Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    And I   not see thee    there?  Why was it  thou

    Wert    not beside  the Queen?  I've    never   left

    The palace  for a   single  day.    Where   wert

    Thou    hid?    Thy strange words   I   believe,    my  dear.

    Speak   without fear    and let me  know    the whole."

    Urged   by  the King,   young   Bidasari    told

    Him all.    And when    the conduct of  the Queen

    He  learned,    the King    was wonder-struck.  A   rage

    Most    terrible    possessed   him.    But his love

    For Bidasari    mounted higher  still

    And his compassion. "So the Queen   thus    wrought!

    I   never   thought hypocrisy   could   be

    So  great!  I   never   in  the princess    saw

    Such    bent    for evil.   But be  not,    my  dear,

    Disconsolate.   It  is  a   lucky   thing

    Thou    didst   not quite   succumb.    No  longer  speak

    Of  that    bad woman's ways.   Thank   God we've   met!

    So  weep    no  more,   my  love.   I'll    give    to  thee

    A   throne  more    beautiful   than    hers,   and be

    Thy dear    companion   until   death." "O  King,"

    She said:   "I  have    no  beauty  fit to  grace

    A   throne. Oh, let me  stay    a   simple  maid,

    And think   of  me  no  more."  The King    replied:

    "I  will    not give    thee    up. But I   must    still

    Return, and meditate    how I   may win

    Thee    back    to  life    complete."  With    kisses  warm

    He  covered her fair    face.   She bowed   her head,

    And silence kept;   and when    the morning dawned

    She swooned anew.   It  was a   proof   to  him

    That    she had told    the truth.  A   mortal  hate

    Then    filled  the prince's    heart   against the Queen.

    Touched with    deep    pity    for the maiden  young,

    He  kissed  her once    again,  and left    her there,

    So  white   and still,  as  if  she lay in  death.

    What    of  the mantris?    They    awaited long

    The King,   in  silence.    Then    the oldest  said:

    "O  sovereign   lord,   O   caliph  great,  wilt    thou

    Not now return?"    "I'll   come    again,  dear    heart,"

    He  said,   and sought  the city.   Straight    he  went