Midas

Ears Transformed

 

Midas is selected as one of the judges of a music competition between the gods Apollo and Pan. Though Apollo is the clear winner, Midas – who is friends with Pan – declares the verdict unjust. Apollo isn’t amused.

 

Human shape no more

The god permits his foolish ears to wear;

But long extends them, and with hoary hairs

Fills them within; and grants them power to move,

From their foundation flexile. All beside

Was man, one part felt his revenge alone;

A slowly pacing asses ears he bears.

His head, weigh'd heavy with his load of shame,

He strove in purple turban to enfold;

Thus his disgrace to hide. But when as wont

His slave his hairs, unseemly lengthen'd, cropp'd,

He saw the change; the tale he fear'd to tell,

Of what he witness'd, though he anxious wish'd

In public to proclaim it: yet to hold

Sacred the trust surpass'd his power. He went

Forth, and digg'd up the earth; with whispering voice

There he imparted of his master's ears

What he had seen; and murmur'd to the sod:

But bury'd close the confidential words

Beneath the turf again: then, all fill'd up,

Silently he departed. From the spot

Began a thick-grown tuft of trembling reeds

To spring, which ripening with the year's full round,

Betray'd their planter. By the light south wind

When agitated, they the bury'd words

Disclos'd, betraying what the monarch's ears.

 

Or in plainer English, Apollo gives Midas the ears of an ass. He wears a hat to cover them, so only his barber knows the ugly truth. Eventually the barber can keep the secret no more, so he digs a hole, whispers into it and then fills it back in. Unfortunately some nearby reeds overhear him, and they tell everyone “Midas has asses’ ears” (which sounds a little like the soft murmur of wind blowing through reeds).