“They exist no longer as men and women,” said the elder traveller, in his grand and deep voice, while a roll of thunder seemed to echo it at a distance. “There was neither use nor beauty in such a life as theirs: for they never softened or sweetened the hard lot of mortality by the exercise of kindly affections between man and man. They retained no image of the better life in their bosoms; therefore, the lake, that was of old, has spread itself forth again, to reflect the sky!” “And as for those foolish people,” said Quicksilver, with his mischievous smile, “they are all transformed to fishes. There needed but little change, for they were already a scaly set of rascals, and the coldest-blooded beings in existence. So, kind Mother Baucis, whenever you or your husband have an appetite for a dish of broiled trout, he can throw in a line, and pull out half a dozen of your old neighbors!” “Ah,” cried Baucis, shuddering, “I would not, for the world, put one of them on the gridiron!” “No,” added Philemon, making a wry face, “we could never relish them!” “As for you, good Philemon,” continued the elder traveller,--“and you, kind Baucis,--you, with your scanty means, have mingled so much heartfelt hospitality with your entertainment of the homeless stranger, that the milk became an inexhaustible fount of nectar, and the brown loaf and the honey were ambrosia. Thus, the divinities have feasted, at your board, off the same viands that supply their banquets on Olympus. You have done well, my dear old friends. Wherefore, request whatever favor you have most at heart, and it is granted.” Philemon and Baucis looked at one another, and then,--I know not which of the two it was who spoke, but that one uttered the desire of both their hearts. “Let us live together, while we live, and leave the world at the same instant, when we die! For we have always loved one another!” “Be it so!” replied the stranger, with majestic kindness. “Now, look towards your cottage!” They did so. But what was their surprise, on beholding a tall edifice of white marble, with a wide-open portal, occupying the spot where their humble residence had so lately stood! “There is your home,” said the stranger, beneficently smiling on them both. “Exercise your hospitality in yonder palace, as freely as in the poor hovel to which you welcomed us last evening.” The old folks fell on their knees to thank him; but, behold! neither he nor Quicksilver was there.