Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    Hath    told.   If  I'm the daughter    of  a   King,

    Why hath    he  left    me  here,   and never   sought

    For me  through all these   years?  'Tis    not so  far

    From    here    to  Kembajat."  The young   prince  bowed.

    "Thy    words   I   bear    upon    my  head,"  he  said,

    "O  sister  dear.   Pray    banish  from    thy heart

    All hatred. If  thou'rt lowly   born,   I   am

    Likewise.   Our realm   was ravaged at  thy birth.

    But shortly afterward   fair    peace   returned,

    And to  his own my  father  came    again.

    I've    seen    how much    he  suffers in  his heart.

    Thy name    he  never   utters  without tears—

    He  never   hath    forgotten   thee.   Forgive

    Him,    then,   in  what    he  was remiss. Except

    For stern   necessity   he  never   would

    Have    thee    abandoned."



                                                                    Then    the King    with    smiles

    Said:   "Speak  to  him,    my  dear.   He  tells   the truth.

    Thy parents wandered    through a   desert  land

    Beneath a   cruel   sun.    Impossible

    It  was to  carry   thee    through brier   and brush."

    Down    at  his sister's    feet    the young   prince  knelt.

    Then    Bidasari    clasped him in  her arms.

    The brave   young   prince  to  them    recounted   all

    The sorrows of  his parents.    Much    he  wept,

    And they    wept,   too,    as  he  the story   told.

    Then    sat they    down    to  dine.   And afterward

    They    siri    took    and perfumes    of  all kinds.

    Then    the young   prince  took    leave.  "Where  goest   thou,

    My  brother?"   asked   the King.   "I  fain    would   go

    Straight    home    to  my  dear    parents,"   said    the prince.

    But,    with    a   voice   affectionate,   the King

    Replied:    "Seek   not Lila    Mengindra.  Here

    Thou    shouldst    remain, for thou    hast    met within

    This    palace  thy dear    sister. There   is  room

    Enough  for thee.   Stay    here    with    all thy folk

    And retinue."   The prince  bowed   low,    and forth

    Unto    the merchant    went,   and to  him said: