Meanwhile the merchant and his wife Wept all the day, and sighed for their dear child, Sweet Bidasari. Nor did gentle sleep Caress their eyes at night. Each day they sent Rich presents of all kinds, and half of them Were for the child. But naught the wicked Queen To Bidasari gave. So five days passed And then Dyang Menzara forth they sent. The merchant said: "Oh, tell the mighty Queen That I must Bidasari see. I'll bring Her back in three days' time." The good _Dyang_ went to the queen and bowing low: "The merchant fain would see his child," she said. At this the features of the Queen grew hard. "Did they not give their child to me? Now scarce A day has passed, and they must see her face. Is it thine own wish or the merchant's? I Have said the girl could go where'er she would. Can I not have her taken back myself?" Then the _dyang_ bowed, beat her breast, and went, Sad that she could not Bidasari see, And quaking at the anger of the Queen. Of the _dyang_, fair Bidasari heard The voice, and felt her heart break that she could Not speak to her and send a message home. Upon the morrow, when the King had gone Among his ministers and men of state, The Queen again to Bidasari's room Repaired, to beat her more. As soon as she Beheld the Queen, poor Bidasari prayed To her, "O sovereign lady great, permit That I may go unto my father's house." The princess shook with rage, her face on fire. "If thou but sayest a word, I'll slay thee here." To whom could Bidasari turn? She bent Before the will of God, and in a sweet Voice said: "O Lord, my God, have pity now Upon me, for the cruel world has none. Grant now the Queen's desire and let me die, For she reproacheth me, though naught I've done. My parents have forgotten me, nor send A word." The angry princess struck again Her piteous face, and as she swooned away A napkin took to twist into a cord And strangle her. She summoned to her aid Dang Ratna Wali. "Help me pluck this weed; I wish to kill her." But the woman fled, As base as cruel. Bidasari's ghost Arose before her. Yet the child came back To consciousness, and thought amid her tears: "I'll tell the story of the golden fish Unto the Queen, that she may know it all; For I can but a little while endure These pains." She spoke then to the Queen and said: "O Queen, thou dost desire that I shall die. Seek out a little casket that doth lie All hidden in the fish-pond at our house. Within it is a fish. Have it brought here And I will tell thee what it signifies." The princess called Dyang Sendari: "Go And bring here the _dyangs_, with no delay From out the merchant's house." When they arrived: "Go, now, _dyangs_, for Bidasari saith There is a little casket in the pond Where she is wont to bathe. Go bring it me, In silence, letting no one see ye come." Then the _dyangs_ replied: "Oh, hear our prayer For Bidasari.