At the eastern border of Malacca,
on Mount Ledang peak,
There once lived a princess whose
beauty, urged men to seek,
Surrounded by jungle, bamboo,
river, creeper and creek,
Reaching Mount Ledang was a
journey, hazardous and bleak.
“Stay away, men or forfeit your life
I belong to no-one, I’m nobody’s wife.”
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| Image : glitter-graphics.com |
around her domain they stalked,
Fairy-like women watched over
her as in her garden she walked,
She possessed magical powers,
they say, strong and unflawed,
She could be at any place in an
instant, of her own accord.
“Stay away, intruders, dangers lurk,
Of spirits and beasts, rivers and murk.”
The Sultan of Malacca
craved for her,as sleepless nights he spent,
Heard his people talk of her elusive
beauty everywhere he went,
She would his consort be and their
fame spread in limitless extent,
His warriors, among them faithful
Hang Tuah, on this errand he sent.
“Stay away, sovereign, cool your desire,
Your kingdom forfeit if you irk my ire.”
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| Image : glitter-graphics.com |
warriors plundered through,
And anything that stood in his way,
with his kris, Hang Tuah slew,
Till at last they reached the palace
where scented flowers grew,
When they heard the princess’ demands
their faces changed hue.
“Stay away, warriors, you’ll rue the day
For daring to enter my abode, to disarray.”
Two bridges, of silver and of gold,
the king built at her command,
An earthenware of mosquito blood,was collected at her demand,
A pail, filled to the brim with tears of
virgins, was placed in her hand,
Her last request, that the king, his son’s
bloodied heart, to her he send.
“Stay awake, prince, in your father’s safe bed,
Woe! When a son’s blood, a sire dares shed.”
unaware of the mortal danger nearby,
The sword shook in his grasp, the king
took a step back, with a wrenching cry,
He had come to his senses, he could not
plunge his sword in and let his son die,
Suddenly, the princess in all her beautyappeared before the king’s very eye.
“Stay away, King! I'll not wed at your request,
Even if you had fulfilled my every test.”
So, they say, the princess disappeared,
her abode was never found,
Where Hang Tuah went no-one knows,
he did not return to Malacca town,
His magic kris, with its powers, he threw
into the waters underground,
Till today, men have searched for mystical
trails and kris but nothing is abound.
“Stay away, fortune-hunters, leave us be,
We’ve found bliss in the myths of history.”
6 Nov 2008
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