But , as it happened , there was no need of his treading so very lightly . He might have trod as heavily as he pleased , -- as heavily as a grown man , -- as heavily , I was going to say , as an elephant , -- without much probability of Pandora 's hearing his footsteps . She was too intent upon her purpose . At the moment of his entering the cottage , the naughty child had put her hand to the lid , and was on the point of opening the mysterious box . Epimetheus beheld her . If he had cried out , Pandora would probably have withdrawn her hand , and the fatal mystery of the box might never have been known . But Epimetheus himself , although he said very little about it , had his own share of curiosity to know what was inside . Perceiving that Pandora was resolved to find out the secret , he determined that his playfellow should not be the only wise person in the cottage . And if there were anything pretty or valuable in the box , he meant to take half of it to himself . Thus , after all his sage speeches to Pandora about restraining her curiosity , Epimetheus turned out to be quite as foolish , and nearly as much in fault , as she . So , whenever we blame Pandora for what happened , we must not forget to shake our heads at Epimetheus likewise . As Pandora raised the lid , the cottage grew very dark and dismal ; for the black cloud had now swept quite over the sun , and seemed to have buried it alive . There had , for a little while past , been a low growling and muttering , which all at once broke into a heavy peal of thunder . But Pandora , heeding nothing of all this , lifted the lid nearly upright , and looked inside . It seemed as if a sudden swarm of winged creatures brushed past her , taking flight out of the box , while , at the same instant , she heard the voice of Epimetheus , with a lamentable tone , as if he were in pain . `` O , I am stung ! '' cried he . `` I am stung ! Naughty Pandora ! why have you opened this wicked box ? ''
Pandora let fall the lid , and , starting up , looked about her , XXXXX see what had befallen Epimetheus .
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