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

144
MALAYAN LITERATURE
ing to the country of Roum he saw the baley situated outside
the fort, and stopped there. Then he saw the portrait,
and, observing it with the closest attention, he began to weep.
Then he took it in his arms and covered it with kisses.
" "
Alas, my well-beloved ! he cried, **
here indeed is your
picture, but where can I find you ? " He was immediately
seized by the guard and led before the King of Roum.
" "
Biyapri," said the prince, whence do you come, and why
"
did you act thus?
Biyapri answered: ** O my lord, king of
the world, your slave asks pardon a thousand and a thousand
times. I will tell the whole truth. If they kill me, I shall die ;
if they hang me, I shall be lifted very high ; if they sell me, I
shall be taken very far away. When I was engaged in commerce
I passed under a tree, and saw that in this tree there
was a woman of the most marvellous beauty. I took her and
carried her to the city of Bassrah and installed her on the roof
of my storehouse. A certain night she disappeared without
my knowing where she had gone. Then, O king of the world,
I became as one mad and left my native land. Arriving at
the country of Roum I saw a baley outside the fort and came
to sit down there. Then, my lord, I saw the portrait hanging
at the baley. It exactly resembles my beloved, whom I lost.
I pressed it in my arms and covered it with kisses. Such is
the truth, O king of the world."
"
The prince then said to his minister : O minister, let this
man be carefully guarded and give him food and clothes."
The King of Damas, after abdicating the throne, had left
his kingdom, and in the costume of a dervish had started to
travel through the different countries. Arriving at Roum, the
King Chah Djouhou saw a baley situated outside of the fort,
and went to sit down near it. The prince looking closely at
the portrait, which was exactly like the princess Djouher-
Manikam, burst into a flood of tears and exclaimed :
" Alas ! Fruit of my heart, my well-beloved, light of my
eyes! It is, indeed, your picture. But you, whom I seek, oh,
"
where are you ?
in his arms and
Speaking thus, the prince took the portrait
covered it with kisses. Seeing this, the guards of the baley
seized him and carried him before the King.
"
My lord, whence do you come ?
The King
said to him :