The First Woman

The story (absurd enough!) is that Jupiter made the first woman and sent her to Prometheus and his brother, to punish them for their presumption in stealing fire from heaven; and man, for accepting the gift. This first human of the fair sex was named Pandora. She was made in heaven, every god contributing something to perfect her. Venus gave her beauty, Mercury persuasion, Apollo music, etc. Thus equipped, she was conveyed to earth and presented to Epimetheus, who gladly accepted her, though cautioned by his brother to beware of Jupiter and his gifts. Epimetheus had in his house a jar, in which were kept certain noxious articles, for which, in fitting man for his new adobe, he had had no occasion. Pandora was seized with an eager curiosity to know what this jar contained; and one day she slipped off the cover and looked in. Forthwith there escaped a multitude of plagues for hapless man -- such as gout, theumatism, and colic for his body, and envy, spite, and revenge for his mind -- and scattered themselves far and wide. Pandora hastened to replace the lid; but alas! the whole contents of the jar had escaped, one thing only excepted, which lay at the bottom, and that was hope. So we wee at this day, whatever evils are abroad, hope never entirely leaves us; and while we have that, no amount of other ills can make us completely wretched.

Another story is that Pandora was sent in good faith, by Jupiter, to bless man; that she was furnished with a box, containing her marriage blessing. She opened the box incautiously, and the blessing all escaped, hope only excepted. This story seems more probable than the former; for how hope, so precious a jewel as it is, have been kept in a jar full of all manner of evils, as in the former statement?