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

8o
MALAYAN LITERATURE
But still no one could see. Amazed he stood.
The mystic voice exclaimed, " Have pity, lord,
And free me from this room." As in a dream
The prince these accents heard. He answered then :
" Who art thou ? Whose strange voice is this I hear,
The while I no one see? Dost thou belong
Unto the race of demons and of spectres ?
"
Where is the key, that I may ope the door ?
Then the dyang of Mendoudari said
"
Look toward the left, for there
Unto the prince :
The key thou'lt find that opes the palace tower."
He took the key and opened wide the door.
All those who were within, when they beheld
The prince's face, fell prostrate at his feet.
"
Say to what race
To them the prince cried out :
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. " Fve 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 1