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

146
MALAYAN LITERATURE
King of the country of Roum. That prince has the reputation
of being extremely just. Each of us shall plead his cause."
The prince answered: " It is well." The minister replied:
" O king of the world, let us start without delay."
So the King Haroun-er-Raschid set out with his son Minbah-Chahaz,
his chief warrior, and his soldiers. The cadi accompanied
the prince. On his side, the minister of the country
of Damas started, accompanied by his three sons and
forty soldiers of the country of Damas. After proceeding
some time, they arrived at the city of Roum and entered the
fortifications. Each one of them presented himself before the
King and pleaded his cause.
The King Haroun-er-Raschid expressed
himself as follows :
" O king of the world ! I present myself before your Majesty
to ask your impartial judgment. The minister of the country
of Damas brought to Bagdad, among other precious objects,
ingots of gold and ingots of silver, on which are engraved my
name and that of my daughter, the princess Djouher-Manikam.
I seized these, and come to your Majesty to decide my claim
to them."
The King of Roum said :
"
If it pleases God the most high,
this afifair shall be judged with the best of my powers." The
"
King of Roum continued : My officers and you, my ministers
and chiefs, seek all the divine inspiration to decide the
difference existing between the King of Bagdad and the min-
ister of Damas."
The officers bowed low and said :
" O my lord, king of the
world, whatever they may be, we shall put the commands of
your Majesty above our heads and shall carry them out to
the letter." And they deliberated on the character of the dis-
pute.
The King of "
Bagdad declared : These objects are precious
to me, for they bear engraven upon them the names of myself
and my child."
On the other hand, and at the same time, the minister
Damas declared, " These precious objects are mine."
The ministers and chiefs were very much embarrassed, and
" O king of the world, we, all of us, are
said to the King :
unable to judge this dispute. It is too difficult for us. Only
the impartial judgment of your Majesty can decide it."