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THE GOLDEN TOUCH
Long, long ago there lived in Greece a king whose name was Midas. He was a greedy man and loved gold better than anything else in the world.
One day he asked the gods to give him still more gold. The gods decided to punish him and said, "Very well. In the morning everything that you touch will become gold."
Midas was overjoyed when he heard this. "I shall be the richest man in the world," he said to himself.
He got up early next morning. When he touched his bed, it turned to gold. He began to dress, and his clothes became gold. Midas was delighted.
Midas loved flowers and kept a beautiful garden. He went into the garden to look at his flowers. The day was fine, the sun was bright and the roses were lovely. The king picked one of them, but it turned to gold in his hand. He picked another, and the same thing happened. He was sorry that the flowers changed as soon as he touched them, for he loved their rich colours.
The king went to have his breakfast. He took a cup of milk, but it immediately turned to gold. Then he took a piece of bread, and that also changed into gold. Midas now began to feel unhappy. It was good to be the richest man in the world, but he was hungry, and he could not eat or drink gold.
Midas went out into the garden again. His little daughter was there. When she saw her father, she ran up to him. King Midas was very fond of his daughter and he kissed her tenderly. Then and there she turned into a golden statue.
Midas was now very unhappy. He went into his palace. His eyes filled with tears, and he begged the gods to take away the Golden Touch.
"I was very foolish to love gold so much," he said. "Take all my gold and give me back my daughter."
"Go," said the gods, "and wash your hands in the river near your garden, and the water will take away the Golden Touch."
Midas went to the river and washed his hands. Then he ran quickly to the golden statue of his little girl. He kissed her again and she changed back into his pretty little daughter.
Midas never forgot this lesson. He knew now that gold did not bring happiness.
点金术
很久很久以前，希腊有个国王，名叫迈达斯。他是个贪婪的人，喜欢金子胜过世界上任何东西。
一天，他要求众神给他更多的金子。众神决定惩罚他，就说：“好的，明天一早，你摸到的任何东西都会变成金子。”
迈达斯听到这话，高兴极了。“我要成为世界上最富有的人，”他自言自语地说。
第二天一大早他就起床了。他一摸床，床就变成了金子；他一穿衣服，衣服也变成了金子。迈达斯心里乐开了花。
迈达斯喜欢花，他有一座美丽的花园。他走进花园去赏花。这天天气晴朗，阳光明媚，玫瑰花香醉人。他摘了一朵，但花儿在他手里变成了金子。他又摘下一朵，也变成了金子。他一碰花，花就变成金子，这使他很难过，因为他喜爱花朵鲜艳的色彩。
国王去吃早餐，他端起一杯牛奶，牛奶立刻凝结成一块金子。接着，他拿起一块面包，面包也变成了金子。迈达斯开始感到不高兴了。做世界上最富有的人固然好，但是他饿呀，他不能吃金子喝金子呀！
迈达斯走出宫殿，又来到了花园。他的小女儿正在那儿。女儿一见到他，就跑到他跟前。迈达斯国王非常喜爱他的女儿，便亲切地吻她，一刹那间，他女儿变成了一尊金塑像。
迈达斯这时非常伤心。他走进宫去，两眼噙满了泪水。他乞求众神除去他的点金术。
“我真是太傻了，这么贪爱金子，”他说。“把金子都拿去吧，把女儿还给我。”
“到你花园旁边的那条河去，”众神说，“洗一洗手，河水就会把点金术除掉。”迈达斯走到河边洗了双手。然后，赶快朝已经变成了金塑像的小女儿跑去。他又亲吻了她一下，他美丽的小女儿就变回来了。
