ith willow couch agreed. The gods laid down.
"The dame close-girt, with tremulous hand prepar'd
"The board; two feet were perfect, 'neath the third
"She thrust a broken sherd, and all stood firm.
"This sloping mended, all the surface clean
"With fragrant mint she rubb'd: and plac'd in heaps
"The double-teinted fruit of Pallas, maid
"Of unsoil'd purity; autumnal fruits,
"Cornels, in liquid lees of wine preserv'd;
"Endive, and radish, and the milky curd;
"With eggs turn'd lightly o'er a gentle heat:
"All serv'd in earthen dishes. After these
"A clay-carv'd jug was set, and beechen cups,
"Varnish'd all bright with yellow wax within.
"Short the delay, when from the ready fire
"The steaming dish is brought; and wine not long
"Press'd from the grape, again went round, again
"Gave place to see the third remove produc'd.
"Now comes the nut, the fig, the wrinkled date,
"The plumb, the fragrant apple, and the grape
"Pluck'd from the purple vine; all plac'd around
"In spreading baskets: snow-white honey fill'd
"The central space. The prime of all the feast,
"Was looks that hearty welcome gave, and prov'd
"No indigence nor poverty of soul.
"Meantime the empty'd bowls full oft they see
"Spontaneously replenish'd; still the wine
"Springs to the brim. Astonish'd, struck with dread,
"To view the novel scene, the timid pair
"Their hands upraise devoutly, and with prayers
"Excuses utter for their homely treat,
"At unawares requir'd. A lonely goose
"They own'd, the watchman of their puny farm;
"Him would the hosts, to their celestial guests
"A sacred offering make, but swift of wing,
"Their toiling chace with age retarded, long
"He mock'd; at length the gods themselves he seeks
"For sheltering care. The gods his death forbid,
"And speak:--Celestials are we both; a fate
"Well-earn'd, your impious neighbouring roofs shall feel.
"To you, and unto you alone is given
"Exemption from their lot. Your cottage leave
"And tread our footsteps, while of yonder mount
"We seek the loftiest summit. Each obeys;
"The gods precede them, while their tottering limbs
"A trusty staff supports; tardy from years,
"Slowly they labor up the long ascent.
"Now from the summit wanted they not more
"Than what an arrow, shot with strenuous arm,
"At once could gain; when back their view they bent:
"Their house alone they saw,--that singly stood:
"All else