IUPPITER huc specie mortali cumque parente
venit Atlantiades positis caducifer alis.
Mille domos adiere locum requiemque petentes,
mille domos clausere serae; tamen una recepit,
parva quidem, stipulis et canna tecta palustri,
sed pia Baucis anus parilique aetate Philemon
illa sunt annis iuncti iuvenalibus, illa
consenuere casa paupertatemque fatendo
effecere levem nec iniqua mente ferendo;
nec refert, dominos illic famulosne requiras:
tota domus duo sunt, idem parentque iubentque.

To this part of the country came Jupiter in human disguise and with him his son, Mercury, carrying a messenger’s staff, though not his wings, which he had put aside. A thousand homes they approached looking for a place to rest. A thousand homes were barred; till one gave them shelter, a small one to be sure, roofed with stalks and reeds from the marsh. In that cottage dear old Baucis, and Philemon, her equal in age, had first set up home as young newly-weds and stayed there through middle age. They were penniless; but by acknowledging and cheerfully putting up with their lot they made light of it. In that house there was no distinction between master and servant; the two were the entire household; they both gave instructions and both carried them out.