Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/229

Rh seeking the help of the merchants who knew his father, he lodges in the house of a shepherdess; and going out alone to sell one of his wife’s jewels, is accused of having stolen the jewel from the palace, and is killed by one of the royal guards. Kannaki is a model wife, who loves and adores her husband although he is faithless to her. So sweet is her temper, that she never reproaches him, but studies his slightest wish and devotes herself to his service. After he had squandered all his wealth she follows him in his flight to a strange city: and when he is killed there accused of theft, she appears boldly before the king of that city and proves that her husband was not a thief. Then she gives way to despair; and wandering along the road leading into the Chera country dies broken-hearted on the fourteenth day after her husband’s death.

Arisil-kilâr (A. D. 110-140) is the author often stanzas in praise of the Chera king Perum-cheral-Irum-Porai, who captured Thakadr, the capital of Atiyamn Elii. Several of his &tanzas occur also in the Thakadûr Yâthirai.

Pon-mudiyâr (A. D 110-140) a war bard who accompanied the army of the Chera king Perum-cheral-Irum-Porai, when it marched against Thakadûr. His verses are full of martial spirit and describe vividly and graphically stirring scenes on the battle-field.

Perunk-kunrur-kilar (A. D. 120.150). Ten stanzas composed by him in praise of Perum-cheral-Irum-Porai are preserved in the Patirrup-pattu.

The following list shows the names of the Tazuil poems composed between the years A. D. 50 and 150, and the number of lines contained in each poem :— Rh