Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/171

Rh namesake the long-eyed Mathavi, who pines for her absent lover Kovilan ?“ Hearing these words Kovilan asked Kausika what he meant by his exclamation. Recognizing Kovilan at once that Brahmin informed him that as soon as it was known that he and his wife had left their home, his servants were sent out in all directions to search for him and bring him home. His aged parents were sunk in profound grief and all his relations were unhappy. Mathavi having come to know of his disappearance was overcome with grief. Hearing of her distress, the Brahmm went to visit her and she entreated him to carry a letter to her lover, who was dear to her as the apple of her eye. Taking charge of the letter he went to many places, in search of Kovilan, and had the good luck to meet him there. Saying thus, the Brahmin handed to him a roll of palm-leaf. The perfumed leaf reminded him of the fragrant tresses of the actress, and with no little tremor he unfolded the palm-leaf and read it. “I fall at thy honoured feet,” wrote Mathavi, “and beg you will graciously read my simple words. I know not any fault on my part which could have led you to quit thy home in the night, with thy gentle wife, and without the knowledge of thy parents. May thy pure and noble heart be pleased to remove our sorrow.” He read it with pleasure and felt relieved, as he was now satisfied that his suspicions against Mathavi were ill-founded: “Make haste” said he to the Brahmin, “and let my parents know that I am safe, and tell them not to grieve for my absence.” Returning to the garden where his wife and the nun were staying, he joined a band of musicians, and pleased them by his skilful play on the lute. From them he learnt that Madura was within a few hours’ journey and that they could travel without any fear. As on the previous day, the three again travelled at night, and in the early dawn they were delighted to hear the distant sounds of drums. Walking on, they heard the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of steeds, the chant of Vedic hymns, and the songs of war-bards coming to their ears in a mingled roar, like the noise of waves on the seashore. Their hearts were elated with joy, and when they approached the classic stream of the Vaigai, the theme of many a poet’s song, they felt they were treading on sacred