点金术【TheGoldeTouch】
时间：2022-10-08 02:45:25
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点金术【TheGoldeTouch】
The Golden Touch
I
Once there was a King. His name was Midas.
Midas loved gold. He did not want to buy things with his gold. He wanted to have the gold; he wanted to look at the gold every day.
There was a house made of stone. He put every bit of gold in this house. There were many boxes in the house. He put the gold in the boxes. Midas went to the stone house every day. He opened every box and looked at the gold. He put his hands in the gold: he took the gold up in his hands.
"Gold! Gold!" he said, "Oh, I love gold. I do love gold. I do not want to buy things with my gold. I want to have my gold. I love gold!"
Midas had a beautiful garden. There were many beautiful flowers and trees in it. And there were beautiful birds in the trees. Midas loved flowers and birds and trees. But he loved gold more than flowers or birds or trees. He said, "I can buy flowers and gardens with my gold. I do love gold!"
Midas had one child-a beautiful little girl. The little girl loved the garden and the birds and the flowers; and Midas loved his child. Men said, " Midas loves his beautiful little girl. He loves his beautiful garden and his beautiful flowers. But he loves gold more than his child; he loves gold more than beauty."
There was a god called Dionysius. Dionysius was the god of Flowers and of Gardens.
Dionysius lived on a great hill with the other gods, but he sometimes came down to see men's flowers and gardens.
When Dionysius came into a garden all the flowers opened. He went to all the gardens, opening the flowers and making everything beautiful. One day Dionysius came to the garden of Kino, Midas.
The little girl was in the garden. She saw Dionysius. "Who are you?" She cried. "What are you doing in my father's garden?"
"I am Dionysius," said the God. "I have come to open the flowers and make your garden beautiful."
Then the little girl was very glad. She was glad to see Dionysius.
The little girl took the hand of Dionysius. She said, " Come with me. I will help you to open the flowers. Show me how to open the flowers in my garden. "
Then Dionysius went with the little girl and showed her how to open the flowers.
At noon the little girl went into the house.
The day was hot.
Dionysius sat down at the foot of a tree. He fell asleep. Dionysius was sleeping at the foot of a tree in the King's garden.
He slept; the King's servants came to the garden.
Then one of the servants saw Dionysius sleeping at the foot of a tree. He said, "Who is this man? He has come to take the flowers! But the day was hot, and he fell asleep, and we should catch him."
Then he went and called another servant. Then all the other servants came to the place. They caught Dionysius. They took him to the King.
They said to the King, "This is the man whom we found sleeping in the garden. He came to take your flowers."
Then King Midas asked, "Why did you come to take my flowers? Why did you not ask me for some flowers? I give flowers to all who ask for them. I have given flowers to many poor men."
Dionysius did not answer.
"Do you love flowers?" asked the King.
"Yes," answered Dionysius. "I love flowers; but I have not taken any of your flowers."
" Have you any children?" asked Midas. " Do you want to take any flowers to your children?"
" The flowers are my children," answered Dionysius.
Then King Midas said, "This man may go, and he may take any flowers he wants."
Dionysius said, "O King! you are a good man. You have been good to me. You love flowers, and you love your child. I am a God. I will give you any- thing that you ask. Ask me for anything and I will give it to you."
"Can I ask for anything? " said Midas.
"Yes. Do you want more flowers? -- or more children?"
"Flowers are beautiful," said Midas; 'but gold is more beautiful. I want more gold. I want to change things into gold. If I put my hand on anything, it shall be changed into gold. Give me that."
Then Dionysius said, "You may have what you ask. If you put your hand on anything, it shall be changed into gold."
Ⅱ
Midas sat down at a table to write. He touched the table, and the table was changed into gold. It became a golden table. He took his pen. As he touched the pen, it was changed into gold. He wrote; and, as he touched the paper, it was changed into gold. He went to the door and opened it; and the door was changed into gold. He took his hat; as he touched it, the hat was changed into gold. He went into the garden to see the flowers. He saw a beautiful rose. He put out his hand to take it. As he touched it, the rose was changed into gold. He put his hand on a tree and the tree was changed into gold.
Midas wanted to eat.
He went into the hall. He called a servant.
"Bring me food," he said.
The servant brought food. Midas put out his hand to take the food. As he touched the food, it was changed into gold. He could not eat the food.
"Bring me more food," said Midas.
The servant brought more food. Midas touched it, and it was changed into gold. He could not eat it.
Midas drank some water. The water was changed into gold. He could not drink it.
" How shall I eat? How shall I drink?" said Midas. "If I cannot eat and drink, I shall die!"
He stood up. He had eaten nothing. He had drunk nothing.
"I will go into the garden," he said, "I will go and make more golden flowers."
Then the little girl came into the hall.
"Oh, father!" she cried, "our beautiful roses have been killed. Who has killed our roses?"
Midas said, "The roses have been changed to gold, my child, gold is more beautiful than flowers."
The little girl cried.
"Do not cry, my child," said Midas. "Come, we will change some more flowers to gold. We will change all the flowers to gold."
"Oh, father! give me back my flowers," cried the little girl. "Go back to the garden. Change the flowers back."
"Do not cry, little girl," said Midas. He took her in his arms. He put his hand on her head. "Do not cry, my child. Do not cry any more. I will change the gold back into flowers."
She did not cry any more.
"Father loves you," said Midas. "I love you as much as I love gold. Soon you will be a big girl. When you are a big girl, you will love gold as much as I do."
She was not crying.
She said nothing. She could not say anything. As soon as Midas touched her, she was changed into gold.
Midas looked at his child. He saw what he had done. As soon as he saw what he had done he cried out, "Help! Help! Oh, what have I done! I have killed my little girl. Help!"
The servants came running into the hall. They saw what Midas had done. They saw the little girl. She was made of gold.
"We will go away from here. The King is a magician!" they cried. "He changes everything to gold. He has killed his child and changed her to gold. He 'll kill us and change us to gold. We will not work for him any more." Then they ran away.
There was no one in the King's house. Midas sat there, with his dead child.
He went out and changed more things to gold. He made all the ducks and hens gold, and the donkey in the field was golden. Then he went and looked at the cows. He touched one cow and it was changed to gold. "I will make them all golden. I will have nice golden cows." He changed all the cows to gold.
"I shall get no milk," he said. "But the milk becomes gold as soon as I touch it. I do not want any milk."
Soon he came back. He looked at his little girl.
He looked up at the sky.
The sun was going down, changing the sky to gold. Gold! gold!--all gold.
Then Midas went out into the garden and cried.
Dionysius came to Midas as he sat crying in the garden. He stood before him.
"Are you happy now, 0 King?" said the God.
"No," said the King. "I was happy before. I was happy before you came. But now I am very unhappy."
"But you have much gold now. Why are you not happy? No one has as much gold as you have now. You said that nothing was as beautiful as gold."
"I do not want it!" cried Midas. "I do not want gold. I want my little girl back. Give me back my little girl! Give me back my flowers. Take away all this gold and give me back the things which I love."
"Go to the river," said Dionysius. "Jump into the water, and you will be as before. Put water on all the things which you have changed to gold, and they 'll be as before."
Then Dionysius went away. He went up into the sky.
Midas ran down to the river. He jumped into the water. Then he came out of the water. He put his hand on a stone. The stone was not changed to gold.
Then he brought a pot. He filled the pot with water. He ran with the pot full of water, and came to the hall. He threw the water on his little girl. She changed. She opened her eyes.
"Oh!" she cried, "was I asleep?"
She ran into the garden.
" Father," she cried, " you did not change the flowers back. They are all dead and golden. Every flower is dead. Come! Come and give me back my flowers. And, oh! look at the golden cows!"
"Come with me," said Midas, "and we will bring back the flowers."
Then Midas and his little girl ran into the garden with pots full of water from the river. As they ran, they changed everything back. They changed the flowers and the trees and the birds, and the hens and the ducks and the cows. Then they ran into the house and they changed the tables and doors and pen and paper. And they changed Midas' hat.
"Do you not love gold any more?" asked the little girl, as they sat in the hall and ate.
"No," said Midas. "I love the trees and the flowers and the birds-- and you."
【译文】
点金术
（一）
从前有一位国王，名字叫迈德斯。
迈德斯喜欢金子，他不用自己的金子买东西，他只要拥有金子，他每天都要看着金子。
有一座用石头砌的房子，他把每一块金币都放在这所房子里。房子里有许多箱子，他把金子放在这些箱子里。迈德斯每天去石头房，打开每个箱子看金子，他把自己的手放在金子上，用双手捧起金子。
“金子！金子！”他说，“啊，我喜欢金子，我确实喜爱金子。我不用我的金子去买东西，我要拥有金子，我喜爱金子！”
迈德斯有一座美丽的花园，里边有很多美丽的花和树，树上有漂亮的鸟。迈德斯喜欢花、鸟和树，但是，他更喜欢金子。他说过：“我用我的金子能买花和花园。我实在喜爱金子！”
迈德斯有一个孩子——一位美丽的小姑娘。小姑娘喜欢花园、鸟和花。迈德斯喜爱自己的孩子，人们说：“迈德斯喜爱他的美丽的小姑娘，他也喜欢他的美丽花园和美丽的花。但他爱金子胜过自己的孩子，胜过爱美。”
有一位神，名叫迪奥尼修斯。迪奥尼修斯是专司花和花园之神。
迪奥尼修斯和其他神住在一座大山里，有时他来到人间查看鲜花和花园。
当迪奥尼修斯进到花园时，所有的鲜花都开放了。他到所有的花园中去，让鲜花开放，使一切变得美丽。
有一天，迪奥尼修斯来到迈德斯国王的花园。
小女孩正在花园里，她见到迪奥尼修斯，“你是谁？”她喊道，“你到我父亲的花园干什么？”
“我是迪奥尼修斯，”神说，“我来会使鲜花开放，让你的花园变得漂亮。”
于是，小女孩十分高兴，她很高兴见到迪奥尼修斯。
小女孩拉着迪奥尼修斯的手，她说：“跟我来，我来帮您让鲜花开放，给我看看在我的花园里鲜花是怎样开放。”
于是，迪奥尼修斯就和小姑娘一起走，让她看花是怎样开放的。
中午的时候，小姑娘回屋去了。
这一天天气很热。
迪奥尼修斯坐在一棵树底下，睡着了。他是在国王花园里的一棵树下睡觉。
他睡着；国王的仆人们来到花园。
这时，其中一个仆人看见迪奥尼修斯在树下睡觉，他说：“这人是谁？他是来摘花的！但是，大热天的，他睡着了，我们应当抓住他。”
然后，他又去叫来一个仆人，接着，其他的仆人也都来到这个地方，他们抓住迪奥尼修斯，领着他去见国王。
他们对国王说：“这就是我们发现睡在花园中的那个人，他来摘您的花。”
于是，迪奥尼修斯问他：“你为什么来摘我的花？你为什么不向我要些花呢？凡要鲜花的人我都会给他的，我把鲜花给了许多贫穷的人。”
迪奥尼修斯没有回答。
“你喜欢花吗？”国王问。
“是的，”迪奥尼修斯回答，“我喜爱花，但我没摘您的花。”
“你有孩子吗？”迈德斯问，“你要摘花给您的孩子吗？”
“花就是我的孩子，”迪奥尼修斯回答。
接着，迈德斯国王说：“这个人可以放了，他想要什么花就可以摘什么花。”
迪奥尼修斯说：“国王啊！你是一位好人，你待我很好。你喜欢鲜花，你爱你的孩子。我是一个神，我会满足您一切要求，向我要吧，要什么我都给您。”
“我能要任何东西吗？”迈德斯说。
“是的，您要很多的鲜花吗？或者很多孩子？”
“鲜花是美丽的，”迈德斯说，“但金子更美丽，我要很多金子，我想把东西变成金子，当我把手放到任何一件东西上，它就能变成金子。你就给我这法术吧。”
这时，迪奥尼修斯说：“可以满足您的要求——如果你把手放到任何一件东西上，它就能变成金子。”
（二）
迈德斯坐在桌子旁写东西，他摸一下桌子，桌子就变成了金的。它变成了一张金桌子，他拿自己笔，当他摸到笔，它就变成了金的。他写字，当他摸到纸时，它就变成了金的。他去打开门，门就变成了金的。他拿帽子，他一摸它，帽子变成了金的。他到花园里赏花，他看见一朵美丽的玫瑰花，他就伸手去摘它，当他一摸它，玫瑰花就变成金的了。他把手放在一棵树上，树也变成了金的。
他进了小屋，他召来一个仆人。
“把饭菜端来，”他说。
仆人端来饭菜。迈德斯伸手去拿饭菜，当他一摸饭菜，饭菜变成了金的。这些饭菜他不能吃了。
“再给我端一些饭菜，”迈德斯说。
仆人又端上来一些饭菜。迈德斯一摸它，它就变成了金的，饭菜又不能吃了。
迈德斯想喝水，水变成金的，他不能喝了。
“我怎么吃？怎么喝？”迈德斯说，“如果我不能吃喝，非死不可！”
他站起来。他什么也没吃，什么也没喝。
“我要到花园里，”他说，“我要去变更多的金花。”
这时，小女孩进了小屋。
“啊，父王！”她哭喊着，我们那些美丽的玫瑰花都给毁掉了，谁毁掉我们的玫瑰花？”
迈德斯说：“玫瑰花已经变成了金子，我的孩子，金子比花更美丽。”
小女孩哭了。
“不要哭，我的孩子，”迈德斯说，“过来，我们要把更多的花变成金的，我们要把所有的花都变成金的。”
“啊，父王！把花还给我吧，”小女孩哭喊着，“回到花园，把花变回来。”
“不要哭，小姑娘，”迈德斯说，他把她抱在怀里，手抚摸着她的头，“不要哭，我的孩子，不要再哭了，我一定把花变回来。”
她不再哭了。
“爸爸爱你，”迈德斯说，“我象喜爱金子那样喜爱你，马上你就是个大姑娘了，当你长大的时侯，你就会象我一样喜爱金子。”
她没有哭。
她没开口。她不能说任何话了。当迈德斯一抚摸她的时侯，他就变成了金的。
迈德斯看着自己的孩子，他发现了他所干的事。一发现自己所干的事，他就大叫起来，“救命！救命！啊，我干了什么呵！我害死自己的小女孩，救命！”
仆人都跑进大厅。他们发现了迈德斯所干的一切，他们看到了小女孩，她也成了金的了。
“我们要离开这里，国王是一个魔术师！”他们喊道，“他把所有的东西变成了金的，他害死自己的孩子，把她变成了金的，他将会害了我们，把我们变成金的，我们不再为他干事了。”然后他们都跑了。
王宫一个人也没有，迈德斯和他死了的孩子坐在那里。
他出去又把一些东西变成金子。他把所有的鸡鸭都变成金的，把田地里的驴变成金的，然后他就去看奶牛，他摸了一头奶牛，奶牛就变成了金的，“我要把它们都变成金的，我将有美丽的金奶牛。”他把所有的奶牛都变成了金的。
“我再也不会有牛奶喝了，”他说，“不过我一碰牛奶，牛奶马上就会变成金的，我不要牛奶了。”
不久，他回来了。他看着自己的小女孩。
他抬头望着天空。
太阳要下山了，把天空变成了一片金黄色。金子！金子！——都是金子。
然后，迈德斯出来，到了花园，他哭了。
迈德斯坐在花园里正哭着的时候，迪奥尼修斯来了，他站在迈德斯面前。
“现在您幸福吗，国王？”神说。
“不，”国王说，“我从前是幸福的。在你上次来以前我是幸福的。可是现在我很不幸。”
“但现在您有许多金子，为什么您不幸福？还没有一个人象您现在这样拥有这么多金子。您说过没有什么东西跟金子一样美丽。”
“我不要它！”迈德斯哭喊着，“我不要金子，我要我的小女孩变过来，把我的小女孩还给我！把我的花变过来。把所有的金子拿走，让我喜爱的东西都变过来。”
“到河边去，”迪奥尼修斯说：“跳进水里，您就会跟从前一样，把水洒在所有被您变成了金子的东西上，他们就会跟从前一样。”
然后，迪奥尼修斯走了。他升到天上去了。
迈德斯跑下河去，他跳进水里。然后他从水里出来，他把手放在一块石头上，这块石头没有变成金的。
接着他拿了一个罐子过来，他装满了一罐水，他提了装满水的罐子跑回大厅，他把水泼在小女孩身上，她变回来了，睁开了双眼。
“哇！”她喊道，“我是睡着了吗？”
她跑进花园。
“父王，”她喊，“您没把这些花变回来，它们都是死的，都成了金的，每朵花都是死的。来！来把我的花变回来。噢！看看这金的奶牛！”
“跟我来，”迈德斯说，“我要把这些花变回来，”
于是，迈德斯提着装满河水的罐子和他的小女孩一起跑进花园，他们一边跑，一边将所有的东西变回来。他们把花、树、鸟、鸡和奶牛都变回来了。然后他们跑进房子，把桌子、门、笔和纸都变了回来，他们还把迈德斯的那顶帽子也变了回来了。
“您还喜爱金子吗？”当他们坐在小屋吃饭时，小女孩问。
“不，”迈德斯说，“我喜爱树、花和鸟，还有你。”
I
Once there was a King. His name was Midas.
Midas loved gold. He did not want to buy things with his gold. He wanted to have the gold; he wanted to look at the gold every day.
There was a house made of stone. He put every bit of gold in this house. There were many boxes in the house. He put the gold in the boxes. Midas went to the stone house every day. He opened every box and looked at the gold. He put his hands in the gold: he took the gold up in his hands.
"Gold! Gold!" he said, "Oh, I love gold. I do love gold. I do not want to buy things with my gold. I want to have my gold. I love gold!"
Midas had a beautiful garden. There were many beautiful flowers and trees in it. And there were beautiful birds in the trees. Midas loved flowers and birds and trees. But he loved gold more than flowers or birds or trees. He said, "I can buy flowers and gardens with my gold. I do love gold!"
Midas had one child-a beautiful little girl. The little girl loved the garden and the birds and the flowers; and Midas loved his child. Men said, " Midas loves his beautiful little girl. He loves his beautiful garden and his beautiful flowers. But he loves gold more than his child; he loves gold more than beauty."
There was a god called Dionysius. Dionysius was the god of Flowers and of Gardens.
Dionysius lived on a great hill with the other gods, but he sometimes came down to see men's flowers and gardens.
When Dionysius came into a garden all the flowers opened. He went to all the gardens, opening the flowers and making everything beautiful. One day Dionysius came to the garden of Kino, Midas.
The little girl was in the garden. She saw Dionysius. "Who are you?" She cried. "What are you doing in my father's garden?"
"I am Dionysius," said the God. "I have come to open the flowers and make your garden beautiful."
Then the little girl was very glad. She was glad to see Dionysius.
The little girl took the hand of Dionysius. She said, " Come with me. I will help you to open the flowers. Show me how to open the flowers in my garden. "
Then Dionysius went with the little girl and showed her how to open the flowers.
At noon the little girl went into the house.
The day was hot.
Dionysius sat down at the foot of a tree. He fell asleep. Dionysius was sleeping at the foot of a tree in the King's garden.
He slept; the King's servants came to the garden.
Then one of the servants saw Dionysius sleeping at the foot of a tree. He said, "Who is this man? He has come to take the flowers! But the day was hot, and he fell asleep, and we should catch him."
Then he went and called another servant. Then all the other servants came to the place. They caught Dionysius. They took him to the King.
They said to the King, "This is the man whom we found sleeping in the garden. He came to take your flowers."
Then King Midas asked, "Why did you come to take my flowers? Why did you not ask me for some flowers? I give flowers to all who ask for them. I have given flowers to many poor men."
Dionysius did not answer.
"Do you love flowers?" asked the King.
"Yes," answered Dionysius. "I love flowers; but I have not taken any of your flowers."
" Have you any children?" asked Midas. " Do you want to take any flowers to your children?"
" The flowers are my children," answered Dionysius.
Then King Midas said, "This man may go, and he may take any flowers he wants."
Dionysius said, "O King! you are a good man. You have been good to me. You love flowers, and you love your child. I am a God. I will give you any- thing that you ask. Ask me for anything and I will give it to you."
"Can I ask for anything? " said Midas.
"Yes. Do you want more flowers? -- or more children?"
"Flowers are beautiful," said Midas; 'but gold is more beautiful. I want more gold. I want to change things into gold. If I put my hand on anything, it shall be changed into gold. Give me that."
Then Dionysius said, "You may have what you ask. If you put your hand on anything, it shall be changed into gold."
Ⅱ
Midas sat down at a table to write. He touched the table, and the table was changed into gold. It became a golden table. He took his pen. As he touched the pen, it was changed into gold. He wrote; and, as he touched the paper, it was changed into gold. He went to the door and opened it; and the door was changed into gold. He took his hat; as he touched it, the hat was changed into gold. He went into the garden to see the flowers. He saw a beautiful rose. He put out his hand to take it. As he touched it, the rose was changed into gold. He put his hand on a tree and the tree was changed into gold.
Midas wanted to eat.
He went into the hall. He called a servant.
"Bring me food," he said.
The servant brought food. Midas put out his hand to take the food. As he touched the food, it was changed into gold. He could not eat the food.
"Bring me more food," said Midas.
The servant brought more food. Midas touched it, and it was changed into gold. He could not eat it.
Midas drank some water. The water was changed into gold. He could not drink it.
" How shall I eat? How shall I drink?" said Midas. "If I cannot eat and drink, I shall die!"
He stood up. He had eaten nothing. He had drunk nothing.
"I will go into the garden," he said, "I will go and make more golden flowers."
Then the little girl came into the hall.
"Oh, father!" she cried, "our beautiful roses have been killed. Who has killed our roses?"
Midas said, "The roses have been changed to gold, my child, gold is more beautiful than flowers."
The little girl cried.
"Do not cry, my child," said Midas. "Come, we will change some more flowers to gold. We will change all the flowers to gold."
"Oh, father! give me back my flowers," cried the little girl. "Go back to the garden. Change the flowers back."
"Do not cry, little girl," said Midas. He took her in his arms. He put his hand on her head. "Do not cry, my child. Do not cry any more. I will change the gold back into flowers."
She did not cry any more.
"Father loves you," said Midas. "I love you as much as I love gold. Soon you will be a big girl. When you are a big girl, you will love gold as much as I do."
She was not crying.
She said nothing. She could not say anything. As soon as Midas touched her, she was changed into gold.
Midas looked at his child. He saw what he had done. As soon as he saw what he had done he cried out, "Help! Help! Oh, what have I done! I have killed my little girl. Help!"
The servants came running into the hall. They saw what Midas had done. They saw the little girl. She was made of gold.
"We will go away from here. The King is a magician!" they cried. "He changes everything to gold. He has killed his child and changed her to gold. He 'll kill us and change us to gold. We will not work for him any more." Then they ran away.
There was no one in the King's house. Midas sat there, with his dead child.
He went out and changed more things to gold. He made all the ducks and hens gold, and the donkey in the field was golden. Then he went and looked at the cows. He touched one cow and it was changed to gold. "I will make them all golden. I will have nice golden cows." He changed all the cows to gold.
"I shall get no milk," he said. "But the milk becomes gold as soon as I touch it. I do not want any milk."
Soon he came back. He looked at his little girl.
He looked up at the sky.
The sun was going down, changing the sky to gold. Gold! gold!--all gold.
Then Midas went out into the garden and cried.
Dionysius came to Midas as he sat crying in the garden. He stood before him.
"Are you happy now, 0 King?" said the God.
"No," said the King. "I was happy before. I was happy before you came. But now I am very unhappy."
"But you have much gold now. Why are you not happy? No one has as much gold as you have now. You said that nothing was as beautiful as gold."
"I do not want it!" cried Midas. "I do not want gold. I want my little girl back. Give me back my little girl! Give me back my flowers. Take away all this gold and give me back the things which I love."
"Go to the river," said Dionysius. "Jump into the water, and you will be as before. Put water on all the things which you have changed to gold, and they 'll be as before."
Then Dionysius went away. He went up into the sky.
Midas ran down to the river. He jumped into the water. Then he came out of the water. He put his hand on a stone. The stone was not changed to gold.
Then he brought a pot. He filled the pot with water. He ran with the pot full of water, and came to the hall. He threw the water on his little girl. She changed. She opened her eyes.
"Oh!" she cried, "was I asleep?"
She ran into the garden.
" Father," she cried, " you did not change the flowers back. They are all dead and golden. Every flower is dead. Come! Come and give me back my flowers. And, oh! look at the golden cows!"
"Come with me," said Midas, "and we will bring back the flowers."
Then Midas and his little girl ran into the garden with pots full of water from the river. As they ran, they changed everything back. They changed the flowers and the trees and the birds, and the hens and the ducks and the cows. Then they ran into the house and they changed the tables and doors and pen and paper. And they changed Midas' hat.
"Do you not love gold any more?" asked the little girl, as they sat in the hall and ate.
"No," said Midas. "I love the trees and the flowers and the birds-- and you."
【译文】
点金术
（一）
从前有一位国王，名字叫迈德斯。
迈德斯喜欢金子，他不用自己的金子买东西，他只要拥有金子，他每天都要看着金子。
有一座用石头砌的房子，他把每一块金币都放在这所房子里。房子里有许多箱子，他把金子放在这些箱子里。迈德斯每天去石头房，打开每个箱子看金子，他把自己的手放在金子上，用双手捧起金子。
“金子！金子！”他说，“啊，我喜欢金子，我确实喜爱金子。我不用我的金子去买东西，我要拥有金子，我喜爱金子！”
迈德斯有一座美丽的花园，里边有很多美丽的花和树，树上有漂亮的鸟。迈德斯喜欢花、鸟和树，但是，他更喜欢金子。他说过：“我用我的金子能买花和花园。我实在喜爱金子！”
迈德斯有一个孩子——一位美丽的小姑娘。小姑娘喜欢花园、鸟和花。迈德斯喜爱自己的孩子，人们说：“迈德斯喜爱他的美丽的小姑娘，他也喜欢他的美丽花园和美丽的花。但他爱金子胜过自己的孩子，胜过爱美。”
有一位神，名叫迪奥尼修斯。迪奥尼修斯是专司花和花园之神。
迪奥尼修斯和其他神住在一座大山里，有时他来到人间查看鲜花和花园。
当迪奥尼修斯进到花园时，所有的鲜花都开放了。他到所有的花园中去，让鲜花开放，使一切变得美丽。
有一天，迪奥尼修斯来到迈德斯国王的花园。
小女孩正在花园里，她见到迪奥尼修斯，“你是谁？”她喊道，“你到我父亲的花园干什么？”
“我是迪奥尼修斯，”神说，“我来会使鲜花开放，让你的花园变得漂亮。”
于是，小女孩十分高兴，她很高兴见到迪奥尼修斯。
小女孩拉着迪奥尼修斯的手，她说：“跟我来，我来帮您让鲜花开放，给我看看在我的花园里鲜花是怎样开放。”
于是，迪奥尼修斯就和小姑娘一起走，让她看花是怎样开放的。
中午的时候，小姑娘回屋去了。
这一天天气很热。
迪奥尼修斯坐在一棵树底下，睡着了。他是在国王花园里的一棵树下睡觉。
他睡着；国王的仆人们来到花园。
这时，其中一个仆人看见迪奥尼修斯在树下睡觉，他说：“这人是谁？他是来摘花的！但是，大热天的，他睡着了，我们应当抓住他。”
然后，他又去叫来一个仆人，接着，其他的仆人也都来到这个地方，他们抓住迪奥尼修斯，领着他去见国王。
他们对国王说：“这就是我们发现睡在花园中的那个人，他来摘您的花。”
于是，迪奥尼修斯问他：“你为什么来摘我的花？你为什么不向我要些花呢？凡要鲜花的人我都会给他的，我把鲜花给了许多贫穷的人。”
迪奥尼修斯没有回答。
“你喜欢花吗？”国王问。
“是的，”迪奥尼修斯回答，“我喜爱花，但我没摘您的花。”
“你有孩子吗？”迈德斯问，“你要摘花给您的孩子吗？”
“花就是我的孩子，”迪奥尼修斯回答。
接着，迈德斯国王说：“这个人可以放了，他想要什么花就可以摘什么花。”
迪奥尼修斯说：“国王啊！你是一位好人，你待我很好。你喜欢鲜花，你爱你的孩子。我是一个神，我会满足您一切要求，向我要吧，要什么我都给您。”
“我能要任何东西吗？”迈德斯说。
“是的，您要很多的鲜花吗？或者很多孩子？”
“鲜花是美丽的，”迈德斯说，“但金子更美丽，我要很多金子，我想把东西变成金子，当我把手放到任何一件东西上，它就能变成金子。你就给我这法术吧。”
这时，迪奥尼修斯说：“可以满足您的要求——如果你把手放到任何一件东西上，它就能变成金子。”
（二）
迈德斯坐在桌子旁写东西，他摸一下桌子，桌子就变成了金的。它变成了一张金桌子，他拿自己笔，当他摸到笔，它就变成了金的。他写字，当他摸到纸时，它就变成了金的。他去打开门，门就变成了金的。他拿帽子，他一摸它，帽子变成了金的。他到花园里赏花，他看见一朵美丽的玫瑰花，他就伸手去摘它，当他一摸它，玫瑰花就变成金的了。他把手放在一棵树上，树也变成了金的。
他进了小屋，他召来一个仆人。
“把饭菜端来，”他说。
仆人端来饭菜。迈德斯伸手去拿饭菜，当他一摸饭菜，饭菜变成了金的。这些饭菜他不能吃了。
“再给我端一些饭菜，”迈德斯说。
仆人又端上来一些饭菜。迈德斯一摸它，它就变成了金的，饭菜又不能吃了。
迈德斯想喝水，水变成金的，他不能喝了。
“我怎么吃？怎么喝？”迈德斯说，“如果我不能吃喝，非死不可！”
他站起来。他什么也没吃，什么也没喝。
“我要到花园里，”他说，“我要去变更多的金花。”
这时，小女孩进了小屋。
“啊，父王！”她哭喊着，我们那些美丽的玫瑰花都给毁掉了，谁毁掉我们的玫瑰花？”
迈德斯说：“玫瑰花已经变成了金子，我的孩子，金子比花更美丽。”
小女孩哭了。
“不要哭，我的孩子，”迈德斯说，“过来，我们要把更多的花变成金的，我们要把所有的花都变成金的。”
“啊，父王！把花还给我吧，”小女孩哭喊着，“回到花园，把花变回来。”
“不要哭，小姑娘，”迈德斯说，他把她抱在怀里，手抚摸着她的头，“不要哭，我的孩子，不要再哭了，我一定把花变回来。”
她不再哭了。
“爸爸爱你，”迈德斯说，“我象喜爱金子那样喜爱你，马上你就是个大姑娘了，当你长大的时侯，你就会象我一样喜爱金子。”
她没有哭。
她没开口。她不能说任何话了。当迈德斯一抚摸她的时侯，他就变成了金的。
迈德斯看着自己的孩子，他发现了他所干的事。一发现自己所干的事，他就大叫起来，“救命！救命！啊，我干了什么呵！我害死自己的小女孩，救命！”
仆人都跑进大厅。他们发现了迈德斯所干的一切，他们看到了小女孩，她也成了金的了。
“我们要离开这里，国王是一个魔术师！”他们喊道，“他把所有的东西变成了金的，他害死自己的孩子，把她变成了金的，他将会害了我们，把我们变成金的，我们不再为他干事了。”然后他们都跑了。
王宫一个人也没有，迈德斯和他死了的孩子坐在那里。
他出去又把一些东西变成金子。他把所有的鸡鸭都变成金的，把田地里的驴变成金的，然后他就去看奶牛，他摸了一头奶牛，奶牛就变成了金的，“我要把它们都变成金的，我将有美丽的金奶牛。”他把所有的奶牛都变成了金的。
“我再也不会有牛奶喝了，”他说，“不过我一碰牛奶，牛奶马上就会变成金的，我不要牛奶了。”
不久，他回来了。他看着自己的小女孩。
他抬头望着天空。
太阳要下山了，把天空变成了一片金黄色。金子！金子！——都是金子。
然后，迈德斯出来，到了花园，他哭了。
迈德斯坐在花园里正哭着的时候，迪奥尼修斯来了，他站在迈德斯面前。
“现在您幸福吗，国王？”神说。
“不，”国王说，“我从前是幸福的。在你上次来以前我是幸福的。可是现在我很不幸。”
“但现在您有许多金子，为什么您不幸福？还没有一个人象您现在这样拥有这么多金子。您说过没有什么东西跟金子一样美丽。”
“我不要它！”迈德斯哭喊着，“我不要金子，我要我的小女孩变过来，把我的小女孩还给我！把我的花变过来。把所有的金子拿走，让我喜爱的东西都变过来。”
“到河边去，”迪奥尼修斯说：“跳进水里，您就会跟从前一样，把水洒在所有被您变成了金子的东西上，他们就会跟从前一样。”
然后，迪奥尼修斯走了。他升到天上去了。
迈德斯跑下河去，他跳进水里。然后他从水里出来，他把手放在一块石头上，这块石头没有变成金的。
接着他拿了一个罐子过来，他装满了一罐水，他提了装满水的罐子跑回大厅，他把水泼在小女孩身上，她变回来了，睁开了双眼。
“哇！”她喊道，“我是睡着了吗？”
她跑进花园。
“父王，”她喊，“您没把这些花变回来，它们都是死的，都成了金的，每朵花都是死的。来！来把我的花变回来。噢！看看这金的奶牛！”
“跟我来，”迈德斯说，“我要把这些花变回来，”
于是，迈德斯提着装满河水的罐子和他的小女孩一起跑进花园，他们一边跑，一边将所有的东西变回来。他们把花、树、鸟、鸡和奶牛都变回来了。然后他们跑进房子，把桌子、门、笔和纸都变了回来，他们还把迈德斯的那顶帽子也变了回来了。
“您还喜爱金子吗？”当他们坐在小屋吃饭时，小女孩问。
“不，”迈德斯说，“我喜爱树、花和鸟，还有你。”