the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第14章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
while she gazed on herself in the stream； or searched in the untended
places for the fruits that the Elder Gods would eat； when they feasted with
the Titans in the old days； before Zeus had come to his power。 And lost to
Epimetheus was the memory of his brother now suffering upon the rock
because of the gift he had given to men。
And Pandora； knowing 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
57
… Page 58…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
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 ofPandora； 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 ourselves； and we were
58
… Page 59…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
content。 But now we think about ourselves； and we say to ourselves that
we are harsh and ill…favored indeed compared to the Golden Maid that the
Titan is so enchanted with。 And we hate to see our own men praise and
admire her； and often； in our hearts； we would destroy her if we could。〃
〃That is true；〃 the women said。 And then a young woman cried out in a
most yearnful voice； 〃O tell us； you who are wise； how can we make
ourselves as beautiful as Pandora！〃
Then said that woman who was thought to be wise； 〃This Golden
Maid is Lovely to look upon because she has lovely apparel and all the
means of keeping herself lovely。 The gods have given her the ways； and；
so her skin remains fair； and her hair keeps its gold； and her lips are ever
red and her eyes shining。 And I think that the means that she has of
keeping lovely are all in that jar that Epimetheus brought with her。〃
When the woman who was thought to be wise said this； those around
her were silent for a while。 But then one arose and another arose； and they
stood and whispered together； one saying to the other that they should go
to the place where the jar had been left by Epimetheus； and that they
should take out of it the salves and the charms and the washes that would
leave them as beautiful as Pandora。
So the women went to that place。 On their way they stopped at a pool
and they bent over to see themselves mirrored in it； and they saw
themselves with dusty and unkempt hair； with large and knotted hands；
with troubled eyes； and with anxious mouths。
They frowned as they looked upon their images； and they said in harsh
voices that in a while they would have ways of making themselves as
lovely as the Golden Maid。
And as they went on they saw Pandora。 She was playing in a flowering
field； while Epimetheus； high as a man upon stilts； went gathering the
blossoms of the bushes for her。 They went on； and they came at last to the
place where Epimetheus had left the jar that held Pandora's dower。
A great stone jar it was； there was no bird； nor flower； nor branch
painted upon it。 It stood high as a woman's shoulder。 And as the women
looked on it they thought that there were things enough in it to keep them
59
… Page 60…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
beautiful for all the days of their lives。 But each one thought that she
should not be the last to get her hands into it。
Once the lid had been fixed tightly down on the jar。 But the lid was
shifted a little now。 As the hands of the women grasped it to take off the
lid the jar was cast down； and the things that were inside spilled
themselves forth。
They were black and gray and red； they were crawling and flying
things。 And； as the women looked； the things spread themselves abroad or
fastened themselves upon them。
The jar； like Pandora herself； had been made and filled out of the ill
will of Zeus。 And it had been filled； not with salves and charms and
washes； as the women had thought； but with Cares and Troubles。 Before
the women came to it one Trouble had already come forth from the jar
Self…thought that was upon the top of the heap。 It was Self…thought that
had afflicted the women； making them troubled about their own looks； and
envious of the graces of the Golden Maid。
And now the others spread themselves outSickness and War and
Strife between friends。 They spread themselves abroad and entered the
houses； while Epimetheus； the mindless Titan； gathered flowers for
Pandora； the Golden Maid。
Lest she should weary of her play he called to her。 He would take her
into the houses of men。 As they drew near to the houses they saw a woman
seated on the ground； weeping； her husband had suddenly become hard to
her and had shut the door on her face。
They came upon a child crying because of a pain that he could not
understand。 And then they found two men struggling； their strife being on
account of a possession that they had both held peaceably before。
In every house they went to Epimetheus would say； 〃I am the brother
of Prometheus； who gave you the gift of fire。〃 But instead of giving them
a welcome the men would say； 〃We know nothing about your relation to
Prometheus。 We see you as a foolish man upon stilts。〃
Epimetheus was troubled by the hard looks and the cold words of the
men who once had reverenced him。 He turned from the houses and went
60
… Page 61…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
away。 In a quiet place he sat down； and for a while he lost sight of Pandora。
And then it seemed to him that he heard the voice of his wise and
suffering brother saying； 〃Do not accept any gift that Zeus may send you。〃
He rose up and he hurried away from that place； leaving Pandora
playing by herself。 There came into his scattered mind Regret and Fear。 As
he went on he stumbled。 He fell from the edge of a cliff； and the sea
washed away the body of the mindless brother of Prometheus。
Not everything had been spilled out of the jar that had been brought
with Pandora into the world of men。 A beautiful； living thing was in that
jar also。 This was Hope。 And this beautiful； living thing had got caught
under the rim of the jar and had not come forth with the others。 One day a
weeping woman found Hope under the rim of Pandora's jar and brought
this living thing into the house of men。 And now because of Hope they
could see an end to their troubles。 And the men and women roused
themselves in the midst of their afflictions and they looked toward
gladness。 Hope； that had been caught under the rim of the jar； stayed
behind the thresholds of their houses。
As for Pandora； the Golden Maid； she played on； knowing only the
brightness of the sunshine and the lovely shapes of things。 Beautiful would
she have seemed to any being who saw her； but now she had strayed away
from the houses of men and Epimetheus was not there to look upon her。
Then Hephaestus； the lame artisan of the gods； left down his tools and
went to seek her。 He found Pandora； and he took her back to Olympus。
And in his brazen house she stays； though sometimes at the will of Zeus
she goes down into the world of men。
When Polydeuces had ended the story that Castor had begun； Heracles
cried out： 〃For the Argonauts； too； there has been a Golden Maidnay； not
one； but a Golden Maid for each。 Out of the jar that has been with her ye
have taken forgetfulness of your honor。 As for me； I go back to the Argo
lest one of these Golden Maids should hold me back from the labors that
make great a man。〃
So Heracles said； and he went from Hypsipyle's hall。 The heroes
looked at each
