Rife with evil, the town needed to be destroyed. Piety had built Phrygia, but gluttony, unfaithfulness, and greed had razed the now repugnant country. Disgusted by the drinking orgies, sexual perversions, and absence of worship, Jupiter and Mercury watched from the Heavens. Phrygia's time had come. Jupiter set out to destroy the city and all its people immediately, but Mercury, his son, held him back.
[...] Meanwhile, Baucis, hustling and bustling in the background, raked the coals from the ashes, kindled a fire, and fed it with the sheets from her and her husband's bed. It was full of holes. Jupiter stared agape at the hospitality and piety of Baucis and Philemon in the face of their poverty. Deception. It was all deception. Baucis and Philemon caught a glimpse of Jupiter and Mercury climbing the hill. Immediately, they assumed these two gentleman had money by their lavish garments, money that they desperately wanted. [...]
[...] As it was the easiest way, Jupiter prepared to grant Baucis and Philemon immortality. However, the trees by the couple's humble home caught Jupiter's attention. He remembered how endearing he found the trees to be, when they appeared interwoven together as if eternally in love. Inspired by this vision, Jupiter to make that image their fate. Suddenly, Baucis saw Philemon's hands transform into branches and leaves, and Philemon watched Baucis change similarly. Leafy crowns grew over their heads. They ran as quickly as they could away from this mysterious place where they had been transformed. [...]
[...] At the same time, they asked to be guardians of a temple dedicated to the divinity of Jupiter and Mercury in the same words. Their response in unison only furthered the gods' positive perception of the deceptive duo. And it was so. Jupiter and Mercury led the couple up the mountain behind the hill of the couple's home to the newly created temple. During the journey, they glanced over the mountain's edge to peer over Phrygia. To their surprise, they saw the city swept in an inferno of fire. [...]
[...] Impressed by the appearance of piety and hospitality, Jupiter spoke to the couple. “Stop your serving.” He stood up with his hand in the air signaling them to cease for whatever they were doing. have impressed my son and me. We are not men but the gods, Jupiter and Mercury.” With that, the gods disrobed to reveal their expansive wings. They explained why they had come to Phrygia and how they had been rudely rejected by every house and inn. [...]
[...] All the while, husband and wife maintained conversation with Jupiter and Mercury for distraction purposes. Baucis brought out all the wine they had, a measly vase, with the intent to disorient the two men as much as possible. Meanwhile, Philemon searched for their one remaining goose to slaughter. He figured it would make them slow and lazy. Baucis had another idea; she planned on poisoning Jupiter and Mercury. Baucis stored some hemlock picked from the surrounding fields in a cabinet. [...]
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