Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    The monarch hearing him thus    speak,  still   more

    Toward  him was borne.  "My uncle," then    he  cried,

    "Have   no  more    fear.   But never   shall   I   make

    A   servant of  thy daughter."



                                                                    Then    he  gave

    Command to  build   a   castle  in  the wood.

    And all the workers came,   and built   it  there,

    With    ramparts    three.  As  if  by  magic   then

    A   golden  palace  rose.   The outer   gate

    Was iron,   loaded  down    with    arms,   and held

    By  demons  and by  Ethiopians.

    These   were    the keepers of  the gates,  with    steeds

    Untamed.    With    swords  unsheathed  they    stood   alert

    And waited  for the King's  commands.   Of  brass

    All chiselled   was the second  gate,   supplied

    With    cannons and with    powder, guarded safe

    By  beings  supernatural.   The third

    Was silver, such    as  may be  seen    in  far

    Eirak.  The beauty  of  the castle  was

    Beyond  compare!    From    far it  seemed  to  be

    As  double, like    an  elephant    with    two

    White   ivory   tusks.  Where   may its like    be  found?

    Three   diamonds    pure    reflected   all the light,

    Big as  a   melon.  Now the castle  built,

    The King    a   plaisance   beautiful   desired

    With    gay pavilions,  and all kinds   of  plants.

    The middle  booth   nine    spacious    rooms   displayed,

    One for the royal   audiences,  adorned

    And pleasant    as  a   bed of  flowers.



                                                                    The King

    A   festival    maintained  for forty   days,

    With    games   and sports  and dances  to  divert.

    And never   was such    animation   seen!

    All ate and drank   to  sound   of  music   sweet.

    They    passed  the loving-cup  and drank   to  each

    In  turn.