Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    Again   he  pressed her in  his arms,   and gave

    Her many    kisses, chanting    love-songs  low.

    "Thou   dost    not wake,   O   dearest one,    but thou

    Art yet alive,  because I   see thee    breathe.

    Sleep   not too long,   my  love.   Awake   to  me,

    For thou    hast    conquered   with    thy loveliness

    My  heart   and soul."  So  fell    the King    in  love

    With    Bidasari.   "Ah,    my  sweet," he  said,

    "In all the world   of  love    thou'rt worthiest."

    The mantris grew    uneasy  at  his stay.

    They    rose    and said:   "What   doth    the King    so  long?

    If  harm    befell  him,    what    would   be  our fate?

    Oh, let us  call    him back    at  once,   my  lords."

    So  one approached  the palace, and cried   out:

    "Return,    O   prince  accomplished,   to  us  now.

    Already night   is  near.   Back    thou    may'st  come

    To-morrow   ere the dawn.   We  are afraid

    Lest    spirits harm    thee.   Come,   O   King,   for we

    A-hungered  are,    and wait    for thy return."

    But the illustrious prince  was mad with    love

    Of  Bidasari.   Pensively   he  cried:

    "Branch of  my  heart,  light   of  mine    eyes,   my  love,

    Pure    gold,   thou'rt like    angel.  Now must    I

    Depart. To-morrow   I   will    come    again."

    With    no  more    words   he  left    her,    but returned.

    "My heart   would   tell    me, wert    thou    really  dead.

    Some    trouble hast    thou,   dearest one?"   he  cried.

    "What   bitter  grief   hath    caused  thee    thus    to  sleep?"

    He  found   the nobles  murmuring   and vexed.

    "O  King,"  they    said,   "our    hearts  were    filled  with    fear

    Lest    evil    had befallen    thee.   What    sight

    So  strange hath    kept    thee    all these   hours?" The King

    Replied with    laughter,   "There  was naught  to  see."

    But they    remarked    his brow    o'ercast    with    thought,

    And said,   "O  King,   thy heart   is  sorely  vexed."

    "Nay,   nay,"   the King    replied,    "I  fell    asleep.

    Naught  did I   hear    except  the mantri's*   voice.

    It  surely  is  the home    of  demons  dread

    And spirits.    Let us  go, lest    they    surprise