点石成金的迈达斯国王
Long ago, in ancient Greece, there lived a king called Midas. He was very rich, but he loved gold more than anything else in the world – more, even, than his own daughter, although he didn't realise it.
One day, Midas helped an old friend of the god Dionysus, who had got lost. To thank him, Dionysus offered the king a reward. "Ask for anything you like," he said, "and it shall be yours."
Midas didn't need to think for long. "I wish that everything I touch would turn to gold."
"Are you sure?" asked the god.
"Absolutely sure," said Midas.
"Very well. From tomorrow morning, you shall have the golden touch."
The next morning, Midas woke up and touched his bed. At once, it turned to shining gold. He laughed with delight. He ran around the palace, touching everything he could see. Chairs, tables, doors and statues all turned to gold. He picked a rose in the garden, and it became a golden rose, hard and cold.
By lunchtime, Midas was very hungry. His servants brought him bread, meat and a cup of wine. But as soon as he picked up the bread, it turned into a lump of gold. When he lifted the cup to his lips, the wine became liquid gold. He couldn't eat or drink anything at all.
Just then, his young daughter ran into the room. She had been crying, because all the roses in the garden had turned to metal and had lost their sweet smell. Without thinking, Midas reached out to comfort her. The moment he touched her, she stopped moving. His beloved daughter had become a golden statue.
Midas fell to his knees and wept. "What have I done?" he cried. "Take this terrible gift away! I don't want any gold. I just want my daughter back."
Dionysus heard him and took pity on him. "Go to the river," he said, "and wash in its water. The golden touch will leave you. Then pour the water over everything you wish to change back."
Midas ran to the river and jumped in. He filled a jug with water, hurried home and poured it over his daughter. Slowly, the colour came back to her cheeks, and she opened her eyes. Midas hugged her tightly, and this time she stayed warm and soft in his arms.
From that day on, Midas was a different man. He still had enough gold to live comfortably, but he knew that it was worth far less than the people he loved.
很久很久以前，在古希腊有一位国王，名叫迈达斯。他非常富有，可他爱金子胜过世界上的一切——甚至胜过他自己的女儿，只是他自己并没有意识到。
有一天，迈达斯帮助了酒神狄俄尼索斯的一位老朋友，那人迷了路。为了感谢他，狄俄尼索斯答应给国王一个奖赏。“你想要什么都可以，”他说，“我都会给你。”
迈达斯想都没怎么想。“我希望我碰到的每一样东西都能变成金子。”
“你确定吗？”神问。
“当然确定。”迈达斯说。
“好吧。从明天早上起，你就会有点石成金的本领。”
第二天早上，迈达斯醒来，碰了碰他的床。床一下子变成了闪闪发光的金子。他高兴得哈哈大笑。他在宫殿里跑来跑去，把看得见的东西都碰了个遍。椅子、桌子、门和雕像，全都变成了金子。他在花园里摘下一朵玫瑰，玫瑰也变成了一朵金玫瑰，又硬又冷。
到了中午，迈达斯饿极了。仆人们给他端来了面包、肉和一杯葡萄酒。可他刚拿起面包，面包就变成了一块金疙瘩。他把杯子举到嘴边，酒也变成了金水。他什么也吃不了，什么也喝不了。
就在这时，他的小女儿跑进了房间。她刚哭过，因为花园里所有的玫瑰都变成了金属，再也没有了甜甜的香味。迈达斯想都没想，就伸手去安慰她。他刚碰到女儿，女儿就一动不动了。他心爱的女儿变成了一座金像。
迈达斯跪倒在地，痛哭起来。“我都干了些什么呀？”他喊道，“把这可怕的本领收回去吧！我一点金子都不要了，我只要我的女儿回来。”
狄俄尼索斯听见了，可怜起他来。“到河边去，”他说，“用河水洗洗身子，点金的本领就会离开你。然后，把河水浇在你想变回原样的东西上。”
迈达斯跑到河边，跳了进去。他用水罐装满了水，急急忙忙赶回家，把水浇在女儿身上。慢慢地，女儿的脸颊恢复了血色，她睁开了眼睛。迈达斯紧紧地抱住她，这一次，女儿在他怀里依然是温暖、柔软的。
从那天起，迈达斯像变了一个人。他的金子仍然足够他过上舒适的生活，但他明白了，金子远远比不上他所爱的人。