70 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



upon she goes to Epimetheus, who, though brother 

 to Prometheus, yet was of a much differing disposi 

 tion, and offers this box unto him, who without delay 

 took it, and rashly opened it ; but when he saw that 

 all kind of miseries came fluttering about his ears, 

 being wise too late, with great speed and earnest 

 endeavour clapped on the cover, and so with much 

 ado retained Hope sitting alone in the bottom ; at 

 last Jupiter laying many and grievous crimes to 

 Prometheus charge, as that he had stolen fire from 

 heaven, that in contempt of his majesty he sacrificed 

 a bull s hide stuffed with bones, that he scornfully 

 rejected his gift, and besides all this, that he offered 

 violence to Pallas, cast him into chains, and doomed 

 him to perpetual torment ; and by Jupiter s com 

 mand was brought to the mountain Caucasus, and 

 there bound fast to a pillar that he could not stir ; 

 there came an eagle also, that every day sat tiring 

 upon his liver and wasted it ; but as much as was 

 eaten in the day grew again in the night, that matter 

 for torment to work upon might never decay. But 

 yet they say there was an end of this punishment ; 

 for Hercules crossing the ocean in a cup, which the 

 sun gave him, came to Caucasus, and set Prome 

 theus at liberty by shooting the eagle with an arrow. 

 Moreover, in some nations there were instituted in 

 the honour of Prometheus, certain games of lamp- 

 bearers, in which they that strived for the prize were 

 wont to carry torches lighted, which whoso suffered 

 to go out, yielded the place and victory to those that 

 followed, and so cast back themselves, so that who- 



