Open the box , and see if you do not find something very pretty ! '' The box , I had almost forgotten to say , was fastened ; not by a lock , nor by any other such contrivance , but by a very intricate knot of gold cord . There appeared to be no end to this knot , and no beginning . Never was a knot so cunningly twisted , nor with so many ins and outs , which roguishly defied the skilfullest fingers to disentangle them . And yet , by the very difficulty that there was in it , Pandora was the more tempted to examine the knot , and just see how it was made . Two or three times , already , she had stooped over the box , and taken the knot between her thumb and forefinger , but without positively trying to undo it . `` I really believe , '' said she to herself , `` that I begin to see how it was done . Nay , perhaps I could tie it up again , after undoing it . There would be no harm in that , surely . Even Epimetheus would not blame me for that . I need not open the box , and should not , of course , without the foolish boy 's consent , even if the knot were untied . '' It might have been better for Pandora if she had had a little work to do , or anything to employ her mind upon , so as not to be so constantly thinking of this one subject . But children led so easy a life , before any Troubles came into the world , that they had really a great deal too much leisure . They could not be forever playing at hide-and-seek among the flower-shrubs , or at blind-man 's - buff with garlands over their eyes , or at whatever other games had been found out , while Mother Earth was in her babyhood . When life is all sport , toil is the real play . There was absolutely nothing to do . A little sweeping and dusting about the cottage , I suppose , and the gathering of fresh flowers -LRB- which were only too abundant everywhere -RRB- , and arranging them in vases , -- and poor little Pandora 's day 's work was over . And then , for the rest of the day , there was the box ! After all , I am not quite sure that the box was not a blessing to her in its way . It supplied her with such a variety of ideas to think of , and to talk about , whenever she had anybody to listen !
When she was XXXXX good humor , she could admire the bright polish of its sides , and the rich border of beautiful faces and foliage that ran all around it .
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