King Midas having done Bacchus a service. the god promised to grant him his first prayer. "Grant, o Bacchus" said Midas, "that all I touch may turn to gold I" To see if the god had kept his promise, Midas picked up a stone which straightway became an ingot of gold. Mad with joy, he tore off his sandals, and wherever he went, he left foot- prints of gold. But his joy was short-lived. For. when hunger seized him and he would eat, the food he touched turned into gold. Then Midas realized how foolish and wicked was his prayer. He implored Bacchus to have pity on him and take back the gift he had made, and he, seeing that Midas repented of his avarice, bade him go and wash the in Pactolus. The miraculous golden gift passed into the rushing stream. and from that day the waters of the Pactolus have rolled down sands of gold.