tracts, chiefly in prose ; and compositions, chiefly on
matters of jurisprudence and religion, founded on
Arabic originals. Of these I shall say a few words
in their turn.
Of all these, to my taste, the best are the simple
songs, for they are the most easy and natural.
The simplicity of the subject deprives the writer
of all opportunity of wantoning in that inflated extravagance
which he indulges on other occasions.
The following is a favourable specimen of one of
these compositions, with a literal translation :
Midaro sewu nagoro,
Mongso hantuko kâkaleh,
Ingkang koyo diko merah
Wâdono hanawang sasi,
Batuk selo chandani.
Michis wutah sinom-mipun,
Halis hangron ning Imbo,
Hidâp tumânggeng rawit,
Remaniro'handan-handan handrawila.
Kang netro jahit hangraras,
Pipi-ne duren sajuring
Latinyo mangis karangat.
Grono rungeh mantâsi,
Hati-hati ngudâp turi,
Hwang-gniro nyangkal putung,
Tangah-nyo lung-ning jonggo,
Jojo wijang hamantâsi,
Lir nyu-dânto pâmbayun, sumonggo karsa.
Pambayu-ne sang kusumo,
Hanglir pendah changkir gading,
Kababad-ing kambap jinggo,
Mantak-mantak bangedani.
Bahu gilig haramping,
Hanggandewo hasta-nipun,
Tangah-he koyo putungo,
Driji puchuk-ing ngri,
Kanakane hapanjang tuhu hangraras.
W&wangkonng papad kumatan,
Wantes-se pudak sisili,
Dalamakan hanggamparan,
Papad sumbar tulis neki,
Watarane pawestri,
Halayak pajah salulut,
Yen chinondro ing warno,
Korang papan luweh tulis
Ngulatono satahun mongso hautuko. *
Translation.
<{ Let a thousand countries be travelled, and
another like you,, my love, will -not be found;
your face is as the moon, your forehead is alabaster.
The hair on your temples resembles a string
of coins; your eyebrows the leaf of the Imba j
your soft eyelashes look upwards; your long jet
hair falls undulating *, your eyes, sharp-angled, are
becoming 5 your cheek is the partition of a Duren;
your mouth the fissure of a ripe Mangostin ; your
slender nose is becoming. The lock behind youi
* The stanza in which this is written is called Sinom.