King Midas and the Golden Touch

Long ago, in a country called Phrygia, there reigned a king named Midas. His palace stood on a hill among olive groves and vineyards, and its walls were painted in warm colors that glowed in the evening light. King Midas loved beautiful things more than anything else. He loved glittering coins, he loved jeweled cups, he loved everything that gleamed. Most of all he loved his little daughter Zoë, who had eyes as brown as honey and a laugh that rang through the palace halls. But sometimes, sitting beside his chests of gold, he almost forgot to look up at her.

One morning, a few farmers came up to the palace gate with an old man they had found asleep among the roses. The old man had a white beard and a wreath of vine leaves on his head. He laughed and sang, for he was a little muddled and could not remember the way home. 'This is Silenus,' said Midas gently, for he recognized the old man at once. 'He is a friend of the god Dionysus, the god of wine and joy. He must be treated as an honored guest.' The farmers bowed and went away, and Midas took Silenus by the hand and led him into the palace.

For ten days and ten nights Midas kept Silenus with him. There were feasts with flute music and dancing servants, bowls of grapes and peaches, and warm loaves of bread carried in on great silver platters. Silenus told old tales of forests and rivers, of the god Dionysus and his chariot drawn by leopards, and King Midas listened like a child. When the eleventh morning came, Midas wrapped a cloak around Silenus's shoulders and led him himself back through the mountains, all the way to a clearing where Dionysus was waiting. The young god smiled broadly when he caught sight of his old friend.

'You have been good to the one who was my teacher and almost my father,' said Dionysus. 'Ask whatever you wish, King Midas. Whatever you desire shall be yours.' Midas thought of his chests and of the rays of the sun and of all the shining things he loved. And without thinking it through properly, he said: 'I wish that everything I touch may be turned into gold.' Dionysus frowned a little. 'That is not a wise choice, my friend. Are you sure?' Midas nodded eagerly. 'Then so it shall be,' said Dionysus slowly. 'But remember this moment.'