A grammar of the Malayan language, with an introduction and praxis..

MALAYAN LANGUAGE. i6n a
horoscope, and which your servants dared not to hide." Maharaja
Eawafia then said, " Be not afraid, neither conceal any thing, but make
known to me the result of your inspection." " Allow us then, O kino- of
the world I (answered the astrologers) to throw ourselves at the feet of your
majesty, and humbly to solicit pardon when we pronounce that the
fortunes of this royal infant will be eminently happy, and that the
personage who shall obtain her in marriage will soon become the sovereign
of all the kingdoms of the earth, aud no one in this world whom the gods
have created shall exceed him in valour and might." " If such be the
case (said Maharaja Rawana), to what purpose should a little wretch
like this be suffered to live? It will be best to dash it against the stones,
and thus deprive it of life in the speediest manner." Upon hearing this
the queen exclaimed, " O Maharaja Rawana, can the king of the world
have the heart to see the brains of the infant scattered on the floor? If
it must be put to death, there are many other (less cruel) modes of effectino-
it." " In what manner then (said Rawana to his queen) should you
advise that it be destroyed?" " Let us, my lord (answered the queen),
cause a coffin to be made for it, and let this coffin be cast into the sea."
The king expressed his consent, and immediately gave orders to skilful
artists, for the construction of an iron coffin. When it was completed and
presented to Maharaja Raxvana, the queen directed that it should be
lined with folds of gold muslin. She then took the child to her breast
and suckled it ; and having so done, with many tears, delivered it to the
nurses and female attendants, in order to its being placed in the iron coffin
which the king commanded his brother to commit to the deep. This was
accordingly put into execution ; but by the interposition of the deities, the
coffin floated on the sea.
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