9,

If we see Right, we fee our Woes;
Then what avails it to have Eyes?
From Ignorance our Comfort flows,
And Sorrow from our being wife.

10.

We weary'd, should lye down in Death;
This cheat of Life wou'd take no more:

If you thought Fame but empty Breath;
I, Phillis, but a perjur'd Whore.

Mr. Prior.

XLIII.

Baucis and Philemon.

Out of the Eighth Book of Ovid's Metamorphosis.

OVID pursuing the Deeds

of Theseus; relates how

he, with his Friend Perithous were invited by Achelous, the River-God, to stay with him, till his Waters were abated. Achelous entertains them with a Relation of his own Love to Perimele, who was chang'd into an Island by Neptune, at his Request. Perithous, being an Atheist, derides the Legend, and defires the Power of the Gods, to work that Miracle. Lelex, another Companion of Thefeus, to confirm the Story of Achelous, relates another Metamorphosis of Baucis and Philemon into Trees; of which he was partly an Eye-Witness.

THUS Achelaus ends: His Audience hear,

With Admiration, and Admiring, fear The Pow'rs of Heav'n; except Ixion's Son, Who laugh'd at all the God's; believ'd in none. Me

He shook his impious Head, and thus replics,
These Legends are no more than pious Lies:
You attribute too much to heavenly sway,
To think they give us Forms, and take away.
The rest of better Minds, their Senfe declar'd
Against this Doctrine, and with Horrour heard.
Then Lelex rose, an old experienc'd Man,
And thus with sober Gravity began;
Heav'ens Power is infinite: Earth, Air and Sea,
The Manufacture Mass the making Pow'r obey:
By Proof to clear your Doubt; in Phrygian ground
Two Neighb'ring Trees, with Walls encompas'd
(round,

Stand on a moderate rise, with wonder shown,
One a hard Oak, a fofter Linden one:
Isaw the Place and them, by Pittheus fent
To Phrygian Realms, my Grandfire's Government.
Not far from thence is seen a Lake, the Haunt

- Of Coots, and of the Fishing Cormorant:
Here Jove with Hermes came; but in Disguise
Of mortal Men conceal'd their Deities
One laid afide his Thunder, one his Rod;
And many toilsome Steps together trod:
For Harbour at a thousand Doors they knock'd,
Not one of all the thousand but was lock'd.
At last an hofpitable House they found,

A homely Shed, the Roof, not far from Ground,
Was thatch'd with Reeds, and Straw together bound
There Baucis and Philemon liv'd, and there
Had liv'd long marry'd, and a happy Pair.
Now old in Love, tho' little was their Store,
Inur'd to Want, their Poverty they bore,
Nor aim'd at Wealth, profefling to be Poor.
For Master or for Servant, here to call,
Was all alike, where only Two were all.

G

}

Command was none, where equal Love was paid, Or rather both Commanded, both obey'd.

}

From lofty Roofs the Gods repuls'd before, Now stooping, enter'd through the little Door: The Man (their hearty welcome first express'd) A common Settle drew for either Guest, Inviting each his weary Limbs to reft. But e'er they sat, officious Raucis lays Two Cushions stuff'd with Straw, the Seat to raise; Course, but the best she had; then rakes the load Of Athes from the Hearth, and spreads abroad The Living Coals; and, left they should expire, With Leaves and Barks she feeds her Infant Fire: It smoaks, and then with trembling Breath she Blows, Till in a chearful Blaze the Flames arofe. With Brush-wood and with Chips she strengthens these And adds at last the Boughs of rotten Trees. The Fire thus form'd, she sets the Kettle on, (Like burnish'd Gold the little Seether shone) Next took the Coleworts which her Husband got From his own Ground (a small well-water'd spot) She stripp'd the Stalks of all their Leaves; the beft She cull'd, and then with Handy-Care she dress'd. High o'er the Hearth a Chine of Bacon hung; Good old Philemon seiz'd it with a Prong, And from the Sooty Rafter drew it down, Then cut a Slice, but scarce enough for one; Yet a large Portion of a little Store, Which for their Sakes alone he wish'd were more. 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 pleasing chat.

A Beam there was, on which a Beechen Pail Hung by the Handle, on a driven Nail:

} }

This filled with Water, gently warm'd they set
Before their Guests; in this they bath'd their Feet,
And after with clean Towels dry'd their Sweat:
This done, the Host produc'd the Genial Bed,
Sallow the Feet, the Borders, and the Sted,
Which with no costly Coverlet they spread;
But course old Garments, yet fuch Robes as these
They laid alone, at Feasts, on Holydays.
The good old Huswife tucking up her Gown,
The Table sets; th'invited Gods lie down.
The Trivet-Table of a Foot was lame,
A Blot which prudent Baucis overcame.
Who thrusts beneath the limping Leg, a Sherd,
So was the mended Board exactly rear'd:
Then rubb'd it o'er with newly-gather'd Mint,
A wholesom Herb, that breath'd a grateful Scent.
Pallas began the Feast, where first was seen
The Party-colour'd Olive, Black and Green:
Autumnal Cornels next in Order serv'd,
In Lees of Wine well pickl'd, and preferv'd.
A Garden-Sallad was the third supply,
Of Endive, Radishes, and Succory:
Then Curds and Cream, theFlow'r of Country-Fare
And new-laid Eggs, which Baucis bufie Care
Turn'd by a gentle Fire, and roasted Rear.
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 cou'd afford.
This was the Table's Ornament, and Pride,
With Figures wrought, like Pages at his Side
Stood Beechen Bowls; and these were shining clean,
Vernish'd with Wax without, and lin'd within.
By this the Boyling Kettle had prepar'd,
And to the Table sent the smoaking Lard;
On which with eager Appetite they dine,
A Sav'ry Bit, that serv'd to rellish Wine :

}

The Wine it felf was suiting to the reft, Srill Working in the Must, and lately press'd. The fecond Course succeeds like that before, Plums, Apples, Nuts, and of their Wintry Store, Dry Figs, and Grapes, and wrinkled Dates were set In Canisters, t' enlarge the little Treat: All these a Milk-white Honey-comb furround, Which in the midst the Country-Banquet crown'd: But the kind Hosts their Entertainment Grace With hearty Welcome, and an open Face : In all they did, you might difcern with Ease, A willing Mind, and a Defire to please. Mean time the Beechen Bowls went round, and still, Though often empty'd, were observed to fill; Filled without Hands, and of their own accord Ran without Feet, and danc'd about the Board. Devotion feiz'd the Pair, to fee the Feaft With Wine, and of no common Grape increas'd; And up they held their Hands, and fell to Pray'r, Excufing as they could, their Country Fare. One Goose they had ('twas all they cou'd allow) A wakeful Cent'ry, and on Duty now, Whom to the Gods for Sacrifice 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 Mafters Compliment; But perfecuted, to the Pow'rs the flies, And close between the Legs of Jove the lies: He with a gracious Ear the fuppliant heard, And sav'd her Life; then what he was declar'd, And own'd the God. The Neighbourhood, faid he, Shall justly perish for Impiety: You stand alone exempted; but obey

With speed, and follow where we lead the Way :