The second old man thinking it also worth his curiosity, resolved to do the same, and took his seat by them.  They had scarcely begun to converse together, when there arrived a third old man leading a mule.  He addressed himself to the two former, and asked why the merchant who sat with them looked so melancholy?  They told him the reason, which appeared to him so extraordinary, that he also resolved to witness the result; and for that purpose sat down with them.

In a short time they perceived a thick vapour, like a cloud of dust raised by a whirlwind, advancing towards them.  When it had come up to them it suddenly vanished, and the genie appeared; who, without saluting them, went to the merchant with a drawn cimeter, and taking him by the arm, said, “Get thee up, that I may kill thee, as thou didst my son.”  The merchant and the three old men began to lament and fill the air with their cries.

When the old man who led the hind saw the genie lay hold of the merchant, and about to kill him, he threw himself at the feet of the monster, and kissing them, said to him, “Prince of genies, I most humbly request you to suspend your anger, and do me the favour to hear me.  I will tell you the history of my life, and of the hind you see; and if you think it more wonderful and surprising than the adventure of the merchant, I hope you will pardon the unfortunate man a third of his offence.”  The genie took some time to deliberate on this proposal, but answered at last, “Well then, I agree.”

          The Story of the First Old Man and the Hind.

I shall begin my story then; listen to me, I pray you, with attention.  This hind you see is my cousin; nay, what is more, my wife.  She was only twelve years of age when I married her, so that I may justly say, she ought to regard me equally as her father, her kinsman, and her husband.

We lived together twenty years, without any children.  Her barrenness did not effect any change in my love; I still treated her with much kindness and affection.  My desire of having children only induced me to purchase a slave, by whom I had a son, who was extremely promising.  My wife being jealous, cherished a hatred for both mother and child, but concealed her aversion so well, that I knew nothing of it till it was too late.

Mean time my son grew up, and was ten years old, when I was obliged to undertake a long journey.  Before I went, I recommended to my wife, of whom I had no mistrust, the slave and her son, and prayed her to take care of them during my absence, which was to be for a whole year.  She however employed that time to satisfy her hatred.  She applied herself to magic, and when she had learnt enough of that diabolical art to execute her horrible design, the wretch carried my son to a desolate place, where, by her enchantments, she changed him into a calf, and gave him to my farmer to fatten, pretending she had bought him.  Her enmity did not stop at this abominable action, but she likewise changed the slave into a cow, and gave her also to my farmer.