Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/293

Rh "There is no one here, nor far nor near, Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim; Would God he might come to life again, 'Twould be less lonely to talk to him."

And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Rajah Rasalu. And he, nothing astonished, said to it:

"The storm beats fierce and loud The clouds rise thick in the West; What ails thy grave and shroud, Oh, corpse! That thou canst not rest?"

Then the headless corpse replied:

"On earth I was even as thou, My turban awry like a king, My head with the highest, I trow. Having my fun and my fling, Fighting my foes like a brave, Living my life with a swing. And, now I am dead, Sins, heavy as lead, Will give me no rest in my grave!"

So the night passed on, dark and dreary,