Upon their breasts. "Be humble to the Queen,"
They said, "remember that thou art before
The King, and near the throne. Ask leave to come
To see us when thou dost desire. Speak sweetly
With low and gentle voice."
Thus they enjoined.
And then the merchant said, "Dyangs, if ye
Love Bidasari, see ye vex her not."
They dried their tears and said: "Be without fear.
Intrust thy daughter to our mistress dear."
"My child," he said, "I'll come to see thee oft.
Thou wilt be better there, my love, than here."
But Bidasari wept and cried: "Oh, come,
Dear mother, with me! Wilt thou not, alas?"
But the fond parents were astounded then
To learn the mother was not asked to come.
She stayed with tears, the while the father went.
As far as to the city's gates. With tears
He said: "Farewell, O apple of my eye
I leave thee here. Fear not, my dearest child."
Then Bidasari wept. Her heart was wrung.
She went. The merchant followed with his eyes.
She entered by a hidden door. Dyangs
And mandars flocked to see her, but she hung
Her head and kept her eyes downcast.
The sun
Announced the evening, and the King was still
Surrounded by his officers. 'Twas then
Fair Bidasari to the palace came,
And stood before the Queen. All the dyangs
Sat on the floor, with servants of the house.
Like the pengawas Bidasari bowed,
'Mid the dyangs, in presence of the Queen.
They gave her all the merchant's gifts, as sign
Of homage. All astonished was the Queen
At Bidasari's beauty. She appeared
Almost divine. Bidouri spoke and said,
"Thou seest Bidasari, O our Queen,
Lila Djouhari's daughter." At these words
The Queen was stupefied, and thought: "In truth
'Tis as they said. She is more lovely than
The fairest work of art." Bidouri told
All that the merchant and his wife had said.
The Queen inclined her head and silence kept,
But wicked thoughts were surging in her brain.
A combat raged within her heart. She feared
The King might see the maiden. "Send away,"
She said, "the nurses and the women all."
Fair Bidasari wept when they retired.
The princess called her to her side and said:
"Thou must not weep so, Bidasari. They
Will all return. When thou dost wish to go,
They will go with thee. Now depart, dyangs.
Ye need not care for Bidasari more.
I will procure her dames of company
And servants. You may come from time to time."
So they arose, and, with prostrations, went.
The Queen conducted Bidasari then
Into a room and left her all alone,
And all afraid.
When evening shadows fell,
The great King bade the Queen to sup with him.
He sat beside her, smiled and gayly talked,
As he had been young Bedouwandas, on
His horse, with sword at belt. "My royal spouse,
How thou dost love me! for thou wouldst not sup
Without me, though thou needest food and drink."
Now when the King had eaten, he retired
Unto his sleeping-chamber.
Still alone
And weeping much, fair Bidasari stayed,
In darkness with no one to speak to her.
She thought on her dear parents. "O my God!
Why dost Thou leave me here?" The solitude
Filled her with terror, and she wept until
The middle of the night, and thought of home.
Out spake the King: "Now what is that I hear?
What voice is that so sorrowful and sweet?"
"It is an infant crying," said the Queen.
"In all the darkness it has lost its way."
Her heart was burning, and she sent a word
To Bidasari that she must not weep,
And held her peace and waited till the dawn.
But Bidasari wept the whole night long
And cried for home. When the dyangs all ran
To comfort her, they found the door was locked,
And none could enter. Bidasari thought,
"What wrong have I committed, that the Queen
Should be so vexed with me?" When day appeared,
To the pavilion went the King. The Queen
Threw wide the door of Bidasari's room
And entered all alone.
Then Bidasari
The Queen's hand kissed, and begged that she would let
Her homeward fare. "O gracious Queen," she said,
"Take pity on me; let me go away.
I'll come to thee again."
The wicked Queen
Struck her, and said, "Thou ne'er shalt see again
Thy home." The gentle Bidasari drooped
Her head and wept afresh, shaking with fear.
"Forgive the evil I have done, my Queen,
For I am but a child, and do not know
How I have sinned against thee," falling at
Her feet she said. The Queen in anger struck
Her once again. "I know full well," she said,
"All thy designs and projects. What! Am I
To rest in peace and see thy beauty grow,
And thee become my rival with the King?"
Then Bidasari knew 'twas jealousy
That caused the fury of the Queen. Her fear
Increased, she trembled and bewailed her fate.
The livelong day she was insulted, struck,
And of her food deprived.
Before the King
Returned, the Queen departed from the room
Of Bidasari. The poor child had lost
Her former color. Black her face had grown
From blows, as if she had been burnt. Her eyes
She could not open. Such her sufferings were
She could not walk. Then unto God she cried:
"O Lord, creator of the land and sea,
I do not know my fault, and yet the Queen
Treats me as guilty of a heinous crime.
I suffer hell on earth. Why must I live?
Oh, let me die now, in the faith, dear Lord.
My soul is troubled and my face is black
With sorrow. Let me die before the dawn.
My parents do not help me. They have left
Me here alone to suffer. In the false
Dyangs I trusted, as to sisters dear.
Their lips are smiling, but their hearts are base.
Their mouths are sweet as honey, but their hearts
Are full of evil. Oh, what can I say?
It is the will of God."
Such was the grief
Of Bidasari, and her tears fell fast.
Now when the King went forth again, the Queen
Began anew her persecutions harsh.
With many blows and angry words, she said:
"Why dost thou groan so loudly? Dost thou seek
By crying to attract the King, to see
Thy beauty? 'Tis thy hope, I know full well,
His younger wife to be. And thou art proud
Of all thy beauty." Bidasari was
Astounded, and replied with many tears:
"May I accursed be if ever I
Such plottings knew. Thou art a mighty Queen.
If I have sinned against thee, let me die
At once. For life is useless to the hearts
That suffer. Hast thou brought me here to beat?
How thou hast made me weep! O Queen, art thou
Without compassion?"