King Midas and theGolden Touch

《國王與點金術》

By: CharlotteKnight

Charlotte Knight著

麥得斯國王非常富有，他擁有全世界最多的金子，以至于對金子的喜愛超越了一切，甚至超越對小女兒的愛。他向仙童請求賜予點金術，令觸摸的一切變成黃金，以繼續增加財富。仙童滿足了這個愿望，在欣喜若狂地擁抱金子變成的世界中，他忽然發現仙童的事前警示成真了：擁有這種法術不會讓你真正的快樂。

篇后語：

KingMidas and the Golden Touch

By: CharlotteKnight

1. Manyyears ago there lived a king named Midas.King Midas had one little daughter,whose name was Marigold.King Midas was very, very rich. It was said that he hadmore gold than any other king in the world.One room of his great castle wasalmost filled with yellow gold pieces.At last the King grew so fondof his goldthat he loved it better than anything else in all the world.

2. Heeven loved it better than his own little daughter, dear little rosy-cheeked Marigold. His one greatwish seemed to be for more and more gold.One day while he was in his gold roomcounting his money, a beautiful fairy boy stood before him.The boy's face shone with a wonderful light, and he had wings on his cap and wings on his feet. Inhis hand he carried a strange-looking wand,and the wand also had wings.

3. "Midas,you are the richest man in the world," said the fairy. "There is noKing who has so much gold as you.""That may be," said the King."As you see, I have this room full of gold, but I should like much more;for gold is the best and the most wonderful thing in the world.""Areyou sure?" asked the fairy. "I am very sure," answered the King.

4. "IfI should grant you one wish," said the fairy, "wouldyou ask for more gold?""If I could have but one wish," said theKing, "I would ask that everything I touch should turn to beautiful yellow gold.""Your wish shall begranted," said the fairy. "At sunrise tomorrow morning your slightest touch will turn everythinginto gold. But I warn you that your gift will not make you happy.""Iwill take the risk," said the King.

5. Thenext day King Midas awoke very early. He was eager to see if the fairy's promise had come true.As soon as thesun arose he tried the gift by touching the bed lightly withhis hand.The bed turned to gold.He touched the chair and table.Upon the instant they were turned to solid gold.The King was wild with joy.He ran around the room,touching everything he could see. His magic gift turned all to shining, yellowgold.

6. TheKing soon felt hungry and went down to eat his breakfast. Now a strange thinghappened. When he raised a glass ofclear cold water to drink, it became solid gold.Not a drop of water could passhis lips.The bread turned to gold under his fingers.The meat was hard, andyellow, and shiny.Not a thing could he get to eat.All was gold, gold, gold.Hislittle daughter came running in from the garden.Of all living creatures she was the dearest to him.

7. Hetouched her with his lips.At once the little girl was changed to a golden statue.A great fear crept into the King's heart, sweepingall the joy out of his life.In his grief he called and called upon the fairy who had given him the gift of the goldentouch."O fairy," he begged,"take away this horrible golden gift! Take all my lands. Take all my gold.Take everything, only give me back my little daughter."

8. Ina moment the beautiful fairy was standing before him."Do you still thinkthat gold is the greatest thing in the world?" asked the fairy."No!no!" cried the King. "I hate thevery sight of the yellow stuff.""Are you sure that you no longerwish the golden touch?" asked the fairy."I have learned mylesson," said the King. "I no longer think gold the greatest thing inthe world."

9. "Verywell," said the fairy, "take this pitcher to the spring inthe garden and fill it with water. Then sprinkle those things which you have touched and turned to gold."The King took thepitcher and rushed to the spring.Running back, he first sprinkled the head of his dear little girl. Instantlyshe became his own darling Marigoldagain, and gave him a kiss.

10. TheKing sprinkled the golden food, and to his great joy it turned back to realbread and real butter.Then he and his little daughter sat down to breakfast.How good the cold water tasted! How eagerly the hungry King ate the bread andbutter, the meat, and all the good food!The King hated his golden touch so muchthat he sprinkled even the chairs and the tables and everything else that thefairy's gift had turned to gold.