Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    Divided;    thou    alone   shalt   own it  all."

    The Queen   was charmed to  hear    his loving  words.

    At  night   the Queen   slept,  but King    remained

    Awake,  and watched the moon,   and called  to  mind

    His dream.  As  dawn    approached  he  slept,  and seemed

    To  hear    an  owl's   shrill  voice,  like    Pedalou's.

    When    it  was fully   day,    the royal   pair

    Together    broke   their   fast.   The King    went    forth

    And orders  gave,   in  two days    to  prepare

    A   mighty  hunt,   to  chase   the dappled deer,

    With    men and dogs    and all apparel fit.

    Then    back    into    the palace  went    the King,

    And told    the Queen,  who straightway gave    commands

    For food    to  be  made    ready.  At  midnight

    Behind  Egyptian    curtains    went    to  rest

    The King    and Queen,  but slept   not.    Still   the dream

    Was ever    in  his thoughts    and worried him.

    At  dawn    he  said    farewell    unto    the Queen.

    She was all radiant,    and smiling,    said:

    "Bring  me  a   fawn.   I'll    tell    the servants    all

    To  take    good    care    of  it, so  it  may grow

    Quite   tame."  "What   we  can do, my  dear,   we  shall,

    So  all of  thy desires may come    to  pass."

    And so  the King    took    leave,  with    kisses  fond,

    And,    mounted on  a   hunter  brown,  set forth,

    With    velvet  saddle  decked  with    fringe  of  pearls.

    Lances  and shields and arrows  and blow-guns

    They    bore.   The wood    they    entered,    and the beasts

    All fled    before  their   steps   at  dawn's  first   ray.

    And when    the sun was up, they    loosed  the hounds

    With    savage  cries.  Toward  noon    an  animal

    In  flight  they    saw,    and would   have    followed    it,

    But then    up  spake   the King    and said,   "We are

    So  hot and weary,  let us  linger  here

    For rest."  One-half    the company astray

    Had gone,   each    striving    to  be  first   of  all.

    The King,   attended    by  a   faithful    three,

    Reclined    upon    the ground, and sent    them    forth

    For water.  So  the mantris went    to  find