Max Havelaar
261
He goes round the tree, leaps, falls, rises and falls again:
He has no wings, and yet is swift as a bird.
He has no wings, and yet is swift as a bird.
“Happiness to you, my badying, happiness and hail!
Doubtless you will find the food you seek . . .
But I sit lonely near the diati-wood,
Waiting for the food of my heart.
Doubtless you will find the food you seek . . .
But I sit lonely near the diati-wood,
Waiting for the food of my heart.
“Long has the belly of my badying been filled . . .
Long has he returned to the comfort of his nest . . .
But ever my soul
And my heart are bitter with sadness . . . Adinda!”
Long has he returned to the comfort of his nest . . .
But ever my soul
And my heart are bitter with sadness . . . Adinda!”
Still there was no one on the path that leads from Badoor to the ketapan.
Saïdyah’s glance fell on a butterfly that seemed to rejoice because it was growing warm.
“See how the butterfly flutters hither and thither.
His tiny wings shine like a many-tinted flower.
His little heart loves the blossom of the kenari:
He surely seeks his sweet-scented lover!
His tiny wings shine like a many-tinted flower.
His little heart loves the blossom of the kenari:
He surely seeks his sweet-scented lover!
“Happiness to you, my butterfly, happiness and hail!
Doubtless you will find what you seek . . .
But I sit lonely near the diati-wood,
Waiting for the love of my heart.
Doubtless you will find what you seek . . .
But I sit lonely near the diati-wood,
Waiting for the love of my heart.
“Long has the butterfly kissed
The kenari-blossom he so much loves . . .
But ever my soul
And my heart are bitter with sadness . . . Adinda!”
The kenari-blossom he so much loves . . .
But ever my soul
And my heart are bitter with sadness . . . Adinda!”
And there was no one on the path that led from Badoor to the tree.
The sun was already rising high . . . there was already heat in the air.
“See, how the sun glitters yonder: high,
High above the waringi-hill!
Too warm she feels, and wishes to sink down
To sleep in the sea as in the arms of a husband.
High above the waringi-hill!
Too warm she feels, and wishes to sink down
To sleep in the sea as in the arms of a husband.