As soon as my wife heard me give this order, she exclaimed, “What are you about, husband?  Take my advice, sacrifice no other calf but that.”  “Wife,” I replied, “I will not sacrifice him, I will spare him, and pray do not you oppose me.”  The wicked woman had no regard to my wishes; she hated my son too much to consent that I should save him.  I tied the poor creature, and taking up the fatal knife, was going to plunge it into my son’s throat, when turning his eyes bathed with tears, in a languishing manner, towards me, he affected me so much that I had not strength to kill him.  I let the knife fall, and told my wife positively that I would have another calf to sacrifice, and not that.  She used all her endeavours to persuade me to change my resolution; but I continued firm, and pacified her a little, by promising that I would sacrifice him against the Bairam of the following year.

The next morning my farmer desired to speak with me alone.  “I come,” said he, “to communicate to you a piece of intelligence, for which I hope you will return me thanks.  I have a daughter that has some skill in magic.  Yesterday, as I carried back the calf which you would not sacrifice, I perceived she laughed when she saw him, and in a moment after fell a weeping.  I asked her why she acted two such opposite parts at one and the same time. ‘ rather,’ replied she, ‘ the calf you bring back is our landlord’s son; I laughed for joy to see him still alive, and wept at the remembrance of the sacrifice that was made the other day of his mother, who was changed into a cow.  These two metamorphoses were made by the enchantments of our master’s wife, who hated both the mother and son.’  This is what my daughter told me,” said the farmer, “and I come to acquaint you with it.”

I leave you to judge how much I was surprised.  I went immediately to my farmer, to speak to his daughter myself.  As soon as I arrived, I went forthwith to the stall where my son was kept; he could not return my embraces, but received them in such a manner, as fully satisfied me he was my son.

The farmer’s daughter then came to us:  “My good maid,” said I, “can you restore my son to his former shape?” “Yes,” she replied, “I can.”  “Ah!” said I, “if you do, I will make you mistress of all my fortune.”  She answered me, smiling, “You are our master, and I well know what I owe to you; but I cannot restore your son to his former shape, except on two conditions:  the first is, that you give him to me for my husband; and the second, that you allow me to punish the person who changed him into a calf.”  “As to the first,” I replied, “I agree with all my heart:  nay, I promise you more, a considerable fortune for yourself, independently of what I design for my son:  in a word, you shall see how I will reward the great service I expect from you.  As to what relates to my wife, I also agree; a person who has been capable of committing such a criminal action, justly deserves to be punished.  I leave her to your disposal, only I must pray you not to take her life.”  “I am going then,” answered she, “to treat her as she treated your son.”  “To this I consent,” said I, “provided you first of all restore to me my son.”