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

190
MALAYAN LITERATURE
tenance evident marks of care and sorrow, spoke thus to him :
"
Ibrahim Hadjib, are you the minister in whom the Suhan
Mahomet placed his confidence ? " He replied in the affirma-
tive.
"
From what motive, Ibrahim Hadjib, did you keep silence,
and send me no word of advice while the ministers of Sultan
Mahomet, now here, sent many letters to show me how to
capture the city ? Why did you refrain from appearing before
me at court to-day, at the same time with the ministers and
grandees ? Why, now that you are here, are you the only one
to wear a sad and mournful appearance and a long face, while
all the others show their joy? To all these questions you
must truthfully respond. And if you speak not the truth you
shall be put to death."
" If the Sultan wishes to hear the language of truth and
will not be vexed by it, I will reply to each of his questions.
To the first question, why I sent no letter betraying my King,
I will say : Know, Sultan, that the Sultan Mahomet was the
King of this country ; that he gave me many presents and had
full confidence in me, thinking that in the moment of danger
I would be his companion and his counsellor. How could I,
then, betray him ? I knew you not, and had received no bene-
fits from you. Would it have been just for me to send you
letters and cause the fall of one who had been so bountiful
to me? "
"
Your words are just and true," said the Sultan Yakoub.
"
As to the question why I
Ibrahim Hadjib continued :
abstained from presenting myself at court to-day, and why
I wore so sorrowful a face, I answer: Know that I could not
present myself before the Sultan, because he was the enemy
of my master and benefactor, and brought about the ruin of
my lord. That is why I wore a sad face in your presence.
Beside, the children and grandchildren of my lord are plunged
in grief and anxiety, and how could I be happy in your presence,
like these hypocrites, who are very different elsewhere?
I have told the truth."
When the Sultan Yakoub had heard these words of Ibrahim
Hadjib, he cried :
"
God be ! praised Up to this time I have
heard tell of ministers, I have seen many kinds, but never
have I seen nor heard of a minister like this one. Now, only