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

MAKOTA RADJA-RADJA 165
affair to him, saying, "This gold should be the property of
the King." But King Nouchirvau would not take the gold.
He asked the two men if they had children. They replied,
" Yes, my lord, we have each a child, a boy and a girl."
"
Well," said the King, " marry the girl to the boy, and give
them the gold you found."
In ancient times a King of China fell ill and as a result of
his malady he lost his hearing. He wept in sorrow over this
affliction and grew very thin and pale. His ministers came
one day and asked him to tell them in writing his condition.
"
He answered : I am not ill, but so weakened by ray inquietude
and distress that I can no longer hear the words of my subjects
when they come to make their complaints. I know not how
to act not to be guilty of negligence in the government of my
kingdom."
"
The ministers then said: If the ears of your Majesty do
not hear, our ears shall replace those of the King, and we can
carry to his Majesty the complaints and regrets of his sub-
jects. Why, then, should his Majesty be so much disturbed
over the weakening of his physical forces ? "
The King of China answered: "At the day of judgment
it is I, and not my ministers, who will have to render account
of the affairs of my subjects. I must therefore myself examine
into their complaints and troubles. I am sure that the
burden of ruling would be lighter for me if I could have tran-
quillity of spirit. But my eves can see, although my ears are
deaf."
And he commanded them to publish this edict :
" All who
are victims of injustice must reduce their complaints to writing,
and bring them to the King so that he troubles."
may look into their
They tell also the following story: There was formerly
in the city of Ispahan, a king whose power and glory had filled
him with pride. He commanded his ministers to build him
a palace in a certain place. The ministers, with the archi-
tects, ordered the slaves to level the ground so as to form a
vast esplanade and cause to disappear all the houses of the
neighborhood. Among these houses, they say, there was one
belonging to an old woman who was very poor and without a
family to help her. In spite of her great age, she went to