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
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 of Pandora, 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