King Midas

King Midas was a very kind man who ruled his kingdom fairly, but he was not one to think very deeply about what he said. One day, while walking in his garden, he saw an elderly satyr asleep in the flowers. Taking pity on the old fellow, King Midas let him go without punishment. When the god Dionysus heard about it, he rewarded King Midas by granting him one wish. The king thought for only a second and then said I wish for everything I touch to turn to gold." And so it was.

The beautiful flowers in his garden turned toward the sun for light, but when Midas approached and touched them, they stood rigid and gold. The king grew hungry and thin, for each time he tried to eat, he found that his meal had turned to gold. His lovely daughter, at his loving touch, turned hard and fast to gold. His water, his bed, his clothes, his friends, and eventually the whole palace was gold.

King Midas saw that soon his whole kingdom would turn to gold unless he did something right away. He asked Dionysus to turn everything back to the way it had been and take back his golden touch. Because the king was ashamed and very sad, Dionysus took pity on him and granted his request. Instantly, King Midas was poorer that he had been, but richer, he felt, in the things that really count.

Questions/Answers

1. Why did Dionysus reward King Midas?

because he had not punished the satyr

2. King Midas was which? thoughtful, stingy, kind and fair, or wicked and cruel.

kind and fair

3. Which of the following did not turn to gold?

a. His daughter

b. his castle moat

c. The flowers in the garden

d. Midas' food

4. In the end what did King Midas ask Dionysus to do?

put everything back the way it was and take back the golden touch

5. What did King Midas wish for when Dionysus granted him one wish?

that everything he touched turned to gold

6. What does "the Midas touch" mean?

person is quick to become rich; he becomes very successful

7. When everything went back to the way it was before the Midas touch, why did King Midas feel that, though he had lost wealth, he had gained what really counted?

He knew that wealth was not the most important thing.