米达斯国王

米达斯国王

很久以前，有一个国王叫做米达斯，他比世界上所有的人都有钱，但他仍然不快乐。他每天都想要更多的黄金。

米达斯国王有一个小女儿，国王非常爱她，但他最爱的还是金子。

The King of Midas

Long, long ago, there was a king called Midas. He was the richest man in the world, but he was still not happy. Everyday, he yearned after even more gold.

The king of Midas had a young daughter. The king loved her very much, but he loved gold even more.

一天，当国王坐在他的金屋里，数着他的钱时，一个小精灵站在他面前。

“你有很多的黄金，米达斯国王。”小精灵说。

“或许是吧，”国王说，“但是，我想有更多，那样我就更快乐了。”

“是吗？”小精灵说，“你敢肯定你会更快乐吗？”

“对，我希望我摸到的每一件东西都能变成金子，”国王说，“那样我就是世界上最幸福的人了。”

One day, when the king went to sit and count his fortune in his gold vault, a little elf appeared before him.

"You have a lot of gold, king of Midas," said the little elf.

"That may be so," said the king, "But I want more. If I had more, I would be happy."

"Really?" said the little elf, "Are you certain that you would be happier?"

"That's right. I wish everything I touched turned to gold," said the king, "Then I would be the happiest man in the world."

“你的愿望将会实现。”小精灵说，“明天早上你摸到的每一件东西都将变成金子。”

说完，小精灵就消失了。

第二天早上，当米达斯国王醒来时，他用手轻轻地摸了摸床，床立即就变成了金子。当他穿衣服的时候，他的衣服也变成了金子。他绕着房子摸每一件东西，每一件东西都变成了金子。他高兴极了！

国王下楼去吃早餐，奇怪的事情发生了。当他拿起水喝时，水变成了金子；当他拿起苹果要吃时，苹果变成了金子；当他摸到面包时，面包变成了金子。

"Your wish will come true." said the small elf,"From tomorrow morning, everything you touch will turn to gold."

On saying this, the little elf disappeared.

The next morning, when the king of Midas awoke, he touched the bed lightly with his hand. The bed immediately turned to gold. When he dressed, his clothes also turned to gold. He circled the room, touching everything, and everything turned to gold. He was overjoyed!

The king went downstairs to eat breakfast. A strange thing happened. When he reached for water to drink, the water turned to gold. When he picked up an apple to eat, the apple turned to gold. When he touched the bread, the bread turned to gold.

“我该怎么办？”国王叫了起来，“我又渴又饿，但我不能吃也不能喝。”

就在这时，他心爱的小女儿进来了，国王吻了她，她也马上就变成了金子。她不再是一个小姑娘，而成了一个金娃娃。

这时，一个声音问：“你快乐吗，米达斯国王？”

国王一看，正是那个小精灵站在他旁边，“快乐？”国王哭了起来，“我是世界上最不快乐的人！我失掉了我的女儿。”

"What should I do?" cried the king, "I am thirsty and hungry, but I can neither eat nor drink."

At this point, his precious daughter came in. The king kissed her, and she too turned to gold. She was no longer a young lady, but a golden doll.

At this point, a voice asked, "Are you happy, king of Midas?"

The king turned to look, and saw the little elf standing by his side, "Happy?" sobbed the king, "I am the unhappiest man in the world! I have lost my daughter."

“但这是你的愿望呀！”小精灵说。

“噢，小精灵，”国王乞求道，“带走这个点金术吧，带走我的金子吧，带走我所有的一切吧，只要还回我的女儿。”

“好，”小精灵说，“去河里洗洗你自己吧，然后装满一罐子水，回来后洒到你变成金子的那些东西上。”米达斯国王跑到河里，跳了进去。然后他又带回来一些水，洒到小女儿身上。

马上，小女儿睁开了眼睛，吻了她的父亲。从此，米达斯国王再也没有想要更多黄金的念头了。

"But this is your wish!" said the little elf.

"O, little elf," begged the king,"Lift this spell, and take away all my gold, take everything. I only want you to return my daughter."

"Very well," said the little elf, "Go and wash yourself in the river, then fill a bucket of water and pour it over your young daughter."

The little daughter immediately opened her eyes and kissed her father. From this time on, the kind of Midas never yearned after gold again.

yearned v.渴望（yearn的过去时）