son back to his proper shape."

"Yes, I can," she replied, "on two conditions. One is that you
will give him to me for a husband, and the other is that you will let
me punish the woman who changed him into a calf."

"To the first condition," I answered, "I agree with all my heart,
and I will give you an ample dowry. To the second I also agree,
I only beg you to spare her life."

"That I will do," she replied; "I will treat her as she treated
your son."

Then she took a vessel of water and pronounced over it some words
I did not understand; then, on throwing the water over him,
he became immediately a young man once more.

"My son, my dear son," I exclaimed, kissing him in a transport of joy.
"This kind maiden has rescued you from a terrible enchantment,
and I am sure that out of gratitude you will marry her."

He consented joyfully, but before they were married, the young girl
changed my wife into a hind, and it is she whom you see before you.
I wished her to have this form rather than a stranger one, so that we
could see her in the family without repugnance.

Since then my son has become a widower and has gone travelling.
I am now going in search of him, and not wishing to confide my wife
to the care of other people, I am taking her with me. Is this not
a most marvellous tale?