`` You must do without me , as most people have to do , for nine hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of their lives ; and look at the dog instead ; for he knows the way well enough , and will not forget it . Besides , you may meet some very queer-tempered people there , who will not let you pass without this passport of mine , which you must hang round your neck and take care of ; and , of course , as the dog will always go behind you , you must go the whole way backward . '' `` Backward ! '' cried Tom . `` Then I shall not be able to see my way . '' `` On the contrary , if you look forward , you will not see a step before you , and be certain to go wrong ; but , if you look behind you , and watch carefully whatever you have passed , and especially keep your eye on the dog , who goes by instinct , and therefore ca n't go wrong , then you will know what is coming next , as plainly as if you saw it in a looking-glass . '' Tom was very much astonished : but he obeyed her , for he had learnt always to believe what the fairies told him . `` So it is , my dear child , '' said Mother Carey ; `` and I will tell you a story , which will show you that I am perfectly right , as it is my custom to be . `` Once on a time , there were two brothers . One was called Prometheus , because he always looked before him , and boasted that he was wise beforehand . The other was called Epimetheus , because he always looked behind him , and did not boast at all ; but said humbly , like the Irishman , that he had sooner prophesy after the event . `` Well , Prometheus was a very clever fellow , of course , and invented all sorts of wonderful things . But , unfortunately , when they were set to work , to work was just what they would not do : wherefore very little has come of them , and very little is left of them ; and now nobody knows what they were , save a few archaeological old gentlemen who scratch in queer corners , and find little there save Ptinum Furem , Blaptem Mortisagam , Acarum Horridum , and Tineam Laciniarum . `` But Epimetheus was a very slow fellow , certainly , and went among men for a clod , and a muff , and a milksop , and a slowcoach , and a bloke , and a boodle , and so forth . And very little he did , for many years : but what he did , he never had to do over again . `` And what happened at last ? There came to the two brothers the most beautiful creature that ever was seen , Pandora by name ; which means , All the gifts of the Gods . But because she had a strange box in her hand , this fanciful , forecasting , suspicious , prudential , theoretical , deductive , prophesying Prometheus , who was always settling what was going to happen , would have nothing to do with pretty Pandora and her box . `` But Epimetheus took her and it , as he took everything that came ; and married her for better for worse , as every man ought , whenever he has even the chance of a good wife . And they opened the box between them , of course , to see what was inside : for , else , of what possible use could it have been to them ?
`` And out flew all the ills which flesh is heir XXXXX ; all the children of the four great bogies , Self-will , Ignorance , Fear , and Dirt -- for instance : Measles , Famines , Monks , Quacks , Scarlatina , Unpaid bills , Idols , Tight stays , Hooping-coughs , Potatoes , Popes , Bad Wine , Wars , Despots , Peacemongers , Demagogues , And , worst of all , Naughty Boys and Girls .
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