Directed by B. Picart.
Drawn by B. Picart, 1730.

A large, detailed engraving depicting the mythological scene of Pandora's Box. In the center, a nude Pandora stands upon a cloud. She holds a small, spherical box or vessel. She is surrounded by the assembly of Olympian gods also seated upon clouds. To the left, Hermes holds his caduceus, Apollo holds a lyre, and Zeus sits with his eagle. To the right, Neptune holds his trident, Mars appears in armor, and Venus is accompanied by Cupid. The scene is framed by an elaborate decorative border featuring various motifs. Two winged dragons sit at the top. Owls are perched on the side structures. A central Medusa head on a sunburst shield appears at the bottom, flanked by entwined serpents and architectural ornaments.

IV.

PANDORA.

The daring offspring of Iapetus
Brought fire to the nations by a wicked fraud.
After fire was stolen from the
Celestial home, wasting disease and a new troop
Of fevers brooded over the earth,
And the slow necessity of death,
Once far removed, quickened its pace.
original: "Audax Japeti genus / Ignem fraude malâ gentibus intulit. / Post ignem æthereâ domo / Subductum, macies & nova febrium / Terris incubuit cohors, / Semotique prius tarda necessitas / Lethi corripuit gradum." — Horace, Odes, Book I, Ode 3.

AFTER Prometheus, son of Iapetus and Clymene, had formed the first men out of earth and water, he climbed a mountain with the help of Minerva. From there, having approached the chariot of the sun, he set out to steal the heavenly fire, which he brought back to earth hidden 1 in a birch-wood stalk The Dutch text uses "berkenhouten stok" (birch-wood stick), though the author clarifies in the notes this refers to the giant fennel, or narthex, used in Greek myth.. With this, he gave life to the men he had formed. Jupiter, 2 who was already angry with him, could not endure this new misdeed. Furthermore, he was jealous of Prometheus's handiwork. For this reason, he determined to bring upon mankind the punishment he had planned. He then took a box and enclosed within it Old Age, Sickness, War, Strife, Care, Deceit, Slander, and Envy; in a word, all the Vices and Evils which he intended to send upon the earth. To better show his revenge to men, he wished to punish them through that very man to whom they owed the divine fire that animated them. But to deceive Prometheus, a trick was necessary; Vulcan was ordered to make a woman out of clay and to use all his art to give the creation a ravishing beauty.