Philemon and Baucis were an aged couple, of Phrygia, who, unblessed by the
goods of fortune, found in their mutual and deep affection, a happiness,
which nothing could overwhelm.
----------------------"There
Had lived long married and a happy pair
Now old in love, tho' little was their store,
Inured to want, their poverty they bore,
Nor aimed at wealth, professing to be poor."
As they were sitting together, enjoying the sweets of mutual affection, two
travellers, with a melancholy and impoverished appearance, after having
asked hospitality, and been refused by the inhabitants of the village,
sought refuge under their humble roof. Unaccustomed to visitors, they were,
however, received by them with kindness, and invited to partake of a modest
repast.
As they sate in kind communion, the forms of those whom they entertained
suddenly changed, and they beheld Jupiter and Mercury in the place of the
miserable beings they had received; the ancient couple throwing themselves
on their knees, offered to their guests the deep homage of their hearts.
The Gods were pleased with their entertainment; but could not forget the
inhospitality with which they had been received by their countrymen, and
let loose the waves, and sent the thunderbolt to consume the town and its
inhabitants. Philemon and Baucis, were, however, saved, and a superb temple
replaced their lowly dwelling, of which they were made the priests.
They lived long and happily, and having entreated Jupiter that neither
might outlive the other, they both died on the same day, and their bodies
were changed into trees, and placed before the {254} door of the Temple
which had arisen on the ruins of their lowly cottage.
"Lost in a lake the floated level lies;
A watery desert covers all the plains,
Their cot alone, as on an isle, remains
Wond'ring with weeping eyes, while they deplore
Their neighbours' fate, and country now no more,
Their little shed, scarce large enough for two,
Seems, from the ground, in height and bulk to grow
A stately temple shoots within the skies,
The crotchets of their cot in columns rise,
The pavement polished marble they behold,
The gates with sculpture graced, the spires and roof of gold!"