Many years ago, there was a king who was both greedy and foolish. His name was Midas, and one day he was visited by one of the gods.
He made the god welcome, and the god said, "Midas, you have been kind to me. Whatever you wish for will come true, but you have only got one wish."
Immediately, and without thinking about it, Midas said, "I wish that everything I touch will turn into gold."
"If that is what you really want", the god said, "your wish will be granted(被允许的)." Then he disappeared.
At first, Midas thought the god had cheated him. Then he touched the arm of a chair. Immediately it turned into gold.
"I'm going to be the richest man in the world." He cried, and ran about touching everything he could find.
It was not long before the whole palace was made from gold.
Then it was dinner time. Midas sat at his golden table and picked up his golden knife and fork. He lifted a piece of meat from his plate to his mouth and...
As soon as the meat touched his mouth, it turned into gold. Everything Midas tried to eat and drink turned into gold.
The next day was the same, and the next and the next.
Midas became richer and richer and thinner and thinner. Soon it was clear he was going to die.
Then the god, who had known what would happen, came back the palace.
"Do you want me to take the gift back?" he asked the starving (饥饿的) king.
Midas nodded his head-he was too weak to open his mouth.
The god took away Midas magic power and he was able to eat again.
