Malayan Literature Part 10

Unto the Queen he said: "In seven days' time, My dear, I look to start, for I shall have No peace until I've seen our darling child."

Then he a.s.sembled there his _mantris_ all, Both young and old, with elephants and steeds.

And all was ready to set forth, as he had wished.

The while the morning stars were twinkling still, The royal gong resounded many times.

The guards leaped forth with joy. The officers Came out and took their s.h.i.+ning helms of war.

Their naked swords all glistened. It was thus They made the glittering royal cavalcade.

Their flags and banners flaunted in the air, All those who stayed behind were sad, as if A knife had cut them. All together marched, The lancers and the hors.e.m.e.n, and they seemed A moving city. Soon all darkened was The moon, as someone sorrowful. The swords And lances glistened like an island in The middle of the sea. Thus is described The royal escort marching through the land.

The King was mounted on an elephant, His _siri_-bearer seated close behind.

A rich _payong_ of royalty, all tricked With bells, was stretched above his head, And drums and other instruments without Cessation sounded. Thus went forth the King, And soon to Indrapura came.

When near He halted and forthwith an envoy sent His coming to announce, together with The _laksimana mantri_. "Mighty King,"

They said, "thy royal father hath arrived."

The King his heralds ordered then to call Lila Mengindra. With a smile he said To him: "a.s.semble in the square the folk And army. Straight to my pavilion let Them come, and all in holiday attire, For I my father am to meet to-day."

Lila Mengindra bowed and hied him forth To execute the orders of the King.

The King within his palace went, and sat Upon a jewelled seat. The Queen was there, And good Lila Mengindra at her side.

The King said smilingly: "Light of my eyes, Let all the palace decorated be.

a.s.semble all the palace folk and all The younger girls. For now without the gates Our parents wait. To-morrow I shall go To meet them." Then Queen Bidasari cried, With smiles: "My brother they have come to see.

I cannot go before them and declare Myself their daughter." But the young prince said: "Oh, speak not thus, my sister, but give heed To what I say to thee, and be not wroth.

If I'm the only one they love, alone I'll go with them away." Then to the King He said: "With my dear sister I but jest, To quiet her alarms." He bowed before the King And asked permission forth to go at once To meet his father. "Nay," replied the King, "We'll go together." A repast was served With every kind of food. The royal three Together ate. Then from the betel-box They _siri_ took, and perfumes sweet they used.

The prince then from the palace forth did go.

Next day the King invited him to start With him upon the royal progress. All The banners waved, and everyone was glad.

Then to the Queen he said: "Stay here, my love, And I will hither bring thy father dear."

These words rejoiced the Queen. She said: "Go forth, My dear, and I will follow with my eyes."

The King then took his leave with the young prince, With many _mantris_ following. The strains Of gladsome music sounded. All the bells Were rung, and those without the cavalcade Were sad.

Ere long they came to the frontier, And King met King. The folk of Kembajat Were all astonished at the young King's face, As beautiful as painter's masterpiece.

The old King looked with smiles on all. His joy Was great. The King of Indrapura bowed Respectfully, and made them bring to him The elephant that bore 'neath gay _payong_ His consort's father. "Son, where goest thou?"

"I've come to seek thee." Then the old King said: "Why didst thou come in person? 'Twould have been Enough if thou hadst _mantris_ sent instead."

His joy o'erflowed his heart. His son-in-law He greatly loved. Upon his elephant He said: "Approach, my son, thou art a king Renowned. Thy body and thy soul are both Alike, and both of royal stock!" He pressed Him in his arms and said: "Light of my eyes, Almighty G.o.d hath heard my many prayers, And granted me a perfect son-in-law."

The King of Indrapura bowed and smiled Most graciously. Then to the young prince said His father: "Mount, my son, beside me, here."

The young prince mounted at his father's side.

He was as beautiful as chiselled gold.

Within the town the kings made entry then Amid a joyous throng. When they had come, The former merchant bowed before them both, The _mangkouboumi_ now. The mighty King Of Indrapura bowed and said: "My sire, Speak to my uncle here; for he brought up Thy daughter." Scarcely had the old King heard These words than he exclaimed with joy: "Come here, My brother, let us now acquaintance make."

The old King, seated on his elephant, Shed all about him rays of happiness, And all the people there were greatly moved.

"This is my brother well beloved," he said, And kissed his brow. "How great hath been his love, His faithfulness has proved beyond compare."

The former merchant bowed, and to the King Replied: "I am thy slave, O King, and bear Thine orders on my head. Thou dost o'erwhelm Thy servant with thy favor." Then upon The royal throne, which was all gem-bedecked, The old King sat, the young prince at his side, With all the _mantris_ near. Then came the Queen Consort. The prince and Bidasari fair Came from their seats, their mother to receive.

All entered then the palace. The young Queen, Fair Bidasari, bowed and was embraced By both her parents. With a flood of tears Her father said: "Alas, my darling child, Fruit of my heart, light of my eyes, keep not A hatred in thy soul against us now.

The will of G.o.d is now made manifest.

We long have separated been. At last We see each other with our very eyes.

Great wrong we did thus to abandon thee, But still let not thy heart a stranger be To us. Peace later came to our dear land-- Such was our destiny. What could we do?

We were in flight. We thought, 'May G.o.d decree Some honorable man shall find her here!'

How can we now be glad enough 'twas thus Ordained! What recompense can we present?"

Sweet Bidasari wept as she recalled The past. The King her husband was much moved, And felt great pity when her tears he saw.

And all were sad with sorrow mixed with joy, Because they knew she was of royal birth.

Food now was served, and quickly the _dyangs_ Brought salvers for the princes. The two kings Ate of the rice till they were surfeited, Then to their children offered it. All took The _siri_ placed before them, and straightway Themselves anointed with rare perfumes sweet.

When all had eaten, the five royal ones Lila Mengindra called, and gave to him The remnants of the feast. The kings then spoke To him and to his wife. They both bowed low And kissed the royal hands. Then said the King Of Kembajat: "My children, I had planned-- In case we ever met on earth and ere The prey of death became--a feast to give, To last a month, and to it ye invite.

In triumph I my daughter fain would bear, With all of ye. I would at once repair Unto the isle of Nousa Antara, And there I'd hold a royal festival With all the members of our family, And all the _bitis_, _mandars_, and _dyangs_.

Such was my plan--if ever I should find My daughter dear. Now while this moon doth last Let me the project see fulfilled before Your parents come to die."

The gracious King Of Indrapura at these words bowed low And said: "I bear thy words upon my head.

It shall be done as thou hast wished, my King."

And when the evening came all was prepared.

Soft mattresses were spread, and the two queens Betook them to their chambers, and the rich Egyptian curtains fell. They vainly sought to sleep.

They talked together of their sorrows past And evil days. And neither kings nor queens That night could slumber.

At the break of day The talking bird began to sing and prate.

A little later the _bajangs_ began Their song. Then all arose, and bathed, and broke Their fast, and chattered and amused themselves.

The King of Indrapura then gave word Unto the _mangkouboumi_: "All prepare That's necessary, ere the moon be full.

Get ready all the various kinds of s.h.i.+ps, And load them down with every sort of arms.

Prepare all sorts of games to pa.s.s the time, And get in order all the cannons great And fire-arms. Thus the King commands."

Straightway The _mangkouboumi_ bowed before the King, And went his orders to obey. He made The s.h.i.+ps all ready, with new paint and gold.

When three were well equipped, on board he took The people of the city. All the old Were left behind, but of the young none stayed.

Then to the King the _mangkouboumi_ said, "All is prepared." At this the King rejoiced, And to the King of Kembajat sent word, Who told his wife, and she was all aglow.

They started from the palace, kings and queen And prince, and lovely Bidasari, too, Attended by the courtiers all. The strains Of music sounded and the bells were rung.

All those whose lot it was to stay at home Were pained, as if a knife had stricken them.

The cannons roared; the royal banners waved.

In three days' sail they reached the island fair, Of Nousa Antara, and the s.h.i.+ps made fast.

The two queens sat and watched the deft _dyangs_ Take up the coral white and pink, and toyed With pretty sh.e.l.ls. The King set foot upon The isle of Nousa Antara. The King And his dear wife upon the sh.o.r.e came forth, With their sweet daughter Bidasari pure.

The King of Indrapura with them went, The prince walked near them on the left.

The King Of Indrapura ordered that a tent Be raised, and one was made. It was as large As any palace, set with royal throne.

The two queens entered it and sought repose.

The prince before his father bowed and said, "My royal father, let me go and hunt."

To this the King of Kembajat replied, "Do what thou dost desire, light of my eyes."

The King of Indrapura said with smiles, "I'll go with thee to hunt, my brother dear."

The prince replied, "I shall in truth be charmed, My brother." "Forth we'll fare to-morrow morn,"

Returned the King of Indrapura. "Call The folk together."

When the dawn appeared, The King and prince together started forth, Escorted by a band of hunters tried, And beat the woods for game. The King and prince And all their following made rapid work.

The game took flight. The King then drew his bow And many animals were killed. A deer Came running by. His arrow struck him full Upon the shoulder, and the huntsmen seized And quickly killed him. In the pathless woods Of Nousa Antara there was much game.

A tiger roared, the King and prince pursued.

The tiger swiftly fled. The prince sat down Within the forest deep. To overtake The beast he was unable. To return He sought, but could not find the way. Alone He was, and in perplexity, because His huntsmen he no longer could descry.

Then, wandering to and fro, he found at last A pleasure garden of the days gone by, Belonging to King Lila, beautiful And without flaw. He was astonished quite When he perceived a palace. All alone He found himself, when he had entered there.

He walked about, but found no living soul.

Unto himself he said: "Can this domain A habitation be of demons dread And spirits? Can this be the cause of all The solitude which reigns?" On all sides then He looked. All suddenly a voice he heard, But still no one could see. Amazed he stood.

The mystic voice exclaimed, "Have pity, lord, And free me from this room." As in a dream The prince these accents heard. He answered then: "Who art thou? Whose strange voice is this I hear, The while I no one see? Dost thou belong Unto the race of demons and of spectres?

Where is the key, that I may ope the door?"

Then the _dyang_ of Mendoudari said Unto the prince: "Look toward the left, for there The key thou'lt find that opes the palace tower."

He took the key and opened wide the door.

All those who were within, when they beheld The prince's face, fell prostrate at his feet.

To them the prince cried out: "Say to what race Ye do belong. This quickly tell. And whose This palace beautiful?" Then answered him Dang Tjindra Melini: "O Royal prince, We are G.o.d's creatures, like to thee. And this Fair palace of the King Lila is now By Ifrid occupied, a spirit-king, With whom now lives the prince ill.u.s.trious, Lila. His daughter, Princess Mendoudari, Is shut alone within a chamber here, And Ifrid, king of spirits, cometh oft.

On every third day cometh he. His eyes Are brilliant as the sun." When this he heard The prince was glad. The room he entered then.

The Princess Mendoudari sought to flee.

"Where wouldst thou go, my friend," he said. "I've sought And found thee. Do not flee away from me."

The Princess Mendoudari said with tears: "And art thou mad enough hither to come?

The spirits will destroy thee without doubt."

These words rejoiced the prince, and to her then He sang a low sweet song of love and wooing.