta 11manēre.

1-que 2dum 3mīrantur, 4ea 5dum 6dēflent 7fāta 8suōrum,

9illa 10vetus 11casa 12parva 13etiam 14duōbus 15dominīs

16vertitur 17in 18templum; 1columnae, 2subiēre 3furcās

4strāmina 5flāvēscunt 6-que 7aurāta 8tēcta 9videntur

(10)-que 11forēs 12caelātae 13-que 14tellus. 15adoperta 16marmore

1tum 2Sāturnius 3ēdidit 4tālia 5placidō 6ōre:

1‘dīcite, 2iūste 3senex 4et 6coniuge 7iūstō

8fēmina 5digna, 9quid 10optētis.’ 1locūtus 2pauca 3cum 4Baucide

5Philēmōn: 6aperit 7commūne 8iūdicium 9superīs

Both obey, and supported by their staffs,

they strive to place their footsteps on the long slope.

They were (about) as far away from the top as an arrow, once discharged,

can go; They turned their eyes and see the rest (of the houses)

submerged by a marsh, only their own house remaining.

And while they were marvelling at these things, while they were weeping for the fates

of their friends, that old house, small even for its two owners,

is turned into a temple; columns replaced the poles,

the thatch becomes yellow, and a golden roof is seen,

and doors engraved, and the earth covered with marble.

Then the son of Saturn uttered the following (words) with a calm expression:

'Honest old man and woman worthy of an honest husband,

tell me what you desire!' Having spoken a few words with Baucis,

Philemon reveals their joint decision to the gods:

Content — what is happening

Both old people obey the gods and, leaning on their staffs, struggle up the long slope, almost reaching the summit.
Looking back, they see that every other house has been submerged in a marsh — only their own cottage has been spared.
While they marvel at this and weep for the fate of their neighbours, the humble cottage is transformed before their eyes into a golden temple, with marble columns, a gilded roof, carved doors and a marble floor.
Jupiter (the son of Saturn) then speaks calmly, praising the just couple and inviting them to ask for whatever they wish; Philemon, after a brief word with Baucis, declares their shared decision to the gods.