Editing Midas (section)

==== Similar myths in other cultures ====
In pre-Islamic legend of Central Asia, the king of the Ossounes of the [[Yenisei]] basin had [[donkey's ears]]. He would hide them, and order each of his barbers murdered to hide his secret. The last barber among his people was counselled to whisper the heavy secret into a well after sundown, but he didn't cover the well afterwards. The well water rose and flooded the kingdom, creating the waters of [[Lake Issyk-Kul]].<ref>The legend is related in [[Ella Maillart]], [[Dervla Murphy]], ''Turkestan solo: a journey through Central Asia'' (1938) 2005:48f; a wholly separate origin uncontaminated by the legend of Midas is not likely.</ref>

According to an Irish legend, the king [[Labraid Loingsech]] had horse/donkeys's ears, something he was concerned to keep quiet. He had his hair cut once a year, and the barber, who was chosen by lot, was immediately put to death. A widow, hearing that her only son had been chosen to cut the king's hair, begged the king not to kill him, and he agreed, so long as the barber kept his secret. The burden of the secret was so heavy that the barber fell ill. A [[druid]] advised him to go to a crossroads and tell his secret to the first tree he came to, and he would be relieved of his burden and be well again. He told the secret to a large [[willow]]. Soon after this, however, a harper named Craiftine broke his instrument, and made a new one out of the very willow the barber had told his secret to. Whenever he played it, the harp sang "Labraid Lorc has horse's ears". Labraid repented of all the barbers he had put to death and admitted his secret.<ref>[[Geoffrey Keating]], ''Foras Feasa ar Éirinn'' [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text039.html 1.29]–[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100054/text040.html 1.30]</ref>

In Ireland, at Loch Ine, West Cork, there is a similar story told of the inhabitant of its island, who had ass's ears. Anyone engaged to cut this King's hair was then put to death. But the reeds (in the form of a musical flute) spoke of them and the secret was out.

The myth is also known in [[Brittany]] where the king [[Mark of Cornwall]] is believed to have ruled the south-western region of Cornouaille. Chasing a white doe, he loses his best horse ''Morvarc'h'' (''Seahorse'') when the doe kills it with an arrow thrown by Mark. Trying to kill the doe, he is cursed by [[Dahut]], a magician who lives under the sea. She gives life to Morvarc'h back but switches his ears and mane with Mark's ears and hair. Worried that the word might get out, Mark hides in his castle and kills every barber that comes to cut his hair until his milk brother Yeun is the last barber alive in Cornouaille. He promises to let him live if Yeun keeps the secret and Yeun cuts his hairs with a magical pair of scissors. The secret is too heavy for Yeun though and he goes to a beach to dig a hole and tell his secret in it. When he leaves, three reeds appear. Years later, when Mark's sister marries, the musicians are unable to play for the reeds of their bagpipes and bombards have been stolen by [[korrigan]]s. They find three reeds on the beach and use them to make new ones, but the music instruments, instead of playing music, only sing "The King Mark has the ears and the mane of his horse Morvarc'h on his head" and Mark departs never to be seen again.<ref>Larvol, Gwenole. ''Ar Roue Marc'h a zo gantañ war e benn moue ha divskouarn e varc'h Morvarc'h''. Saint-Breuc, TES. 2010.</ref>