Никоненко Тамара Петрівна

      Midas was a very rich king but he was not happy. Every day he counted his gold and wished for more. King Midas had a little daughter Marygold. He loved her very much and wished to make her the richest princess. But Marygold loved the sun and flowers more than all the gold in her Father’s house. One day a man came into the king’s room. The king looked at him and asked, “Who are you?” “I am Mercury — one of the gods. You have much gold, king Midas,” said Mercury. “I have not so much as I wish,” said the king. “Are you not happy, king Midas?” asked Mercury. “I want that everything I touch will turn to gold,” answered the king. “Well,” said Mercury, “wait for the morning and you will have the golden touch.” Next morning, when king Midas began to dress, his clothes became gold. The chairs, the tables, everything he touched turned to gold. The bread became gold too when he touched it and the water in his glass.

      Suddenly the door opened and Marygold came in. She had a rose in her hand. “Oh, my roses, my roses!” she cried. They all are hard!” “They are golden roses,” said the king. “Are they not beautiful?” “No, no,” cried Marygold; “I do not like them.” “Well, well,” said the king, “do not cry, eat your breakfast now.” Marygold saw that the king looked very unhappy and she kissed him. But when she touched him, her hands and her feet became gold and hard. She was no longer a little girl but a golden doll. Suddenly someone said, “Are you happy now, king Midas?” The king looked up and saw Mercury. “I am the most unhappy man,” he cried. “You have the golden touch,” said Mercury. “Oh, give me back my little girl,” said the king,” and I shall give you all the gold I have.” “Well,” said Mercury, “Let it be a lesson to you. I take the golden touch back.” And Mercury took the golden touch back. King Midas kissed Marygold and went to play with her in the garden. And they became very happy ever since.

Vocabulary

god — бог

turn to gold — перетворюватись у золото

  Agree or disagree. Variant I

1. Midas was a very rich king.
2. He was very happy.
3. He wanted to make his daughter the happiest princess.
4. His daughter loved the gold in her father’s house.
5. One day a woman came in the king’s room. Her name was Aphrodite.
6. The king told Mercury that he wanted everything he touched to turn to gold.
7. Marygold was happy. She also enjoyed her father’s golden touch.
8. She became a golden doll when she touched her father.
9. The king was very unhappy to see his daughter as a golden doll.
10. Mercury never came to the king’s place after that.
11. The king was very sorry with everything he had done and soon he died.

Agree or disagree. Variant II

1. Midas was not a very rich king.
2. Every day he counted his gold and wished for going to see his daughter.
3. Marygold loved the sun and the flowers most of all.
4. One day a man came in the king’s room. His name was Mercury
5. The king wanted to have a golden touch.
6. Mercury asked the king to wait for the evening.
7. Next morning nothing strange happened.
8. Marygold also wanted to have much gold.
9. Marygold became a golden doll when she touched her father.
10. Mercury couldn’t take the golden touch back.
11. The king Midas was taught a good lesson.