Nevertheless, so great was his hunger that King Midas groaned aloud. 然而，他实在太饿了，迈达斯国王大声地呻吟起来。

Pretty Marygold could endure it no longer. 漂亮的玛丽金再也受不了了。

She sat a moment gazing at her father, and trying with all her might to find out what was the matter with him. 她坐了一会儿，眼睛盯着父亲，用尽全身的力气想弄清他出了什么事。

Then, with a sweet and sorrowful desire to comfort him, she ran to him and threw her arms lovingly about his knees. 然后，带着甜蜜和悲伤的愿望，她想安慰他，跑到他身边，亲切地搂住他的膝盖。

He bent down and kissed her. 他弯下腰吻了吻她。

He felt that his little daughter's love was worth a thousand times more than the Golden Touch. 他觉得他小女儿的爱比那点金术更有价值一千倍。

“My precious, precious Marygold!” cried he. “我珍贵的，珍贵的玛丽金!”他哭着说道。

But Marygold made no answer. 但是玛丽金没有回答。

Alas, what had he done? 唉，他做了什么？

The moment the lips of Midas touched Marygold's forehead, a change had taken place. 迈达斯的嘴唇一碰到玛丽金的前额，就发生了变化。

Her sweet rosy face, so full of affection as it had been, became a glittering yellow color with yellow teardrops hardening on her cheeks. 她那甜蜜的玫瑰色的脸，原来是那样充满了感情，现在变成了一种闪闪发光的黄色，黄色的泪珠在她的面颊上凝结着。

Her beautiful brown ringlets took the same tint. 她漂亮的棕色卷发也染上了同样的颜色。

Her soft and tender little form grew hard and stiff within her father's arms. 她那娇嫩的小身体在她父亲的怀里变得又硬又僵。

O terrible misfortune! 可怕的不幸啊！

Little Marygold was a human child no longer, but a golden statue! 小玛丽金不再是人类的孩子了，而是一座金色的雕像！

Yes, there she was, with the look of love, grief, and pity hardened into her face. 是的，她就在那儿，脸上带着爱、悲伤和怜悯的表情。

It was the prettiest and most woeful sight that anyone ever saw. 这是人们所见过的最美丽、最悲惨的景象。

All the features of Marygold were there, even the beloved little dimple in her golden chin. 金灿灿的五官都在那里，连她金色下巴上可爱的小酒窝也在那里。

It had been a favorite habit of Midas, whenever he felt particularly fond of the child, to say that she was worth her weight in gold. 每当迈达斯特别喜欢这个孩子的时候，他总是喜欢说，她的金子和她的体重是相称的。

And now the phrase had become really true. 现在这句话变成了真的。

And now, at last, when it was too late, he realized how much greater value had a warm and tender heart that loved him than all the wealth that could be piled up betwixt the earth and sky! 现在，当一切都太晚的时候，他终于意识到，拥有一颗爱他的温暖而温柔的心，比天地之间所能堆积的一切财富更有价值！