Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/63

 OF THE MALAYS. 49 But for the moon, Would the eastern star be so high ? But for you, my love, Would your elder brother (lover) come hither ? The Sayar, correctly v^rritten Shaiar, is, as its name imports, of Arabic origin. It is a measure of rhyming couplets, of from eight to twelve syllables to a line, resembling the rhyming metre of the modern languages of Europe. Poems of this de- scription are of considerable length, and their sub- ject is either an avowed romance, or a scrap of history treated as if it were one. They may truly be said to be poetry only to the eye and the ear, for they are wholly wanting in the essentials of poetry, fancy, and passion. The following is a favourable specimen of the Sayar as rendered into English by Dr Leyden : dow, her eye sparkling like a star, its brilliant rays glancing and glittering, her elder brother cannot support its lustre. Like the red mango is the hue of her cheek, becoming her tapering neck, traversed with shadows whenever she swallows. Her features like those of a shadow or scenic figure ; — ^her forehead like the new moon in its first day ; — her eyebrows curved so fair I could devour her. Long has she been chosen to be my mistress, — wearing a ring set with gems of Sailan, — her long VOL. II. D
 * ' When my mistress looks forth from her win-