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In Ovid's moralizing fable (Metamorphoses VIII), which stands on the periphery of Greek mythology, Baucis and Philemon were an old married couple in the region of Tyana, which Ovid places in Phrygia, who were the only ones in their town to welcome the disguised gods, Zeus and Hermes, thus embodying the pious exercise of hospitality.
Realising that her guests were in fact gods, they "raised their hands in supplication, and implored indulgence for their simple home and fare." Philemon thought of catching and killing the goose that guarded their house and making it into a meal for the guests.
Upon their death, they were changed into an intertwining pair of trees, one oak and one linden, standing in the deserted boggy terrain.
Baucis had now got supper ready, and, coming to the door, began to make apologies for the poor fare which she was forced to set before her guests.
Baucis cut him a slice, accordingly; and though the loaf, when she and her husband ate of it, had been rather too dry and crusty to be palatable, it was now as light and moist as if but a few hours out of the oven.
Baucis (who rubbed her eyes, in order to see the more clearly) was of opinion that the clusters had grown larger and richer, and that each separate grape seemed to be on the point of bursting with ripe juice.
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