The Choice of King Midas, 1873 Poem

THE CHOICE OF KING MIDAS, from the American Journal of Numismatics 1873

   “GOLD, gold, money untold!"
Cried Midas to Bacchus, beseeching.
     Said the god, “I’m afraid,
    By the prayer you have made,
You are vastly too overreaching.
    But the gold I will grant,
     Aye, more than you want."
     Said Midas, “My coffer
    Holds more than your offer,
So grant me the treasure without stint or measure."

     Gold, gold, money untold,
King Midas found came to his wishes:
    Wherever he trod,
    Rich gold was his sod;
Gold covered his meat and his dishes!
   No mint more prolific,
    His touch was specific,
And turned all to ore that was gold to the core.

Gold, gold, money untold! “Alas!" cried the monarch, confounded,
"I would rather, I think,
Have good victuals and drink
Than be with such metal surrounded.
    Mighty Bacchus, I pray,
    Let your gift pass away,
For gold of itself can no hunger allay!"

“Gold, gold, money untold,” Said the god to the penitent miser,
“Is a gift of no worth
To the children of earth,
Nor makes them the better or wiser!
But a way I'll unfold
To wash off your gold,
If you wish me to be your adviser."

“Gold, gold, money untold,
To be rid of you I will endeavor."
So the King laid aside
Both his robes and his pride,
And plunged into Pactolus River.
From his skin fell away
     All the gold, strange to say,
And is left in the sands there forever!

Though good is gold, to have and hold,
  This story makes it clear,
Who sells himself for sordid pelf,
  Has bought it much too dear!

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MIDAS by Jones Very 1886

Turn all I touch to gold,
  King Midas said.
His wish was granted, and behold!
His very meat was gold, and gold his bread.

And liquid gold the drink
  He raised on high,
When o'er the golden goblet's brink
The water to his eager lips came nigh.

Ah, fatal gift! that balked
  His greedy soul;
Which in its very richness mocked;
For gold is but one thing, and not the whole.

So they, who money seek,
   Gold, only gold,
Are childish, disappointed, weak,
Though gained their end; like that famed king of old.