Malayan Literature | Page 3

approached the King. He heard the noise?As of a fray, and, angry, asked the guard,?"Whence comes this noise?" As soon as this he said?One of his body-guard replied with awe,?"Illustrious lord, most merciful of kings,?A fell garouda follows us about."?The King's face paled when these dread words be heard.?The officers arose and beat their breasts.?The sorrow of the King was greater still?Because the Queen was ill. He took her hand?And started without food or anything.?He trusted all to God, who watches o'er?The safety of the world. The suff'ring Queen?Spoke not a word and walked along in tears.?They went by far campongs and dreary fields?Beneath a burning sun which overwhelmed?Their strength. And so the lovely Queen's fair face?From palest yellow grew quite black. The prince?Approached the desert with his body torn?By thorns and brambles. All his care and grief?Were doubled when he saw his lovely wife?Who scarce could drag herself along and whom?He had to lead. Most desolate was he,?Turning his mind on the good Queen's sad lot.?Upon the way he gave up all to her.?Two months they journeyed and one day they came?Unto a campong of a merchant, where?They looked for rest because the Queen was weak.?The path was rugged and the way was hard.?The prince made halt before the palisades,?For God had made him stop and rest awhile.?The Sultan said: "What is this campong here??I fain would enter, but I do not dare."?The good Queen wept and said: "O my beloved,?What shall I say? I am so tired and weak?I cannot journey more." The King was quite?Beside himself and fainted where he sat.?But on they journeyed to the riverside,?Stopping at every step.
And when the King?Had gained the bank he saw a little boat?With roof of bent bamboos and kadjang screen.?Then to the Queen, "Rest here, my precious one."?The silver moon was at the full, but veiled?With clouds, like to a maid who hides her face?And glances toward her lover timidly.?Then there was born a daughter, like a flower,?More beautiful than statue of pure gold,?Just like the tulips that the princess plucked.?The mother's heart was broken at the thought?That she must leave the babe, the child beloved?They both adored, such beauty it presaged.?The King with tears exclaimed, "How can we take?The infant with us o'er this stony road?Beset with thorns, and burned with dreadful heat??Pearl of my palace," said he to the Queen,?"Weep not so bitterly about the child.?An offering let us make of her to God.?God grant she may be found by loving hearts?Who'll care for her and raise her in their home."?As soon as they had quite determined there?To leave the infant princess, their great grief?No limit knew. But ere they went away?The King took up the infant in his arms?And rocked her on his knees until she slept.?"Sleep on, heart's love, my soul, my little one,?Weep not for thy dear mother's lot. She fain?Would take thee with her, but the way is hard.?Sleep on, dear child, the apple of my eye,?The image of thy sire. Stay here, fear not.?For unto God we trust thee, Lord of all.?Sleep on, my child, chief jewel of my crown,?And let thy father go. To look at thee?Doth pierce my heart as by a poniard's blow.?Ah, sweet my child, dear, tender little one,?Thy father loves yet leaves thee. Happy be,?And may no harm come nigh thee. Fare thee well."?The little princess slept, lulled by his voice.?He put her from his knees and placed her on?A finely woven cloth of Ind, and covered her?With satin webbed with gold. With flowing tears?The mother wrapped her in a tissue fine?Adorned with jewels like to sculptured flowers.?She seized the child and weeping murmured low:?"O dearest child, my pretty little girl!?I leave thee to the Master of the world.?Live happily, although thy mother goes?And leaves thee here. Ah, sad thy mother's lot!?Thy father forces her to quit thee now.?She would prefer with thee to stay, but, no!?Thy father bids her go. And that is why?Thy mother's fond heart breaks, she loves thee so,?And yet must leave thee. Oh, how can I live?"?The mother fainted, and the grieving King?Was fain to kill himself, so was he moved.?He took the Queen's head on his knees. And soon?By God's decree and ever-sheltering grace?She to her senses came and stood erect.?Again she wept on looking at the child.?"If I should never see thee more, sweet soul,?Oh, may thy mother share thy fate! Her life?Is bound to thine. The light is gone from out?Thy mother's eyes. Hope dies within her heart?Because she fears to see thee nevermore.?Oh, may some charitable heart, my child,?Discover thee!" The prince essayed to dry?Her tears. "Now come away, my dearest love.?Soon day will dawn." The prince in grief set out,?But ever turned and wanted to go back.?They walked along together, man and wife?All solitary, with no friends