Cleon hath ten thousand acres, Ne'er a one have I; Cleon dwelleth in a palace. In a cottage I; Cleon hath a dozen fortunes, Not a penny I: Yet the poorer of the twain is Cleon, and not I.
Cleon is a slave to grandeur, Free as thought am I; Cleon fees a score of doctors, Need of none have I; Wealth surrounded, care environed, Cleon fears to die; Death may come--he'll find me ready, Happier man am I.
Cleon sees no charms in Nature, In a daisy I; Cleon hears no anthems ringing 'Twixt the sea and sky; Nature sings to me forever, Earnest listener I: State for state, with all attendants-- Who would change? Not I. --Charles Mackay.
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.