Pygmalion saw so much to blame in women that he came at last to hate them and firmly decided to live unmarried. He was a sculptor and had made with wonderful skill a statue of ivory, so beautiful that no living woman came anywhere near it. It was indeed the perfect likeness of a girl that seemed to be alive and on the point of moving. His art was so perfect that it hid itself and its product looked like the workmanship of nature. Pygmalion admired his own work and at last fell in love with his creation. He often touched it as if to assure himself whether it was alive or not and could not even then believe that it was only ivory. He touched it tenderly and gave it presents such as young girls love --- bright shells and shining stones, little birds and flowers of various colors and other things. He put clothing on the boddy, jewels on the fingers and a necklace around its neck. On the ears he hung earrings, and strings of pearls upon the breast. Her dress became her and she did not look less charming than without these various things. He laid her on a bed spread with beautiful cloths and called her his wife. He put her head on a pillow of the softest feathers, as if she could enjoy their softness.

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