This in the pot he plung'd without delay,
To tame the flesh, and drain the salt away.
The time between, before the fire they fat,
And shorten'd the delay by pleafing chat.

A beam there was, on which a beechen pail
Hung by the handle, on a driven nail:
This fill'd with water, gently warm'd, they fet
Before their guests; in this they bath'd their feet,
And after with clean towels dry'd their sweat :
This done, the hoft produc'd the genial bed,
Sallow the foot, the borders, and the sted,
Which with no coftly coverlet they spread;
But coarse old garments, yet such robes as thefe
They laid alone, at feasts, on holydays.
The good old housewife, tucking up her gown,
The tables fet; th' invited Gods lie down.
The trivet-table of a foot was lame,
A blot which prudent Baucis overcame,
Who thrust, beneath the limping leg, a fherd,
So was the mended board exactly rear'd:
Then rubb'd it o'er with newly-gather'd mint,
A wholesome herb, that breath'd a grateful scent.
Pallas began the feast, where firft was feen
The party-colour'd olive, black and green:
Autumnal cornels next in order ferv'd,
In lees of wine well pickled and preserv'd:
A garden-fallad was the third fupply,

Of endive, radishes, and fuccory:

Then curds and cream, the flower of country fare, And new-laid eggs, which Baucis' bufy care

Turn'd by a gentle fire, and roasted rare.

}

All these in earthen-ware were serv'd to board;
And next in place, an earthen pitcher stor'd
With liquor of the best the cottage could afford.
This was the table's ornament and pride,

With figures wrought: like pages at his fide

Stood beechen bowls; and these were fhining clean,
Varnish'd with wax without, and lin’d within.
By this the boiling kettle had prepar'd,
And to the table fent the smoking lard;
On which with eager appetite they dine,
A favory bit, that ferv'd to relish wine:
The wine itself was fuiting to the rest,
Still working in the muft, and lately prefs'd.
The fecond courfe fucceeds like that before,
Plums, apples, nuts, and, of their wintery ftore,
Dry figs and grapes, and wrinkled dates, were fet
In canisters, t'inlarge the little treat:

All these a milk-white honey-comb furround,
Which in the midft the country-banquet crown'd.
But the kind hofts their entertainment grace
With hearty welcome, and an open face:
In all they did, you might difcern with eafe
A willing mind, and a defire to please.

}

Mean time the beechen bowls went round, and ftill, Though often empty'd, were obferv'd to fill,

Fill'd without hands, and of their own accord
Ran without feet, and danc'd about the board.
Devotion feiz'd the pair, to fee the feast
With wine, and of no common grape, increas'd:

And

And up they held their hands, and fell to prayer,
Excufing, as they could, their country fare.
One goofe they had ('twas all they could allow)
A wakeful centry, and on duty now,

Whom to the Gods for facrifice they vow:
Her, with malicious zeal, the couple view'd;
She ran for life, and limping they purfu'd:
Full well the fowl perceiv'd their bad intent,
And would not make her master's compliment;
But perfecuted, to the powers fhe flies,

And close between the legs of Jove she lies.
He with a gracious ear the fuppliant heard,

}

And fav'd her life; then what he was declar'd,
And own'd the God. The neighbourhood, faid he,
Shall justly perish for impiety:

You ftand alone exempted; but obey

With speed, and follow where we lead the way:
Leave thefe accurs'd; and to the mountain's height
Ascend; nor once look backward in your flight.
They hafte; and what their tardy feet deny'd,
The trufty staff (their better leg) fupply'd.
An arrow's flight they wanted to the top,
And there fecure, but fpent with travel, ftop;
Then turn their now no more forbidden eyes;
Loft in a lake the floated level lies:

A watery defert covers all the plains,

Their cot alone, as in an isle, remains:

Wondering with peeping eyes, while they deplore
Their neighbours fate, and country now no more,

C 3

Their

Their little shed scarce large enough for two,

Seems, from the ground increas'd, in height and buk

to grow.

A ftately temple fhoots within the skies:

The crotchets of their cot in columns rife:

The pavement polifh'd marble they behold,

The gates with fculpture grac'd, the fpires and tiles of gold.

Then thus the fire of Gods, with looks ferene,
Speak thy defire, thou only just of men;
And thou, O woman, only worthy found
To be with fuch a man in marriage bound.

A while they whifper; then, to Jove addrefs'd
Philemon thus prefers their joint request.
We crave to ferve before your facred fhrine,
And offer at your altars rites divine:
And fince not any action of our life
Has been polluted with domeftic ftrife,

We beg one hour of death; that neither she
With widow's tears may live to bury me,
Nor weeping I, with wither'd arms, may bear
My breathless Baucis to the fepulchre.

The Godheads fign their fuit. They run their race In the fame tenor all th' appointed space;

'Then, when their hour was come, while they relate Thefe paft adventures at the temple-gate,

Old Baucis is by old Philemon seen

Sprouting with fudden leaves of sprightly green:
Old Baucis look'd where old Philemon ftood,
And faw his lengthen'd arms a sprouting wood:

New

New roots their faften'd feet begin to bind,
Their bodies ftiffen in a rifing rind:

Then, ere the bark above their shoulders grew,
They give and take at once their last adieu;
At once, farewel, O faithful spouse, they faid;
At once th' incroaching rinds their clofing lips invade.
Ev'n yet, an ancient Tyanæan shows

A fpreading oak, that near a linden grows;
The neighbourhood confirm the prodigy,
Grave men, not vain of tongue, or like to lie.
I faw myself the garlands on their boughs,
And tablets hung for gifts of granted vows;
And offering fresher up, with pious prayer,
The good, faid I, are God's peculiar care,
And fuch as honour heaven, fhall heavenly honour
hare,