title: Midas
author: Henry Livingston Jr.
date: 1827
source: manuscript book of daughter Jane Livingston (Thomas Collection), poems in Henry Livingston's hand; signed "H. 78 L". URL: https://www.henrylivingston.com/writing/poetry/midas.htm (fetched via https://web.archive.org/web/20250522013617/https://www.henrylivingston.com/writing/poetry/midas.htm)
form: iambic tetrameter
lines: 30
attribution: certain
notes: Comic/moral fable of King Midas. Site heading/headnote: MIDAS. MS scan: https://www.henrylivingston.com/writing/poetry/janesdoublepages/p62-p63.htm

The miser Midas to his store
Was anxious to add more and more -
- Poor Jupiter no peace could have
From his eternal restless CRAVE;
And his petitions wax'd so bold
He prayed whate'er he touch'd were gold:
Jove in a pet, supplied his want
And sent down Hermes with the grant.

The Save-all, Have-all, now elated
Flew to his Queen and all related
In transport took her in his arms
But found a mass of golden charms:
Amaz'd he sought his sofa's down
The sofa was metalic grown.

Affrighted now, the bell he found;
'Twas turned to gold, and could not sound.
His guards attended to his call
And rush'd en-masse into the hall
A well appointed martial band -
- He seized their leader by the hand

And beg'd assistance - But behold
The galant captain turn'd to gold.

A cup of wine he next besought
The wine was by a servant brought,
But e'er he took a single sip
A lump of gold assail'd his lip.

Dispirited and almost spent
T'was gold, and gold, where'er he went
T'ill loosd from life's enfeebled hold
He perish'd in the midst of gold.