1In those times, as in the period before Deucalion's flood, Zeus often descended from Olympus to Earth in order to test its inhabitants. Were they faithful in their worship of the gods? Did justice prevail among them? Was the good and the bad at least equally divided among them?
2To find the answer to these questions, Zeus one day decided to visit Phrygia. He called Hermes to join him, and disguising themselves as simple travelers, the two gods journeyed to Earth.
3They came at last to a fair city that rose above a small plain backed by gentle hills. Rows of streets lined with handsome houses presented themselves to the gods.
4Sweeping his eyes along the house fronts, the Father of Gods strode to the largest and struck its door with his fist. It was opened by a house slave, who looked haughtily at the two grimy travelers and demanded to know what they wished.
5 "We are weary and hungry," said Zeus, "and beg rest and food."
6 "We have nothing here for beggars," said the slave and slammed the door in the gods' faces.
7They proceeded to the next house. And the next and the next. With each it was the same. Their owners had given orders not to assist a stranger. All through the city the two gods trudged, but no one took compassion on them. No one offered them hospitality. Such behavior angered Zeus, for he was the god of beggars and travelers, who must depend on the generosity of others.
8Zeus and Hermes continued their quest until it led them to the outskirts of the city, where the houses were no longer handsome and the streets no longer paved. Marching along in the dust, the two approached a tiny cabin with a roof made of reeds and a door which hung crookedly on leather straps. Zeus knocked, and the door opened slowly, scraping over a dirt floor.
9An old woman peered out at the traveler on her doorstep and said in a faltering voice, "What do you wish of us, stranger?"
10 "We have traveled a long way," replied Zeus, "and we are tired and hungry."
11The old woman stepped back. "Come in, come in," she said. "Of course, come in."
12the door was so low that the gods had to stoop to enter. Once inside they were greeted by the old woman's husband, who rose to meet his guests.
13 "You are welcome here," he said. He placed a gentle hand on the old woman's shoulder. "This is my good wife Baucis, and I am Philemon. We have grown old together in this same cottage, and we have been content."
14The old couple smiled at each other. Philemon pulled forward a rude bench and upon it Baucis spread a robe, which her gnarled fingers had woven. Philemon urged the gods to be seated, while Baucis bustled over to the little hearth where she began blowing on the ashes until a bright spark glowed. Then she broke twigs and pieces of bark and fed the fire. A blaze leaped up, and the little cabin became warm and cheerful in its light.
15Next she put a copper kettle on the burning sticks and filled it half full of water. Philemon brought a fresh fat cabbage from the garden behind the house and Baucis put it into the kettle. Bringing down a piece of bacon from the low rafters overhead, Philemon added this to the cabbage. All the while the two old people kept a lively conversation with their visitors to pass the time before the hungry wanderers could eat.
16When the meat and the cabbage were ready, and their good smell was filling the room, Philemon pulled a couch up to the rickety table. Baucis arranged a mattress stuffed with sweet, dried grass upon the couch and covered it with the finest cloth she owned, in honor of the strangers.
17Zeus and Hermes took their places on the couch, reclining as best they could in accordance with the custom for dining in those days.
18And now food was placed before the gods. It was served in heavy, coarse pottery bowls, crudely shaped. The mixing bowl for the wine was of the same quality, and the wine goblets set before the guests were made of wood lined with wax.
19But no word of apology passed the old couple's lips. This was what they had; this was the best they had. And they were proud and happy that they could put food before the travelers. Philemon served the wine with a flourish, though it was hardly better than vinegar and had water added to it.
20Zeus and Hermes began to eat and drink, and their appetites were hearty. Never could anyone have guess that they were used to better fare then this. The old couple watched them with delight and kept pressing more food and drink upon them. Besides the cabbage and bacon there were olives and cherries. There were radishes and cheese and eggs roasted in the shells in the hot ashes.
21But all at once, Philemon became aware of something very strange. As often as he filled the wooden goblets, the amount of wine in the mixing bowl remained the same. Now Baucis had noticed, too, and with one frightened glance between them, they flung themselves on their knees, for well they knew that they were in the presence of gods.
22 "Forgive us this poor fare, unfit for gods," Philemon pleaded.
23But Zeus, all-wise all-father answered him, "Any food is fit for gods when generously shared."
"Baucis and Philemon" from LORD OF THE SKY by Doris Gates, copyright © 1972 by Doris Gates.
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de·scend \di-send_\ vb [ME descenden,
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Which part of this dictionary entry would you use to find the origin of the word descend?
A. \di-send_\
B. [ME descenden, fr. OF descendre, fr. L descendere]
C. 1: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one
D. de·scend·ible adj
A. provide the motivation for the actions of Zeus and Hermes.
B. give examples of the kinds of questions gods answer.
C. predict future events that will occur in the story.
D. provide a flashback of previous events that will help to explain future events.
A. old couple owned their own home.
B. gods were hungry, tired, and thirsty.
C. gods felt uncomfortable in a poor house.
D. old couple was very poor.
A. business
B. walk
C. search
D. conversation
A. show the generosity with which the old couple treated their guests.
B. contrast the old couple with the rich citizens' slaves.
C. demonstrate that poor people can always be counted on to help strangers.
D. point out how very poor the old couple was.
A. couch became covered with the finest cloth imaginable.
B. cabin was warmed by a fire which leaped up and produced a cheerful light.
C. level of wine in the bowl remained the same even after much had been poured.
D. table was suddenly covered with plentiful food and drink.
A. the author of the story is unknown.
B. the author teaches the reader a lesson about life.
C. it tells about ancient Greece.
D. it is a story about gods from an ancient culture.
A. theme.
B. genre.
C. tone.
D. imagery.