Name Sequencing

Pandora
From Around the World in Myth and Song by Florence Holbrooke

Vulcan was always trying his skill, and he made many wonderful and beautiful things. One day he invited
the gods to see his latest creation. Here stood a beautiful figure, resembling Venus in beauty. The gods were
delighted with his work, and decided each to bestow upon the woman some excellent gift.
Minerva gave skill in handicraft, Mercury gave wit in conversation, Venus the power to please, the Graces
added charm to her beauty, and Jupiter at last gave life and immortality. Because of these many gifts, she was
named Pandora, a Greek word meaning "all gifts."
The gods sent Pandora to Prometheus and Epimetheus, the brothers who loved mankind. Prometheus would
not receive the lovely maiden, for he knew the gods did not love him and he feared their gifts. But Epimetheus
welcomed her to his home.
For some time they lived happily, but trouble came to them because of Pandora's curiosity. In the palace of
Epimetheus was a quaintly carved box. Pandora had wondered what was in it, for Epimetheus did not know.
"The winged messenger brought it," he told her, "and said that it contained a secret of the immortal gods.
We must not open it, dear Pandora, for mortals should not know the secrets of the immortals."
But Pandora was not to be satisfied. Day after day the longing grew upon her to open the box. She believed
it contained beautiful garments or ornaments, and she said to herself: "Why should the gods leave the box
here, if we must not open it? There are many places where they could have hidden it." So she persuaded
herself that she would not be doing wrong to open the box, although a little voice seemed to warn her not to
disobey.
Slowly she approached the box. The figures upon it seemed to smile upon her. She thought she would open
it just a little and peep in. Poor Pandora! The moment she lifted the cover, all the sorrow and sickness and sin
which had been shut up in this wonderful box, flew out and winged their way all over the earth.
Pandora was overcome with remorse and let the cover fall. In the midst of her grief, she heard a sweet
voice say, "Pandora, dear Pandora, do not grieve so; let me out to comfort you."

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