Tales of the Punjab: Folklore of India Part 28

Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on his way until he reached his father's city. There he sat down to rest a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen pitchers. Now, as they pa.s.sed him, their full pitchers poised upon their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels, and broke them all. Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young Prince in s.h.i.+ning armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers.

Now, as soon as Raja Salbahan heard this, he guessed at once that it was Prince Rasalu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the Jogis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize the offender and bring him to be judged. So he bade the women be comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and bra.s.s, and gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of their own.

But when Prince Rasalu saw the women returning to the well with pitchers of iron and bra.s.s, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though they had been clay.

Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace. He strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Salbahan, in fear of his life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.

Then Prince Rasalu called scornfully to him across the hall--

'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!

What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?

Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me-- I go to seek a worthier prize than they!'

Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as he pa.s.sed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and mother. So he cried sorrowfully--

'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught But tears for thy son?

Art mother of mine? Give one thought To my life just begun!'

And Queen Lona answered through her tears--

'Yea! mother am I, though I weep, So hold this word sure,-- Go, reign king of all men, but keep Thy heart good and pure!'

So Raja Rasalu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune. He took with him his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, and his parrot, both of whom had lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who were determined to follow the Prince till death.

So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept, saying--

'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes, Let the cloud of thy going arise, Dim the sunlight and darken the day; For the mother whose son is away Is as dust!'

HOW RAJA RASaLU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM

Now, on the first day, Raja Rasalu journeyed far, until he came to a lonely forest, where he halted for the night. And seeing it was a desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch. So he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasalu the third.

Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean gra.s.s for his master, and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement--

'Cradled till now on softest down, Gra.s.s is thy couch to-night; Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown-- Brave hearts heed not her slight!'

Now, when Raja Rasalu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers.

'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?'

'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the serpent. 'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither?

Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his s.h.i.+eld, and said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be discouraged.

Now, when it came to Raja Rasalu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful unspeakable horror came out of the thicket. Nevertheless, Rasalu went up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you here?'

Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything for thrice twelve miles around! Who are _you_ that dare come hither?'

Whereupon Rasalu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it.

And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and Rasalu returned to watch in peace.

Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasalu called his sleeping servants, and the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.

'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja. 'Come and see what I killed in the cave!'

And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasalu had slain, they were exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasalu, you are a Raja and a hero! You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we follow you we shall surely be killed. Such things are nought to you, but they are death to us. Let us go!'

Then Rasalu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they wished, saying--

'Aloes linger long before they flower: Gracious rain too soon is overpast: Youth and strength are with us but an hour: All glad life must end in death at last!

But king reigns king without consent of courtier; Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.

Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier, Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!'

So his friends forsook him, and Rasalu journeyed on alone.

HOW RAJA RASaLU KILLED THE GIANTS

[Ill.u.s.tration: Old woman making unleavened bread]

Now, after a time, Raja Rasalu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasalu asked her why she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her cakes, 'Why do you ask? What will you gain by it?'

'Nay, mother!' replied Rasalu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us must benefit by it.'

And when the old woman looked in Rasalu's face she saw that it was kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger, I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo, and a basket of cakes! Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers. Therefore I weep!'

Then Rasalu was moved to pity, and said--

'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears-- Keep thou thy son. I fear nor death nor life, Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.

My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.'

Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words, fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?'

Then Rasalu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed, Bhaunr Iraqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother! I give you my word of honour that I will risk my life to save your son.'

Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell a-weeping once more, saying--

'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the turban bound high O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my oppressor draws nigh!'

Then Raja Rasalu rose in his s.h.i.+ning armour, and haughtily bade the guards stand aside.