PANDORA'S BOX

Long ago, when the world was young, there was a youth called Epimetheus. He was very lonely because there were so few people in the world; and so the gods and goddesses sent a lovely little girl, called Pandora, to be his playfellow and helpmate.

The first thing that Pandora saw when she entered the cottage where Epimetheus dwelt was a great box, fastened by a very curiously tied and twisted gold cord.

SCENE I

Pandora

Characters Epimetheus

Hope

Pandora. Epimetheus, what have you in that

box?

Epimetheus. My little Pandora, that is a secret, you must be kind enough not to ask any questions about it.

and

Pandora. But who gave it to you? And where

did it come from?

Epimetheus. That is a secret, too.

Pandora (pouting). How provoking! I wish the great ugly box were out of the way! Epimetheus. Oh, come, don't think of it any Let us run out of doors and play.

more.

Pandora. Whence can the box have come? And what in the world can be inside of it?

Epimetheus. Always talking about this box! I wish, Pandora, you would try to talk of something else. Come, let us go and gather some ripe figs, and eat them under the trees for our supper. And I know a vine that has the sweetest and juiciest grapes you ever tasted.

Pandora (crossly). Always talking about grapes and figs!

Epimetheus. Well, then, let us run out and have a merry time.

Pandora (crossly). I am tired of merry times, and don't care if I never have any more! This ugly box! I am so taken up with thinking about it. I insist upon your telling me what is inside of it.

Epimetheus (vexed). As I have already said, fifty times over, I do not know! How, then, can I tell you what is inside?

Pandora. You might open it, and then we could see for ourselves.

Epimetheus. Pandora, what are you thinking of? Pandora. At least, you can tell me how it came here.

Epimetheus. It was left at the door, just before you came, by a person who looked very smiling and intelligent and could hardly keep from laughing as he put it down. He was dressed in an odd kind of

cloak, and had on a cap that seemed to be made partly of feathers, so that it looked as if it had wings. Pandora.

What sort of staff had he?

Epimetheus. Oh, the most curious staff you ever saw! It was like two serpents twisting around a stick, and was carved so naturally that I, at first, thought the serpents were alive.

Pandora. I know him. Nobody else has such a staff. It was Quicksilver; and he brought me hither as well as the box. No doubt he intended it for me; and most probably it contains pretty dresses for me to wear, or toys for you and me to play with, or something very nice for us both to eat.

Epimetheus. Perhaps so. But until Quicksilver comes back and tells us so, we have neither of us any right to lift the lid of the box.

[Epimetheus runs out.

Pandora. What a dull boy he is! I do wish he had a little more enterprise! (Looking at the knot of gold cord that fastens the box.) I really believe that I begin to see how it was done. Perhaps I could tie it up again after undoing it. There would be no harm in that, surely. Even Epimetheus would not blame me for that. I need not open the box, and should not, of course, without the foolish boy's consent, even if the knot were untied. I think I could untie it. I am resolved, at least, to find the two ends of the cord.

[She gives the knot a little pull, and it untwines itself as if by magic.]

This is the strangest thing I ever knew! What will Epimetheus say? And how can I possibly tie it up again? When he finds the knot untied, he will know that I have done it. How shall I make him believe that I have not looked into the box? [Pandora thinks she hears something inside the box.] What can it be? Is there something alive in the box? Well!-yes! I am resolved to take just one peep! Only one peep; and then the lid shall be shut down as safely as ever! There cannot possibly be any harm in just one little peep!

As Pandora raised the lid, the cottage grew very dark and dismal, and a sudden swarm of winged creatures flew out from the box. They were ugly little shapes with bats' wings and terribly long stings in their tails. Pandora began to scream and cry, for the creatures stung her, and, try hard as she could, she could not quite shut the box again. Suddenly she heard the voice of Epimetheus.

Epimetheus. Oh, I am stung!

I am stung! Naughty Pandora! why have you opened this wicked box?

[Suddenly there is a gentle tap on the inside of the box cover.]

Pandora. What can that be? Who are you? Who are you, inside of this naughty box?

Hope. Only lift the lid, and you shall see.

Pandora (sobbing). No, no!

I have had enough