Malayan literature; comprising romantic tales, epic poetry and royal ...

BIDASARI 79
The prince before his father bowed and said,
" My royal father, let me go and hunt."
To this the King of Kembajat replied,
" Do what thou dost desire, light of my eyes."
The King of Indrapura said with smiles,
"
I'll go with thee to hunt, my brother dear."
"
The prince replied, I shall in truth be charmed,
My brother."
"
Forth we'll fare to-morrow mom,"
Returned the King of "
Indrapura. Call
The folk together."
When the dawn appeared,
The King and prince together started forth,
Escorted by a band of hunters tried.
And beat the woods for game. The King and prince
And all their following made rapid work.
The game took flight. The King then drew his bow
And many animals were killed. A deer
Came running by. His arrow struck him full
Upon the shoulder, and the huntsmen seized
And quickly killed him. In the pathless woods
Of Nousa Antara there was much game.
A tiger roared, the King and prince pursued.
The tiger swiftly fled. The prince sat down
Within the forest deep. To overtake
The beast he was unable. To return
He sought, but could not find the way. Alone
He was, and in perplexity, because
His huntsmen he no longer could descry.
Then, wandering to and fro, he found at last
A pleasure garden of the days gone by.
Belonging to King Lila, beautiful
And without flaw. He was astonished quite
When he perceived a palace. All alone
He found himself, when he had entered there.
He walked about, but found no living soul.
''
Unto himself he said : Can this domain
A habitation be of demons dread
And spirits ? Can this be the cause of all
The solitude which reigns ? " On all sides then
He looked. All suddenly a voice he heard,