Malayan Literature Part 7

And all the workers came, and built it there, With ramparts three. As if by magic then A golden palace rose. The outer gate Was iron, loaded down with arms, and held By demons and by Ethiopians.

These were the keepers of the gates, with steeds Untamed. With swords unsheathed they stood alert And waited for the King's commands. Of bra.s.s All chiselled was the second gate, supplied With cannons and with powder, guarded safe By beings supernatural. The third Was silver, such as may be seen in far Eirak. The beauty of the castle was Beyond compare! From far it seemed to be As double, like an elephant with two White ivory tusks. Where may its like be found?

Three diamonds pure reflected all the light, Big as a melon. Now the castle built, The King a plaisance beautiful desired With gay pavilions, and all kinds of plants.

The middle booth nine s.p.a.cious rooms displayed, One for the royal audiences, adorned And pleasant as a bed of flowers.

The King A festival maintained for forty days, With games and sports and dances to divert.

And never was such animation seen!

All ate and drank to sound of music sweet.

They pa.s.sed the loving-cup and drank to each In turn.

For forty days resounded there The gongs and _gendarangs_, and joyous tones Of gay _serouni_ and _nefiri_ glad.

"How beautiful is Bidasari!" all Exclaimed; "a thousand times more lovely than The Queen. Thrice happy are the merchant now And his good wife; by marriage they're allied To our great King, though strangers to the land.

We count it strange that Bidasari's face In naught is like the merchant nor his wife.

Who knoweth but that she, in mortal shape, An angel fair may be? Full many slaves The merchant hath, but never children own."

"He found her when a babe, upon the sh.o.r.e,"

Another said, "and brought her up."

The King Heard all their words. He thought: "It is the truth And this I take as proof of her high birth.

She certainly is n.o.ble or come down From heaven."

When four days had fled, the wives Of _mantris_ dressed the beauteous girl. They clad Her form in satins soft of Egypt, shot With gold, adorned with precious stones inset And many gems. Her beauty was enhanced The more, till she a radiant angel seemed.

She wore a tunic, crimson and pomegranate, With b.u.t.tons shaped like b.u.t.terflies. She was Adorned with _padaka_ of five quaint clasps, And belt called _naga souma_. Ear-rings rich She had, of diamonds set in gold, and wrought Most wondrously, as bright as daylight's gleam; A ring most marvellous and rare she wore Called _astakouna_, and another named _Gland kana_, and a third from far Ceylon, Studded with precious stones. Her eyes were like The stars of orient skies. Her teeth were black, Her face like water shone. Her chiselled nose Was prominent and Mike a flower fresh culled.

When she was dressed, upon a couch of pearls Her mother put her. Supple was her form, And white, as she reclined, by many maids Surrounded. In his royal garb the prince Was clad, and dazzling to the eyes of all Who saw. He wore a kingly crown which shone With diamonds bright and lucent amethysts And many stones, and all majestic seemed.

Then rice was brought. The King with pleasure ate And what was left he gave the _mantris'_ wives.

When all had finished he perfumed himself And gazed upon his lovely wife. Her face And form were charming. Her soft tresses curled In grace. Her eyes still kept the trace of tears, Which made her lovelier. The silken folds Of soft Egyptian curtains fell. They were alone.

"Awake, my darling," said the prince at dawn, "Crown of my life, awake, my pretty one."

Then Bidasari waked and said, with tears: "My friend, I had all sorts of wondrous dreams.

I saw a palm-tree tall with tufted limbs, And fruits all ripe." When three days more had fled And all the people saw and loud acclaimed, Then Bidasari took the rank of Queen.

The King o'erloaded her with gifts and loved Her tenderly. "Oh, let us live and die Together, dear, and, as the days go by, Think more of one another, and our love Preserve, as in the hollow of the hand Oil is upheld, nor falls a single drop."

So spake the King.

The merchant and his wife Were soon established in the neighborhood, Near to Queen Bidasari's palace grand.

A hundred servants had they to fulfil Their orders. They sent gifts to all their friends, And food to last a month.

A certain day It chanced that Bidasari said: "O King, Why goest thou no more within the gates Of that thine other palace? Of a truth Queen Lila Sari will be vexed, because Thou hast abandoned her so long a time.

She'll think that I have kept thee from her side Unwilling thou shouldst go." So, with all sorts Of words, fair Bidasari strove to urge The King to visit Lila Sari. "I Will go to-morrow," finally he said.

He went, when morning came, and met the Queen.

She turned him back, and with sharp, bitter words Reproached him. "Wretched one, I will not see Thy face. I love thee not. I hate thee. Go!

Lila Djouhara's son-in-law, thou'rt not To me an equal. Thy new wife's an ape, Who liveth in the woods."

But when the King Heard these vociferations of the Queen, He said: "Branch of my heart, light of my eyes, Oh, be not vexed, my dear. It was not I Who wrong began, but thou didst cause it all.

For thou didst hide thy deed from me, and drive Me on to this extremity. Oh, why Art thou now angry with me? If thou wilt But love her, and attach thy heart to hers, She'll pardon thee, and take thee as a friend."

As more and more enraged the Queen became, Her wrath with strong reproaches overflowed.

"Depart from here, accursed of G.o.d! Thou art No longer husband mine. Go live with her Whom G.o.d hath struck, but whom thou dost delight To honor. Formerly of n.o.ble blood Thou wert, but now no more than broken straw.

Thou needst not further try to flatter me.

Though thou shouldst purify thyself seven times, false one, I'd not permit thee to approach my side."

The King grew angry and replied: "Tis thou Who art despicable. Thy cunning tricks Are worthless now. Thy jealousy insane Was without cause, and common were thy acts.

Thy wit is much below thy beauty.

Will follow thee, should I protection cease."

"Have I forgot my n.o.ble birth?" she asked.

"But thou hast erred, to lower thine high estate To people of such base extraction. Here And everywhere thy shame is known, that thou Art wedded to a gadabout. Is it For princes thus to wed a merchant's child?

She ought far in the woods to dwell, and know Most evil destiny." The King but smiled And said: "If this event is noised abroad, 'Tis thou who wilt receive an evil name.

For who in all the land would dare prevent The King from marrying? I ought to take From thee all I have given. But before The people I've no wish to humble thee.

Is it because I met thy every wish That thou art grown so bad? Most evil hath Thy conduct been, and I with thee am wroth,"

And in hot anger rushed the King away, And straight repaired to Bidasari's side.

SONG IV

This song will tell again about the prince Of Kembajat, most powerful. He was chased By fell _garouda_, horrid bird of prey, And sought another land. His way he took Toward Indrapura. At the break of dawn A daughter fair was born, a princess true, Within a boat that lay upon a sh.o.r.e.

The Queen and he abandoned her, and went Back to the royal palace and for days Bemoaned her fate. Of her they nothing heard.

"Alas my child!" the father cried, "my dear, In whose care art thou now? We do not know If thou art dead or living. Thus thy sire Hath no repose. Light of mine eyes, my love, My purest gold, our hearts are torn with grief.

An evil fate was ours to hide thee there.

We do repent the deed. To think that thou Perchance hath fallen among the poorest folk!

A slave perhaps thou art!" The prince's son Remarked the sorrow of his parents dear, And was profoundly moved. "Have I," he asked, "A sister? Tell me why have ye concealed Her far away? Did ye not care for her?

Was she a burden that ye must forsake Her thus? Doth shame not fill your parents' hearts?"

But when he heard the tale in full, he said: "O father, let me go to seek for her, My sister dear. If I succeed I'll bring Her back to thee." "Oh, leave us not, my son,"

The father said. "Thou art our only heir.

Like a tamed bird upon our shoulders fain We've carried thee, and watched thee, day and night.

Why shouldst thou leave us now? Oh, go not forth.

Vex not thyself about thy sister dear.

From travellers we shall get news of her, And her abode discover."

Then the prince Bowed low and said: "My father, lord, and King, I am but strengthened in my wish to go And find my sister. Let me now depart, And seek for news of her." The King replied: "Well, go, my dearest son; thy heart is good.

Though but a child thou still dost bear a brain."

Then summoned the young prince the merchants all, And bought much goods and questioned them in turn About all neighboring villages and camps.

They told whate'er they knew most willingly, For much the young prince was beloved by them.

Among them was a youth of handsome face, Fair Bidasari's foster-brother tall.

Amid the strangers sat he near the throne; His name was Sinapati. He was brave And wise. Now as he watched the prince he thought, "How strangely like dear Bidasari's face Is his, as when a reed is split in twain There is no difference between the halves."

His home he left when Bidasari fair Became the Queen. He thought of her and wept.

The prince observed him there, and said, with smiles: "Young man, my friend, from what far town art thou?

Why dost thou weep so bitterly? What thoughts Arise in thee and make thy visage dark?"

Young Sinapati bowed and said: "My lord, I came from Indrapura, in a s.h.i.+p, My wares to sell. For that I do not weep.

But sorrow cometh to my heart whene'er I think upon my home, and brothers dear, And sisters."

At these words the prince rejoiced.

He thought, "From him some news I'll surely learn."

Sherbets and dainties then to all the folk He offered, and the cup went 'round from dawn Till noon, and then the merchants went away; But the young prince kept Sinapati there.

Now he already strong affection felt For him and said: "My friend, toward thee I'm moved And look upon thee as a brother dear.

Thou dost at Indrapura live, but who May be thy patron there?" Then with a smile Young Sinapati said: "My patron's called Lila Djouhara, merchant great. He owns Some six or seven swift s.h.i.+ps, and toileth more Than ever since he Bidasari took As child." In two days' time the young prince went With Sinapati to his father's house.

"I bring thee news," he said, "but nothing yet Is sure. Behold from Indrapura far A youth, from whom I've things of import great.

A merchant of Pesara, very rich, My sister must have found. All well agrees With what to me thou saidst. Now must we seek For confirmation of the glad report."

To Sinapati gold and gems they gave.

Then spake the King: "If this be so I'll send An envoy bearing richest gifts, and thanks Within a letter writ."

The youthful prince Bowed low and said: "Oh, send me on this quest!

Lila Djouhara I would like to see.