Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    Their   hearts  were    shattered.  Counsels    wise    they    gave

    To  Bidasari.   "Dearest    daughter    mine,"

    The father  said,   "gem    of  my  head,   my  crown,

    Branch  of  my  heart,  light   of  my  eyes,   oh, hear

    Thy father's    words,  and be  thou    not afraid.

    We  brought thee    hither, to  this    fair    retreat,

    Far from    the town,   for,    if  the Queen   should  know

    Thou    liv'st  at  night,  the false   dyangs  would   come,

    And who against the princess    can contend?

    They'd  take    thee    back,   and thus    exonerate

    Themselves. I'd let myself  be  chopped in  bits

    Before  thou    shouldst    unto    the Queen   return.

    Thy father  cannot  leave   companions  here,

    But after   three   days    he  will    come    to  thee.

    Thy parents both    will    soon    come    back    again."

    Then    Bidasari    thought:    "My parent's    words

    Are truth,  and if  the Queen   should  find    I   live

    She would   abuse   me  as  before. Give    me

    One maid-companion  here    to  be  with    me,"

    She asked.  "My child,  trust   not,"   he  said,   "in slaves,

    Nor servants,   for they    only    follow  pay."

    Then    Bidasari    silence kept,   and they,

    The father  all distraught  and mother  fond,

    Wept    bitterly    at  thought of  leaving her.

    Fair    Bidasari    bade    them    eat,    before

    They    started.    But because of  heavy   hearts

    They    but a   morsel  tasted. At  the dawn

    Young   Bidasari    swooned again.  They    made

    All ready   to  return  to  town.   With    tears

    The father  said:   "O  apple   of  my  eye,

    Pearl   of  all women,  branch  of  my  own heart,

    Pure    gold,   thy parents leave   thee    with    distress.

    No  more    they'll have    a   daughter    in  the house.

    But,    dear,   take    courage,    we  shall   soon    come    back."

    They    left    here    with    a   talking bird    to  cheer

    Her loneliness, close   shutting    all the gates

    Of  all the seven   ramparts.   Through a   wood

    Bushy   and thick   they    took    a   narrow  path,

    In  sorrow, but with    confidence  in  God.