Malayan Literature_ Comprising Romantic Ta - Unknown

    To  them    the prince  cried   out:    "Say    to  what    race

    Ye  do  belong. This    quickly tell.   And whose

    This    palace  beautiful?" Then    answered    him

    Dang    Tjindra Melini: "O  Royal   prince,

    We  are God's   creatures,  like    to  thee.   And this

    Fair    palace  of  the King    Lila    is  now

    By  Ifrid   occupied,   a   spirit-king,

    With    whom    now lives   the prince  illustrious,

    Lila.   His daughter,   Princess    Mendoudari,

    Is  shut    alone   within  a   chamber here,

    And Ifrid,  king    of  spirits,    cometh  oft.

    On  every   third   day cometh  he. His eyes

    Are brilliant   as  the sun."   When    this    he  heard

    The prince  was glad.   The room    he  entered then.

    The Princess    Mendoudari  sought  to  flee.

    "Where  wouldst thou    go, my  friend,"    he  said.   "I've   sought

    And found   thee.   Do  not flee    away    from    me."

    The Princess    Mendoudari  said    with    tears:

    "And    art thou    mad enough  hither  to  come?

    The spirits will    destroy thee    without doubt."

    These   words   rejoiced    the prince, and to  her then

    He  sang    a   low sweet   song    of  love    and wooing.

    The princess    answered    with    a   dreamy  chant.

    And when    the young   prince  heard   her gentle  lay

    He  felt    a   yearning    pity    for her fate.

    "Be not afraid, my  dear,"  he  said,   "for    I

    Will    triumph over    all thine   enemies."

    Then    Dang    Sendari served  them    dainty  food;

    And what    was left,   to  her the princess    gave.

    The prince  too siri    from    the betel-box

    And rare    sweet   perfumes    used.   When    evening came,

    A   soft    couch   for the prince  was spread. And then

    The princess    sought  her room,   and curtains    drew

    Of  rich    Egyptian    stuff.  The prince  had asked,

    "When   comes   the spirit-king?"   And she had said,

    "At early   dawn."  The young   prince  could   not sleep,

    But through the long    night   hours   sang    soft    pantoums.

    When    daylight    came    the prince  arose.  He  heard

    A   spirit  coming  to  the palace. Then    with    fear