Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    Into    the plaisance   strode  the King.   He  saw

    That    all was like    a   temple  richly  decked,

    With    rugs    of  silk    and colored tapestries

    Of  pictured    clouds  and wheels  all radiant,

    And lamps   and candelabra  hung    about,

    And lanterns    bright. 'Twas   like    a   palace  rich.

    The eyes    were    dazzled with    magnificence.

    And seats   there   were,   and dainty  tables  rare.

    As  through the palace  went    the King,   the more

    Astonished  he  became  at  all he  saw,

    But nowhere found   a   trace   of  human   soul.

    Then    spake   the little  bird:   "Illustrious    King,

    What    seek'st thou    here?   This    mansion is  the house

    Of  ghosts  and demons  who will    injure  thee."

    The King    was filled  with    wonder  thus    to  hear

    A   bird    address him.    But it  flew    away,

    And hid behind  a   couch.  "The    bird    I'll    find,"

    He  said,   and ope'd   the curtains    soft.   He  saw

    Full    stretched,  upon    a   bed in  dragon's    shape,

    A   human   form,   in  heavy-lidded    sleep

    That    seemed  like    death,  and covered with    a   cloth

    Of  blue,   whose   face    betokened   deepest grief.

    "Is it  a   child   celestial?" thought the King,

    "Or doth    she feign   to  sleep?  Awake,  my  sweet,

    And let us  be  good    friends and lovers  true."

    So  spake   the King,   but still   no  motion  saw.

    He  sat upon    the couch,  and to  himself

    He  said:   "If it  a   phantom be, why are

    The eyes    so  firmly  shut?   Perhaps she's   dead.

    She truly   is  of  origin  divine,

    Though  born    a   princess."  Then    he  lifted  high

    The covering    delicate    that    hid the form

    Of  Bidasari    sweet,  and stood   amazed

    At  all the magic   beauty  of  her face.

    Beside  himself,    he  cried,  "Awake, my  love."

    He  lifted  her and said,   with    kisses  warm,

    "Oh,    have    no  fear    of  me, dear    heart.  Thy voice

    Oh, let me  hear,   my  gold,   my  ruby    pure,

    My  jewel   virginal.   Thy soul    is  mine.