MIDA, MYDA. Midas, son of Gordius and the goddess Cybele, a non-historical figure, was king of Phrygia. In a musical contest Tmolus gave the crown to Apollo, but Midas thought that Pan deserved it. Apollo thereupon punished him with a pair of ass's ears, which Midas successfully concealed in his purple turban. Eventually, his barber discovered his secret and longed to tell someone, but dared not. He finally dug a hole in the ground and whispered his secret into it. Reeds grew out of the hole and, when the wind rustled through them, they whispered, "Midas has ass ears" (Met XI.85-193; OM XI.303-770).

Alys of Bath substitutes Myda's wife for his barber, a version she has undoubtedly learned from Jankyn, WBT 951-980. In Machaut, La Fonteinne amoureuse 1689-1702, Midas's barbers discover the ass ears. Mida is called "full of coveteise," Tr III.1389, and is linked with Crassus, who had molten gold poured down his throat. Gower tells the story of Midas, whose golden touch turned all to gold, to illustrate avarice, Confessio Amantis V.153-362. Hugh Capet recalls the fates of Midas and Crassus, two examples of avarice, Purg XX.106. [Crassus]

Mida, the Italian form, appears medially, Tr III.1389; Myda, a spelling variant, appears medially, WBP 951, 953.