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as was poſſible: for him: to do, to ſignify that he was my Son.
I was more ſurprized and affected with this Action, than with the Tears of the Cow; I found a tender Pity, which made me concern my ſelf for him, or rather, Nature did its Duty. Go, ſays I, to the Farmer, carry home that Calf, take great care of him, and bring me another in his Place, immediately.
Aſſoon as my Wife heard me ſay ſo, ſhe immediately cried out, What do you do, Husband? take my Advice, ſacrifice no other Calf but that. Wife, ſays I, I will not ſacrifice him, I will ſpare him, and pray don’t you oppoſe it. The wicked Woman had no Regard to my Deſire, ſhe hated my Son too much, to conſent that I ſhould ſave him, I tied the poor Creature, and taking up the fatal Knife—here Scheherazade ſtop’d becauſe ſhe perceiv’d Day-light.
Then Dinarzade faid, Siſter, I am enchanted with this Story, which beſpeaks my Attention ſo agreeably. If the Sultan will ſuffer the to live to Day, anſwers Scheherazade, what I have to tell you to Morrow, will divert you abundantly more. Schahriar curious to know what would become of the old Man’s Son that led the Bitch, told the Sultaneſs, he would be very glad to hear the end of that Story next Night.
The Fifth Night.
WHen Day began to draw near, Dinarzade put her Sifter’s Orders in Execution very exactly; who being, awak’d, pray’d the Sultan to allow her to give Dinarzade that Satisfaction, which the Prince, who Took ſo much pleaſure in the Story himſelf, willingly agreed to.
Sir, then, ſays Scheherazade, the firſt old Man who led the Bitch continuing his Story to the Genie, the two other old Men, and the Merchant, proceeded thus: I took the Knife, ſays, he, and was going to ſtrike it into my Son’s throat; when turning his Eyes, bath’d with Tears, in a
languiſhing manner, towards me, he affected me ſo, that I had not Strength to ſacrifice him, but let the knife fall,and
