Amidst his gold with pinching famine curst,
And justly tortured with an equal thirst.
At last his shining arms to heaven he rears
And, in distress, for refuge flies to prayers.
'O father Bacchus, I have sinned,' he cried,
'And foolishly thy gracious gift applied,
Thy pity now, repenting, I implore;
Oh! may I feel the golden plague no more!'"
Ovid.
He was told to wash himself in the river Pactolus; he performed the necessary ablution, and the very sands were turned into gold by the touch of Midas. Divine honours were given to Silenus in Arcadia, and from him the Fauns and Satyrs are often called Sileni.