# Midas—Baucis and Philemon explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology > Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. ## What happens The chapter recounts two myths from Phrygia. First, King Midas is granted the golden touch by Bacchus, which becomes a curse until he washes it away in the Pactolus River. He later judges a music contest between Pan and Apollo, and is punished with ass's ears for his poor judgment. The second story tells of Baucis and Philemon, an elderly couple who hospitably entertain Jupiter and Mercury in disguise. As a reward, their cottage is transformed into a temple, and they are granted a wish to die together, eventually turning into two intertwined trees. ## Themes in this chapter ### Hospitality and Its Violation The inhospitable villagers refuse shelter to Jupiter and Mercury, leading to their destruction, while Baucis and Philemon's generous welcome earns them divine favor. ### Hubris and Divine Retribution Midas's greed for the golden touch and his arrogance in judging Apollo's music result in punishment: the golden curse and transformation of his ears. ### Love and Transformation Baucis and Philemon's enduring love leads to their wish to die together, fulfilled by their transformation into intertwined trees. ## Character check-ins ### Jupiter Visits Phrygia in human form with Mercury, seeking shelter; later reveals himself and rewards Baucis and Philemon. ### Mercury Accompanies Jupiter in disguise without his wings; participates in the hospitality test. ### Phoebus Apollo Competes in a music contest with Pan, judged by Tmolus; punishes Midas for dissenting by giving him ass's ears. ### Bacchus Grants Midas the golden touch and later instructs him to wash away the curse in the Pactolus River. ### Midas King of Phrygia who receives the golden touch, judges Pan's music poorly, and is given ass's ears by Apollo. ### Pan Challenges Apollo to a music contest; his rustic melody is favored by Midas but loses the judgment. ## Key lines > He asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold. Bacchus consented, though sorry that he had not made a better choice. Midas wished for the power to turn everything he touched into gold, and Bacchus granted it, regretting that Midas had not chosen more wisely. _Highlights Midas's greed and Bacchus's reluctant granting of the wish._ > Apollo would not suffer such a depraved pair of ears any longer to wear the human form, but caused them to increase in length, grow hairy, within and without, and movable on their roots; in short, to be on the perfect pattern of those of an ass. Apollo punished Midas for his poor judgment by transforming his ears into those of a donkey. _Illustrates divine retribution for hubris in judging the music contest._ > We are gods. This inhospitable village shall pay the penalty of its impiety; you alone shall go free from the chastisement. Jupiter and Mercury reveal their divinity and declare that the inhospitable village will be punished, but Baucis and Philemon will be spared. _Emphasizes the theme of hospitality and its violation._ > We ask to be priests and guardians of this your temple; and since here we have passed our lives in love and concord, we wish that one and the same hour may take us both from life, that I may not live to see her grave, nor be laid in my own by her. Baucis and Philemon request to serve as priests of the temple and to die together at the same moment, so neither has to endure the other's death. _Shows their devotion to each other and their wish for a shared end._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/vi-midas-baucis-and-philemon - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters