King Midas and His Golden Touch
Once in a far-off kingdom, lived a wise king named Midas who had one peculiar occurrence in his life. King Midas was passionate beyond words about gold. He found pleasure only in the dance of shimmering rays off his golden riches, finding solace in the cool metal's caress.
One day, a shaggy-looking stranger came to his court. He was instantly recognized as the god Dionysus by King Midas. To welcome and honor the god, King Midas arranged a grand feast in his court. He didn't miss any chance to show off his immense wealth and all his possessions made of splendid gold.
Dionysus was really impressed by King Midas’s hospitality and offered him a wish. Looking at Dionysus, Midas said, 'I wish that everything I touch becomes gold.' Dionysus, initially hesitant, granted his wish considering his hospitality.
The following day, King Midas thoughtlessly laid his hands on a rose. In an instant, the rose was bathed in a golden hue, it's velvety softness hardening. The mesmerized king started touching more and more objects. His joy knew no bounds when everything he touched started to convert into gold.
The real pain started when he sat down to eat. The moment food came in contact with his mouth, it turned to solid gold. The wine, once red turned to a solid glimmering stream of gold as soon as it touched his lips. Here he was, a man wealthy beyond imagination, dying of hunger, living in a cold, silent, sterile world of gold.
In despair, he requested Dionysus to undo his wish. Dionysus, feeling sorry for Midas asked him to wash his hands in the river Pactolus to remove the divine gift. So, King Midas went to the river and as soon as he touched the water, it sparkled with gold. Once the curse was taken back, Midas lost his lust for gold. He withdrew from his kingly duties and immersed himself in the admiration of nature.
And thus, the story of King Midas serves as a timeless reminder to humanity that greed ultimately leads to misery and one should find joy in little things of life.
King Midas and his golden touch is a story that reverberates through time teaching us about the corruptible nature of excessive greed for wealth. It's a tale that calls us back to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, above the meaningless chase of wealth and grandeur. Even the most ordinary of things can yield the greatest of joys. May this tale of King Midas remind us of the same.