Malayan Literature | Page 6

their hearts!?As they upon her lovely features gazed,?Each murmured to herself, "She is more fair?Than our great Queen."
Then Bidasari wished?To buy the fan, and sent a maid to ask?Her parents for the gold. The merchant said,?"Go see what thing it is, and weigh the gold?For her." The mother feared a trap or trick.?"Oh, do not buy the fan, my child," she said;?"I'll buy a finer one for thee. Send this?Away." But when her father saw her tears?Of disappointment, "It is thine," he said.?"What is the price? I'd buy it though it cost?Thy weight in gold, my darling. Tell me now,?Dyangs." Tjendra Melinee answered him,?"Are two timbangs too much?" "I'm very poor,"?He said; "but I will buy it for the child."?The gold was weighed. The four dyangs straightway?Departed, hurried to the Queen and said:?"At last we have discovered, O our Queen,?What thou hast sought. 'Tis in a near campong?Of merchants very rich and great. Oh, there?We found a princess fairer than the day;?More like an angel than a mortal maid.?No woman in this land compares with her.?Her name is Bidasari. And the King?Would surely marry her if once they met,?For soon she will be ready for a spouse;?Her innocence is charming. Like a cloud?The merchant and his wife keep watchful guard.?Her hair is curly, like a flower full blown.?Her brow is like the moon but one day old.?She's like a ring in Peylou made. She would?Outshine thy beauty, shouldst thou bring her here."?The princess heard and quickly said: "I feel?My hatred rise. Oh, may I never see?Her face! To hear ye speak of her inflames?My heart with anger. Say, why do ye think?That she's more fair than I?" Then made reply?The women: "Bidasari's eyes are soft.?Her smile is sweet, her skin is tinted like?The green tjempakka, and her graceful form?Resembles some famed statue nobly made.?Her cheeks are like the bill of flying bird.?We loved to look upon her neck. Her nose?Is like a jasmine bud. Her pretty face?Is like the yellow of an egg. Her thoughts?Are pure as crystal. And she wears her hair?In such a charming way. Her lips are like?A little polished box. The flowers she wears?But make her look the prettier. Her teeth?Are like a bright pomegranate. Ah, the heart?Doth open when one looketh on her face.?She's like a princess of the Mount Lidang.?Her features are like those of Nilagendi,?Her heels are like the eggs of hens, and make?Her seem a princess of Siam. Her fingers?More tapering are than quills of porcupine.?And solid is the nail of her left hand.?No noble's girl is Bidasari's peer."?Now when the princess heard them sing her praise?Her soul was wounded as if by a thorn.?Her dark eyes flashed. "Ah, speak no more of her,"?She said, "nor speak abroad what ye have seen.?But bring me Bidasari. I would see?If what ye say be true."
"Then we must take?Her presents first, and strive to gain by them?Her friendship, and attain our end at last."?They went to see her every day, and bore?Rich gifts.
The merchant and his wife remarked?The visits of the Queen's dyangs, and how?They loved their daughter. That is why they gave?Them all that they desired. But the dyangs?Among themselves kept saying: "How can we?Take her away? We love her so, and deep?Within our hearts we pity her. And now?Her parents have such trust in us, and load?Us down with gifts. But when, alas, at home?The princess questions us, what shall we say??For she's a powerful Queen. Yet if we make?Unhappy this dear girl of these good folk,?Shall we not sin? And still the princess is?So violent and harsh! Her jealousy?Would know no limit should the King but hear?Of this affair."
Dang Djoudah answering spoke:?"We all can go to her and quiet her.?A word suffices oft. She is our Queen,?But to the King belongeth power supreme.?If Bidasari should disdain the throne?We shall renounce our functions at the court,?For what the Queen desires is most unjust.?And if we prove unfaithful we shall be?O'erwhelmed with maledictions." Thus they spoke?And went back to the busy-lived campong?Of merchants. Here they thought to go and find?Djouhara, and obtain what they desired.?A messenger went after them and said:?"To Dang Bidouri: Come at once; my friend?The princess summons you." Then the dyangs?Went to the Queen and found her with the King?At dinner. With malicious wink of eye?She made them understand they must not talk?Before the prince. When he had dined he took?Some siri from the betel-box, himself?Anointed with a perfume sweet, and went?To teach the young folk how to ride and shoot?The arrow straight, and played at many games.?Meanwhile the princess Lila Sari called?Before her the dyangs and questioned them:?"Why have ye come so late?" Bidouri bowed?And said: "'Twas very hard to bring her here?To thee. The merchant and his wife do not?A moment leave her, for they love her so.?Her tiring-women