Malayan Literature | Page 7

ever are about.?Thou shouldst demand her of her parents, if?Thou dost desire to see her. Treat her like?Thy child, for she is still so very young!?From Bidasari's father thou wilt gain?All that thou canst desire, he is so rich,?If thou wilt only love his daughter dear.?And dost thou give command to bring her here??Let us go all alone and summon her?For Bidasari'll freely follow us."?They tried to calm the anger of the Queen.?She bowed her head in silence, but her soul?Was very heavy, and hypocrisy?With hate and envy vied within her heart.?"They love the child, these dyangs," to herself?She said, "and I shall have no easy task.?I shall attract her here by trickery,?But she shall never my companion be.?With Bidasari once within my power?My heart will be no longer on the rack.?Go now, dyangs," she said, "and seek for me?The merchant and his wife and hither bring?Young Bidasari, whom I'll elevate?Unto the rank of princess, for I have?No child. Mazendra take with ye. And when?Young Bidasari shall arrive, conceal?Her for a day or two. And gently speak?Unto the merchant and his wife, and say?Concessions will be granted to the priests?And strangers in their quarter, should she come.?Console Lila Djouhara thus, and pledge?That he may come to see his child whene'er?His heart impelleth him." An escort went?With them, and the dyangs bowed low before?The merchant and his wife, and greeted, too,?Fair Bidasari. But the merchant said:?"Why come ye here in so great numbers?" Then?They straight replied: "Our most beloved Queen?Hath sent us here with greetings unto thee,?The master of the house. If thou'lt permit,?We've come to seek fair Bidasari here."?They beat their breasts, the merchant and his wife.?"Our darling, only child! It will be hard?For her to be the servant of a prince;?For she hath had her way so long! Her traits?Are not yet formed. Go back, dyangs, and pray?The Queen to pardon us. Say how we grieve."?But the dyangs repeated all the words
Said by the Queen, and so their fears were calmed.?They hoped Queen Lila Sari would love well?Fair Bidasari. Then the merchant said:?"I will obey, and let my darling go,?So that she may become unto the Queen?A servant, and perchance a daughter loved.?Now shall she go with ye. Only I beg?The Queen to let her come back home to us?At three days' end. She is not used to stay?With strangers. Never hath she left us for?A single day." Then Dang Bidouri said:?"We'll do our best before the Queen; and why?Should she not grant to Bidasari this?"?They bathed fair Bidasari with sweet scents,?And then arranged her in rich raiment new.?A fine sijrash she wore with broidered flowers?Of Pekan, and a satin robe all fringed?With gold. She bore a plaque of beaten gold?Bound to a necklace, chiselled, gem-bedecked;?Her over-tunic was of yellow silk?With tiny serpents on the buttons 'graved.?Three bracelets wore the maid, and rarest rings,?And ear-rings like a wheel in motion wrought.?Chaste links of gold set forth her beauty rare,?A fair flow'r in a vase, whose perfume sweet?Wafts scented breaths as far as one may see.?They kissed her then with tears and held her close
Upon their breasts. "Be humble to the Queen,"?They said, "remember that thou art before?The King, and near the throne. Ask leave to come?To see us when thou dost desire. Speak sweetly?With low and gentle voice."
Thus they enjoined.?And then the merchant said, "Dyangs, if ye?Love Bidasari, see ye vex her not."?They dried their tears and said: "Be without fear.?Intrust thy daughter to our mistress dear."?"My child," he said, "I'll come to see thee oft.?Thou wilt be better there, my love, than here."?But Bidasari wept and cried: "Oh, come,?Dear mother, with me! Wilt thou not, alas?"?But the fond parents were astounded then?To learn the mother was not asked to come.?She stayed with tears, the while the father went.?As far as to the city's gates. With tears?He said: "Farewell, O apple of my eye?I leave thee here. Fear not, my dearest child."?Then Bidasari wept. Her heart was wrung.?She went. The merchant followed with his eyes.?She entered by a hidden door. Dyangs?And mandars flocked to see her, but she hung?Her head and kept her eyes downcast.
The sun?Announced the evening, and the King was still?Surrounded by his officers. 'Twas then?Fair Bidasari to the palace came,?And stood before the Queen. All the dyangs?Sat on the floor, with servants of the house.?Like the pengawas Bidasari bowed,?'Mid the dyangs, in presence of the Queen.?They gave her all the merchant's gifts, as sign?Of homage. All astonished was the Queen?At Bidasari's beauty. She appeared?Almost divine. Bidouri spoke and said,?"Thou seest Bidasari, O our Queen,?Lila Djouhari's daughter." At these words?The Queen was stupefied, and thought: "In truth?'Tis as they said. She is more lovely than?The fairest work of art." Bidouri told?All that the merchant and his wife had said.?The Queen inclined her head and silence kept,?But wicked