"Ah! my trusty John, could I but bring you back to life again!"
Some time afterwards, to their great joy, twins were born to them, two healthy boys. One day the Queen was at church and the King was at home playing with his children, when he looked up at the statue and said:
"Ah, my poor faithful John, what would I not do to bring you back to life!"
To his surprise the statue answered him and said:
"If you will sacrifice what is dearest to you, you can restore my life to me."
"I will do anything in the world for you, only tell me what," answered the King.
Then the statue spoke again:
"Cut off the heads of your children, and sprinkle me with their blood, and I will be restored to life."
The poor King was horrified when he heard this, for how could he do such an awful deed as to kill his own children? But he thought of all John had done for him, and how much he had sacrificed, and, without flinching, he drew his sword to cut off their heads.