The Queen and the Beggar
H. (Henry) Parker translation
At a city there exists a Beggar, begging, and continuing to eat [thus]. There is a travellers’ shed near the pool at which the Queen of that city bathes. The Beggar having come [after] begging and begging, eats at that travellers’ shed.
He having felt (lit., thought) much shame, went to the house of the washerman who cleans the cloths of the city. He remained doing work for him for wages. The washerman asked, “Why are you working for wages?”
After that the King came. The guards thought, “To-day the King went here; what came he again for?” After he went to the chamber the Queen did not give him the auspicious wish. The King inquired why she did that.
Having said, “Now, on one occasion (gamanaka), as I am bad you spat in my face; have I now become good?” she asked.
After that, the King [on hearing her account] sitting down there, wrote two bars of a four-line stanza (siwpada de padayak):—
“The angry tone displayed, the King is desolating;
The courier bold who charmed my love, long bound, is flying.
Speak not so harshly, here with frowns me eyeing;
North-western Province.