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The History of the First Old Man and
the Hind
The hind, whom you, Lord Genie, see here, is my wife. I married her when she was twelve years old, and we lived together thirty years, without having any children. At the end of that time I adopted into my family a son, whom a slave had borne. This act of mine excited the hatred and jealousy of my wife against the mother and her child. She took the opportunity during my absence on a journey, by her knowledge of magic, to change the slave and my adopted son into a cow and a calf, and sent them to my farm to be fed and taken care of by the steward.
Immediately on my return, I inquired after my child and his mother. “Your slave is dead,” said she, “and it is now more than two months since I have beheld your son; nor do I know what is become of him.” I was deeply affected at the death of the slave; but as my son had only disappeared, I flattered myself that he would soon be found. Eight months,
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