Hear now a song about the King Djouhan. The wise and powerful prince e'er followed free His fancy, and the Princess Lila Sari Was very happy in her vanity. Since she had killed (for so she thought) the maid, Young Bidasari, tainted was her joy. "The King will never take a second wife," She mused, "since Bidasari is now dead." The King loved Princess Lila Sari well. He gratified her every wish, and gave Her all she asked, so fond was he of her. Whene'er the princess was annoyed, the King, With kisses and soft words would quiet her, And sing to her sweet songs till she became Herself again. "Poor, little, pretty wife," He'd say, and laugh her fretful mood away. One night as he lay sleeping on his bed, A dream tormented him. "What may it mean?" He thought. "Ah, well, to-morrow morn I'll seek An explanation." At the dawn he sat Upon a rug Egyptian, breaking fast, And with him was the princess. When she had The dainties tasted, the _dyangs_ arrived With leaves of perfume. Then the King went forth Into the garden. All the officers Were there assembled. When they saw the King They all were silent. To a _mantri_ spoke The King: "My uncle, come and sit thee here. I fain would question thee." The King had scarce These words pronounced, when, bowing very low, The _mantri_ in respectful tones replied, "My greetings to thee, O most merciful Of kings." He sat him near the throne. "I dreamed Last night," the King continued, "that the moon In her full glory fell to earth. What means This vision?" Then the _mantri_ with a smile Replied: "It means that thou shalt find a mate, A dear companion, like in birth to thee, Wise and accomplished, well brought up and good, The one most lovable in all the land." The King's eyes took new fire at this. He said With smiles: "I gave the Queen my promise true That never I would take a second wife Until a fairer I could find than she. And still she is so lovely in my eyes, Her equal cannot anywhere be found. You'd take her for a flow'r. Yet when arise Her storms of anger, long it takes to calm Her mind, so waspish is her character. The thought of this doth sadden me. Should one Not satisfy her heart's desire, she flies Into a passion and attempts to kill Herself. But 'tis my destiny--'tis writ. The Queen is like a gem with glint as bright As lightning's flash. No one can ever be, I tell thee now, so beautiful to me." The _mantri_ smiled. "What thou dost say is just, O King, but still if thou shouldst someone find More beautiful, thou yet couldst keep thy word. The beauty of the Queen may fade away. The princess thou shalt wed, O King, hath four High qualities. She must, to be thy queen, Be nobly born, and rich, and fair, and good." The prince replied: "O uncle mine, thy words Are true. Full many princesses there live, But hard it is to find these qualities.