The myth of the Zeus test

It was dark while mysterious, shrouded figures

seemed in the hillside village.

The strangers knocked on each door on the town, inquiring for meals and shelter.

but, over and over, they were turned away.

soon, there has been simply one door left:

that of a small, thatched shack.

An elderly couple, Baucis and Philemon, replied the thunderous knock.

even though there has been something off about those traffic,

it changed into in the pair’s nature to care for the ones in need.

Philemon invited them to relaxation,

and the cottage flooded with warmth as Baucis teased the fire lower back to existence.

when they had been young, Baucis and Philemon had fallen in love,

married, and settled inside the humble cottage.

many years later, their domestic turned into nonetheless standing—

and they have been more devoted to every aside from ever.

The strangers watched closely as Baucis nestled twigs beneath a battered pot

filled with vegetables.

The couple should hardly ever find the money for meat, but in honor of their visitors,

Philemon reduce strips from an growing old shank for the stew.

They made pleased verbal exchange and presented their visitors warm baths.

Baucis used a chip of damaged clay to balance the wobbly desk’s legs

and rubbed its floor with mint until it smelled sweet and fresh.

Weaving around each different with care,

the couple transformed what they'd right into a feast.

quickly, the tabletop overflowed with food and the remaining in their sweet wine.

Privately, Baucis and Philemon involved that their provisions could run out.

yet, as the night wore on,

and their extraordinary visitors took hearty gulps of wine,

the clay vessel in no way ran dry.

The couple, at the start relieved, grew terrified.

Their visitors weren’t humble peasants touring the countryside.

They were nearly without a doubt gods in conceal—

but which gods, they didn’t realize.

Panicked that their arrangements had been insufficient,

Baucis and Philemon searched for any other imparting.

The most effective precious aspect left was the goose that guarded their domestic.

The couple again and again lunged after the chicken,

however they have been too worn out for the chase.

So, they prepared to get hold of the wrath of the gods.

Their guests rose up, losing their rags and mortal mask.

Looming earlier than them turned into Zeus, the hurricane-brewing ruler of the gods,

and his son, Hermes,

the fleet-footed messenger who shepherded mortals to the underworld.

The gods instructed the antique couple that, not like the other townspeople,

that they had proven genuine xenia, or loving hospitality to strangers.

They alone had passed the check.

The gods commanded the couple to comply with them,

and the group ascended the nearest mountain.

Nearing the summit, Baucis and Philemon looked returned—

but had been taken aback to look a murky swamp where their village stood

simply moments before.

As punishment for refusing to safe haven the gods,

Zeus and Hermes had cast the townspeople underwater,

leaving best their hosts’ home intact,

Recalling their pals and pals,

Baucis and Philemon couldn’t conceal their terror and mournful tears,

while their residence transformed under.

It grew larger and sprouted marble pillars and steps.

Legends etched themselves onto its grand doorways.

Their rickety cottage had metamorphosed into a glowing temple for the gods.

Hermes counseled the couple and gently requested if there has been something they desired.

After a short discussion, Philemon asked that he and Baucis

be authorised to take care of the brand new temple.

And he asked if, when their time got here, they could die together,

so neither might must face life with out the opposite.

Tending to the temple and one another, they lived many greater years.

until, one day, Baucis observed leaves fluttering from her husband’s palms

and regarded down to locate her very own pores and skin hardening.

They embraced, turning into rooted in area.

Vines wound round their legs and canopies flourished overhead.

They bid each other a loving, ultimate farewell as people.

And wherein Baucis and Philemon had just stood, bent with age,

there towered a linden and an all righttree,

their branches intertwined for eternity.