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

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" Let him come to me.'*
''
MALAYAN LITERATURE
Immediately, my lord," said the vezir, and he ordered a
slave to go and summon the painter. The painter came in all
haste and entered the presence of Radja Chah Djouhou, bow-
said to him :
ing his head to the floor. The prince
" O painter, have you a daughter who knows how to
paint?"
The painter answered :
" Yes, my lord, king of the world,
I have a daughter very skilful in the art of painting."
" Tell your child to come here."
The painter bowed again and went to find his daughter.
" O my child," he said, " the fruit of my heart, come, the King
calls you."
Then the painter's daughter quickly set out, accompanied
by her father. They together entered the presence of the
King, who was still surrounded by his ministers and his officers.
The painter and his daughter bowed their heads to the
floor. The prince said :
" "
Painter, is this your daughter ?
" O my lord, king of the world, yes, this is my daughter."
"
Come with me into the interior of the palace." And at
the same time the prince started and entered his apartments,
followed by the daughter of the painter. He led the way to a
"
My daughter, make my portrait, I
retired place, and said :
pray you, and try to have the resemblance good." Then the
princess Djouher-Manikam clothed herself in woman's raiment,
and in this costume she was ravishingly beautiful. That
done, she commanded the artist to paint her thus. She succeeded
perfectly and the portrait was a remarkable likeness,
for the daughter of the painter was very skilful. When her
work was finished she received a large sum in gold. The
prince
said to her :
" Come, sister, let this remain a secret. Reveal it not to
anyone in the world. If you tell it I will slay you, with your
father and your mother."
The daughter of the painter said :
" O my lord, king
of the
world, how could your servant disobey your Majesty's com-
mands ? " She bowed low, and asked permission to go home.
Radja Chah Djouhou, in the presence of his ministers and
his subjects, said to the vizier: " O vizier, place this portrait