Page:Gleaning Of Tamil Literature.pdf/10

10 personal impression, evoked by something strange or beautiful or interesting. Poetry demands a certain sacredness and solemnity of mood. The poet is emotional. in a reverential way; he is thrilled, he loves, he worships, he sorrows; but it is all essentially grave, because he wishes to recognise the sublime and uplifted elements of life; he wishes to free himself from all discordant, absurd, undignified contrasts.

Tamil literature-dates far back to 3000 years and it has been the mirror of the Tamil civilization, culture and way of life. Those foreign scholars whose services to Tamil are remarkable have understood the greatness of its literature. Caldwell, Pope and Beschi have paid great tributes to the ancient literature. It is up to us to remind ourselves that we belong to a noble and rich tradition and continue it in all possible ways. It is the literature of a country that reflects the civilization of the people; and when all things change and die a gradual death, the literature remains and stands the test of time.

Spenser has said in his ‘Ruins of Times’ the same fact:

“For deeds do die for ever nobly done And thoughts of men do as themselves decay But wise words, taught in numbers for to run