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girdle of spring flowers。 Then the herald of the gods gave her speech
thatwas sweet and flowing。 All the gods and goddesses had given giftsto
her； and for that reason the maiden of Hephaestus's making was called
Pandora； the All…endowed。
She was lovely； the gods knew； not beautiful as they themselves are；
who have a beauty that awakens reverence rather than love； but lovely； as
flowers and bright waters and earthly maidens are lovely。 Zeus smiled to
himself when he looked upon her； and he called to Hermes who knew all
the ways of the earth； and he put her into the charge of Hermes。 Also he
gave Hermes a great jar to take along； this jar was Pandora's dower。
Epimetheus lived in a deep…down valley。 Now one day； as he was
sitting on a fallen pillar in the ruined place that was now forsaken by the
rest of the Titans； he saw a pair coming toward him。 One had wings； and
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
he knew him to be Hermes； the messenger of the gods。 The other was a
maiden。 Epimetheus marveled at the crown upon her head and at her
lovely garments。 There was a glint of gold all around her。 He rose from
where he sat upon the broken pillar and he stood to watch the pair。 Hermes；
he saw； was carrying by its handle a great jar。
In wonder and delight he looked upon the maiden。 Epimetheus had
seen no lovely thing for ages。 Wonderful indeed was this Golden Maid；
and as she came nearer the charm that was on her lips and in her eyes
came to the Earth…born One； and he smiled with more and more delight。
Hermes came and stood before him。 He also smiled； but his smile had
something baleful in it。 He put the hands of the Golden Maid into the great
soft hand of the Titan； and he said； 〃0 Epimetheus； Father Zeus would be
reconciled with thee； and as a sign of his good will he sends thee this
lovely goddess to be thy companion。〃
Oh； very foolish was Epimetheus the Earth…born One！ As he looked
upon the Golden Maid who was sent by Zeus he lost memory of the wars
that Zeus had made upon the Titans and the Elder Gods； he lost memory of
his brother chained by Zeus to the rock； he lost memory of the warning
that his brother； the wisest of all beings； had sent him。 He took the hands
of Pandora； and he thought of nothing at all in all the world but her。 Very
far away seemed the voice of Hermes saying； 〃This jar； too； is from
Olympus； it has in it Pandora's dower。〃
The jar stood forgotten for long； and green plants grew over it while
Epimetheus walked in the garden with the Golden Maid； or watched her
while she gazed on herself in the stream； or searched in the untended
places for the fruits that the Elder Gods would eat； when they feasted with
the Titans in the old days； before Zeus had come to his power。 And lost to
Epimetheus was the memory of his brother now suffering upon the rock
because of the gift he had given to men。
And Pandora； knowing nothing except the brightness of the sunshine
and the lovely shapes and colors of things and the sweet taste of the fruits
that Epimetheus brought to her； could have stayed forever in that garden。
But every day Epimetheus would think that the men and women of the
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world should be able to talk to him about this maiden with the wonderful
radiance of gold； and with the lovely garments； and the marvelous crown。
And one day he took Pandora by the hand； and he brought her out of that
deep…lying valley； and toward the homes of men。 He did not forget the jar
that Hermes had left with her。 All things that belonged to the Golden Maid
were precious； and Epimetheus took the jar along。
The race of men at the time were simple and content。 Their days were
passed in toil； but now； since Prometheus had given them fire； they had
good fruits of their toil。 They had well…shaped tools to dig the earth and to
build houses。 Their homes were warmed with fire； and fire burned upon
the altars that were upon their ways。
Greatly they reverenced Prometheus； who had given them fire； and
greatly they reverenced the race of the Titans。 So when Epimetheus came
amongst them； tall as a man walking with stilts； they welcomed him and
brought him and the Golden Maid to their hearths。 And Epimetheus
showed Pandora the wonderful element that his brother had given to men；
and she rejoiced to see the fire； clapping her hands with delight。 The jar
that Epimetheus brought he left in an open place。
In carrying it up the rough ways out of the valley Epimetheus may
have knocked the jar about； for the lid that had been tight upon it now
fitted very loosely。 But no one gave heed to the jar as it stood in the open
space where Epimetheus had left it。
At first the men and women looked upon the beauty ofPandora； upon
her lovely dresses； and her golden crown and her girdle of flowers； with
wonder and delight。 Epimetheus would have every one admire and praise
her。 The men would leave off working in the fields； or hammering on iron；
or building houses； and the women would leave off spinning or weaving；
and come at his call； and stand about and admire the Golden Maid。 But as
time went by a change came upon the women： one woman would weep；
and another would look angry； and a third would go back sullenly to her
work when Pandora was admired or praised。
Once the women were gathered together； and one who was the wisest
amongst them said： 〃Once we did not think about ourselves； and we were
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content。 But now we think about ourselves； and we say to ourselves that
we are harsh and ill…favored indeed compared to the Golden Maid that the
Titan is so enchanted with。 And we hate to see our own men praise and
admire her； and often； in our hearts； we would destroy her if we could。〃
〃That is true；〃 the women said。 And then a young woman cried out in a
most yearnful voice； 〃O tell us； you who are wise； how can we make
ourselves as beautiful as Pandora！〃
Then said that woman who was thought to be wise； 〃This Golden
Maid is Lovely to look upon because she has lovely apparel and all the
means of keeping herself lovely。 The gods have given her the ways； and；