KING MIDAS AND THE GOLDEN TOUCH
Cast
|
Females Athena |
Males Hades |
Narrator: One of the greatest writers of the ancient world was the Roman poet Ovid. He loved the Greek myths so much that he wrote a long chronicle of many of these myths in his most famous work The Metamorphoses. The following play is taken from Ovid's marvelous collection. It is based on the legendary king of Phrygia (which is present day country of Turkey) who was supposedly the richest person to ever live. This tale is called King Midas and the Golden Touch.
Athena: Prometheus claims that fire is the greatest gift that humans have. What do you say to this, Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty?
Aphrodite: Well, I disagree with Prometheus. I think the greatest gift is beauty. What could be more welcome than a gorgeous flower or an attractive face?
Hera: I would expect you to say that, since you are the goddess of beauty. But I think it is a bunch of nonsense. Beauty is a fleeting thing for mortals. The rose fades and withers, and every beautiful human will grow old and wrinkled as well. What is truly important is power.
Athena: My dear Hera, power is a fleeting thing too. Though you are Queen here at Olympus, humans on Earth find power often short lived. Many kings and queens are dethroned and find themselves beggars. Others are killed by people who are greedy for power.
Hades: I say that the most important thing for humans is wealth. In my underground kingdom, I am surrounded by vast treasures such as copper and iron which humans can make into tools. Then there is shining silver and glorious gold. My domain is filled with radiant red rubies, glistening emeralds, sapphires, and sparkling diamonds. Humans can exchange these treasures for all kinds of food and valuable materials.
Demeter: Well if there was no food these jewels would be as useless as rocks. I say food such as the grains, fruits, and vegetables that come forth in Spring are the most important gifts of humans.
Artermis: Demeter is on the right track, without food humans would be in deep trouble. Of course I believe that the animals under my care are a bit more important than plants. The deer, rabbits, and birds that my woods provide for hunters, and the horses and oxen that farmers use for plowing are truly the worthy gifts of all.
Poseidon: Well Artemis your animals and Demeter's plants can't compare to the value of my watery depths. The oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers under my domain contain far more food than all the land. As well as that it provides easy transportation for humans and their ships.
Thetis: The oceans are also the birthplace of clouds and all the gentle rain that sustains both plants and animals of the world. I agree with Poseidon that water is the greatest of all things.
Dionysus: I have a suggestion.
Athena: Let me guess, Dionysus, god of wine. You are going to say that grapes are the greatest gift to mankind.
Dionysus: On the contrary, I was going to propose that we ask humans what they think is their greatest gift..
Athena: How marvelous! Your wisdom rivals mine on this point.
Zeus: Yes, this is truly an excellent idea, but I would like to amend your suggestion a bit Dionysus. There is a king in the land of Phrygia who is one of the wealthiest men to ever live. Besides great storehouses of treasure, he has abundant grain fields, livestock, and the most beautiful flower gardens in the world. Dionysus, would consent to go to King Midas and ask him what one wish he would like? Perhaps then we'd have a good idea what humans consider to be their greatest possession.
Dionysus: A splendid plan, Zeus.
Zeus: Speedy Hermes and fair Aurora, goddess of the Dawn, aid Dionysus on his journey to the land of mortals.
Aurora: We will do your bidding, Great Zeus, king of the Olympian gods.
Hermes: Come Dionysus, let us depart. (curtains)
Queen: I tell you, King Midas, the tales of your fabulous kingdom do not do justice to its splendor.
Midas: Why thank you, kind Queen.
King: Your throne of gold is most the magnificent one I have ever seen. I assure you that it would certainly be my most prized possession back in my kingdom of Mycenae. Do you have any idea how much it weighs?
Midas: Exactly 452 pounds of pure gold. Plus three pounds of rubies and diamonds.
Queen: Quite remarkable. Still I believe your colossal rose garden impresses me the most. The velvety red blossoms are simply divine and their fragrance comparable to the ambrosia nectar of the gods.
Midas: Yes, it is quite a large garden. But think how much it would be worth if every rose bush was made of gold.
Queen: Surely you have enough treasures already, Midas. No pile of gold could match the beauty of that garden.
Midas: One can never have too much gold, dear Queen. But speaking of treasures, here comes one of my favorite ones now.
Marygold: Papa, look what I've brought you. (hugs Midas)
Queen: Oh what gorgeous wildflowers from such a lovely girl.
Midas: Ah, my precious daughter. It would be a sad day without one of your hugs. Marygold, this is the king and queen of Mycenae in the far off land of Greece.
Marygold: (curtsies) Oh hello, I just love kings and queens. My papa is a king too. Has he show you our wonderful rose garden?
King: Yes, we've just come from there.
Marygold: And the fountain? Have you seen it too?
Queen: Why no, we haven't seen it.
Marygold: Shame on you, Papa. The fountain is one of the best places in the world.
Midas: Why don't you take our guests there, my darling. I have to do some work this afternoon.
Marygold: Well come along, we'll have such fun at the fountain. The water is so deliciously cold and crystal clear. There are lovely fish swimming at the bottom. (exit)
Midas: Let's see how much we . . . . .
(enter Silenus & guards)
Silenus: Take your hands off of me you ruffian.
Guard: Hold still you oaf or I'll give you a few knots on your noggin.
Midas: I say what's all this noise about?
Gardener: We found this scoundrel in the vegetable garden, sire. He was sleeping in a drunken slumber. Half the turnip patch was crushed and a good deal of the berries where he had flopped down on his belly like a drunken fool.
Silenus: I'm no drunken fool. I am Silenus, a faithful servant of the god Dionysus. I have just fallen on hard luck.
Midas: Well tell me Silenus. How did you come to be flopped down in my garden.
Silenus: It was like this, your highness. I was traveling to Athens for the great festival of Dionysus. But last night I stopped by the local inn to refresh myself. Perhaps I had a bit too much to eat and drink. Any way, afterwards I came riding by in a cart. Two fellows from the inn were with me, rowdy lads to be sure; and before I knew it they whacked me around with their clubs, robbed me, then threw my bruised and battered body from the road into your garden.
Midas: But the road is over fifty yards from the garden. Even the greatest wrestlers could never have hurled such a full figured fellow such as yourself that far.
Silenus: Well sire, they didn't toss me the whole distance. First there was a ferocious fight -- me armed only with a sword against five or six of them armed with staves and spears.
Guard: But I thought you said there were only two robbers.
Silenus: There were only two in the oxcart. But there was a dozen or so of them in ambush at the road crossing. They were armed with spears, shields, swords, clubs, and a trident or two as well.
Gardener: Now you say a dozen robbers!
Silenus: The night is all muddled in my head, such a bloody battle it was. Me armed only with a small knife. But I dare say I killed half a dozen of them with my flashing dagger work before one of them knocked me out with his club. There's probably red blood splattered all over your garden.
Gardener: The only thing red splattered on the ground is a lot of smushed berries, you big buffoon. My king, I don't believe a word he says except the part about being muddled in the head.
Midas: Silenus, you said earlier that perhaps you had a bit too much to eat and drink at the inn. What do you call a bit too much?
Silenus: Well I did eat three loaves of bread.
Midas: Anything else?
Silenus: Two roasted chickens and a lump of cheese . . . . . also a jar of olives and two large clusters of grapes . . . . maybe a few dozen figs . . . . and I washed it down with a gallon of wine.
Gardener: No wonder this rotundas galoot was asleep in the turnips so late today.
Guard: Should we give him a sound beating and a few kicks down the road?
Midas: No, the poor fellow does seem to have had a rough time. Put him in the cottage behind the stable. Now listen to me, Silenus. There is a group of merchants traveling to Greece tomorrow. Here is enough silver to pay for your trip. Mind that you get to bed early tonight and no foolishness.
Silenus: Thank you kind Lord, may the gods of Olympus shower blessings upon your grace. (exit)
Midas: Well back to my work. I've done very little counting today and . . . . .
Dionysus: You were extremely merciful to my servant, King Midas.
Midas: Who are you?
Dionysus: I am Dionysus, the god of wine.
Midas: Then Silenus really is your servant.
Dionysus: A foolish one, but yes he is my servant. But it is not just because of your kindness to Selenus that I have come. The Olympic gods have sent me to grant you one wish.
Midas: Any wish?
Dionysus: Yes, any wish your heart desires.
Midas (aside): I could use more gold, but how much. I know! I wish that everything that I touch except my clothes would turn to gold.
Dionysus: Then it shall be as you wish. Tomorrow morning when you wake everything that you touch except your clothes shall be changed to gold. (exit)
Midas: I can't wait for tomorrow. This is fabulous.
(exit)
Narrator: So of all things imaginable, Midas chose the golden touch. The next morning he made a miraculous discovery.
(enter)
Midas: It's true! The first thing I touched today was a rose in my vase and now it's solid gold. I have so much to do today. First I'll go to my rose garden. No more green and red thorny bushes, I'll turn every flower into gold.
Callisto: Here is your favorite breakfast, sire.
Midas: Ah yes, I must eat a hearty meal because I have a great deal of work to do today. Callisto I shall be rich beyond belief, my dear cook.
Callisto: But you are already rich, my king.
Midas: Yes, but I shall be the richest person who ever lived. I shall have a gold palace, gold streets, even gold hills. (exit Callisto) This is wonderful. My knife and fork are pure gold. No more silverware for me. Let me see, what will I eat first? Oh these purple grapes look sweet and juicy. I'll just . . . . good Heavens! They're solid gold. I'll have to be careful not to touch my food with my hands. I'll use my fork to lift up my toast and eggs. Oh no, my toast has turned to gold, too. I'll have to settle for juice and not let it touch my lips. It's no use, even my juice is now a lump of gold. This is madness, what good will my riches do me if I can't eat. I well soon starve to death. I must make arrangements for my little girl who is mother's and will soon be fatherless too.
Marygold (skips in): What a pretty gold flower, though not as nice as the red ones in the garden. Why Papa! You look so sad today.
Midas: I have done a foolish thing, my daughter, and now I must pay a high price for my folly.
Marygold: But you are so rich you could pay for anything, Papa.
Midas: I'm afraid not everything, my daughter. I have some painful decisions I must deal with today. Perhaps you should go play by the fountain and let your father do some necessary planning. (exit)
Marygold: Why I have never seen Papa look so gloomy. If I had some wild flowers that might cheer him up. I know what I'll give him! It always makes him happy. I'll give him a hug. Papa! (exit)
Midas (off-stage): Wait! Marygold, don't touch me! (enter) Oh no! This is a terrible fate. Not only will I starve to death, now my beloved daughter is a golden statue. (Holds up hands) Oh you Olympians, have pity on a foolish man. If I was poor and had my daughter running, skipping, and breathing again I'd have all the treasure I'd really want.
Dionysus: Do you regret your choice, Midas.
Midas: I wish I never had this horrible golden touch.
Dionysus: Then take this pitcher and go to the source of the Pactolus river. Bathe there and the golden touch shall be removed. Anything that the water in the pitcher is poured on will also be changed back to normal.
(exit)
Midas: The source of the Pactolus River? Why the fountain by the garden is the source (runs)
Narrator: So Midas ran as fast as he could toward the fountain. As he ran rocks and trees were changed into gold. But the fountain's water made the change Dionysus had promised.
Midas: The water worked on the rose. Let's see if it works on my daughter. (exit)
(enter)
Marygold: Why Papa, I'm dripping wet and so are you.
Midas: Never mind my beautiful child. Look here is a flower for you. Now come give me a hug.
Marygold: Why it seems just a moment ago you were telling me not to touch you.
Midas: Believe me my daughter, I'd trade my whole kingdom for one of your hugs. (they embrace)
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