ME′RU. The abode of the Hindoo god Vishnu. It is at the top of a
mountain 80,000 leagues high. The Olympus of the Indians.
MI′DAS. A king of Phrygia, who begged of Bacchus the special gift that
everything that he touched might be turned into gold. The request was
granted, and as soon as he touched his food it also was turned to
gold, and for fear of being starved he was compelled to ask the god to
withdraw the power he had bestowed upon him. He was told to bathe in
the river Pactolus. He did so, and the sands which he stood on were
golden for ever after. It was this same king who, being appointed to be
judge in a musical contest between Apollo and Pan, gave the Satyr the
palm; whereupon Apollo, to show his contempt, bestowed on him a pair of
asses’ ears. This gave rise to the term “Midas-eared,” as a synonym for
ill-judged, or indiscriminate.
“He dug a hole, and in it whispering said,
What monstrous ears sprout from King Midas’ head.”