The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 119

by Thiruvalluvar

CHAPTER 119

BEWAIL ING THE PALLOR OF PINING LOVE

SHE

1181. It is I myself that consented to the parting of my beloved : to whom shall I complain now of my pallor ?

1182. Pallor is proud of being his child, and creeping all over my frame rideth on me.

1183. My comeliness and my modesty he hath taken away, giving in exchange nought but the pangs of the heart and my pallid hue.

1184. In my heart I think nought but his thoughts, with my tongue I speak nought but his praises: and yet, witchcraft! this pallor hath overspread my frame.⁹

1185. That day too he went but there, and paleness sought me out here !^[1]

1186. Even as darkness lieth in wait for the light to be put out, even so doth Pallor lie in wait for my separation from my lord.

1187. I lay in his embrace : I then left him for a while, and behold, pallor swallowed me up, as it were !

1188. There are people to reproach me saying, Behold she hath become sallow and pale : but there is none to reproach him for abandoning me !

1189. Acquit him forsooth, my maid, of all harmful intent : the death-like pallor of my body is nothing to thee.

1190. It is good for me even to be twitted with the sallowness of my skin, if only they accuse not my beloved of cruelty.^[2]

1. The maid is to be supposed to have tried to console the mistress saying. "Thy beloved is not gone far away: be calm, be will return soon." The text is to be taken an the reply of the mistress to this supposed address.
2. Note the sudden change of mood.