Philemon and Baucis Translation

Philemon and Baucis
Part 1
The power that heaven has is immense and infinite. Whatever the gods command, is done. Do you doubt, student? I will narrate to you about two trees, a linden tree and an oak in Phrygia. The story is true. I, myself have seen the place, not far is a pool, once a land full of men, now full of water and fish. Jupiter came and Mercury carrier of the caduceus came also as his own father. The gods had assumed the forms of men, and were walking in the land of Phrygia. They begged for rest in a thousand homes, but a thousand homes were closed. However one home was prepared and open to them. This belonged to the pious Baucis and the old Philemon; they were the whole household. And the two were servant and master. When the gods entered the prepared house, the old Philemon commanded the gods to sit, Baucis prepared wine and food (meat, raddish, and eggs). They also prepared the table, but the table was not level. The old strangers were kind, and the gods gave them the greater part of the food and wine.
Part 2
But after dinner the two, the old woman and her husband, saw a miracle. The wine and even the food were still in the bowls. Baucis the pious and Philemon were timid and afraid of the gods faces. The two old folks had a goose; Philemon and Baucis caught the goose and were tempted to kill it, as a sacrifice to the gods. The goose however fled before the gods who said, “Do not kill the goose. We are the gods, Jupiter and Mercury. We ought lay waste to the evil village. But we will give to you a reward. Jupiter transformed the evil village into a pool of water and the wicked people into fish, however the home of the two old pious people he transformed into a temple. The two said to the old people, “What do you desire, just old man and pious woman?” The old people responded, “We desire to be priests in this temple of Jupiter, and since we have had many good years between us, we desire to die at the same hour.” And so Philemon and Baucis were the protectors of the temple for as long as they lived. But once the two grew old in the temple, Philemon the husband put out leaves and Baucis saw Philemon but out leaves. “Goodbye, spouse,” said Philemon, said Baucis, then a tree hid his face. He had been transformed into a tree by Jupiter. Even today these trees stand before the temple of Jupiter in Phrygia: go see them yourself. Many in the temple speak and advocate that they always receive good. They note the names of Baucis and Philemon in this land.