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 to ; 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 . But one thing remained at the bottom of the box , and that was , Hope . `` So Epimetheus got a great deal of trouble , as most men do in this world : but he got the three best things in the world into the bargain -- a good wife , and experience , and hope : while Prometheus had just as much trouble , and a great deal more -LRB- as you will hear -RRB- , of his own making ; with nothing beside , save fancies spun out of his own brain , as a spider spins her web out of her stomach . `` And Prometheus kept on looking before him so far ahead , that as he was running about with a box of lucifers -LRB- which were the only useful things he ever invented , and do as much harm as good -RRB- , he trod on his own nose , and tumbled down -LRB- as most deductive philosophers do -RRB- , whereby he set the Thames on fire ; and they have hardly put it out again yet . So he had to be chained to the top of a mountain , with a vulture by him to give him a peck whenever he stirred , lest he should turn the whole world upside down with his prophecies and his theories . `` But stupid old Epimetheus went working and grubbing on , with the help of his wife Pandora , always looking behind him to see what had happened , till he really learnt to know now and then what would happen next ; and understood so well which side his bread was buttered , and which way the cat jumped , that he began to make things which would work , and go on working , too ; to till and drain the ground , and to make looms , and ships , and railroads , and steam ploughs , and electric telegraphs , and all the things which you see in the Great Exhibition ; and to foretell famine , and bad weather , and the price of stocks and -LRB- what is hardest of all -RRB- the next vagary of the great idol Whirligig , which some call Public Opinion ; till at last he grew as rich as a Jew , and as fat as a farmer , and people thought twice before they meddled with him , but only once before they asked him to help them ; for , because he earned his money well , he could afford to spend it well likewise . `` And his children are the men of science , who get good lasting work done in the world ; but the children of Prometheus are the fanatics , and the theorists , and the bigots , and the bores , and the noisy windy people , who go telling silly folk what will happen , instead of looking to see what has happened already . '' Now , was not Mother Carey 's a wonderful story ? And , I am happy to say , Tom believed it every word .
For so it happened XXXXX Tom likewise .
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