The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 128

by Thiruvalluvar

CHAPTER 128

READING THE SECRET THOUGHT

HE

1271. Thou mayest try to conceal, my love, but thy eye refuseth to be restrained, and telleth me that there is some strange thought in thy breast.^[1]

SHE IS SILENT AND HE ADDRESSES THE MAID

1272. Ah ! More than a woman's reserve hath my artless one, whose beauty filleth my eyes and whose arms are even as bamboo stems.

1273. Even as the thread that is seen through the crystal bead, there is a thought that is now passing in her bosom, but which is yet plainly visible.

1274. Even as the fragrance in the bud that is not yet blown, there is a secret meaning in the half-smile of this artless one.

1275. The cunning with which she concealed her rising thought and left hath a charm to cure the anguish of my heart.

SHE ADDRESSES THE MAID WHEN ALONE

1276. He is overkind and sweet to me: I fear there is something in his heart which he is hardly able to conceal: and it forebodeth to me a second departure.

1277. My bracelet hath read the coolness in the heart of my gracious lord even sooner than my own self.

1278. My beloved parted only yesterday : but it is seven days since my form hath lost its freshness!^[2]

THE MAID ADDRESSES HIM ALONE

1279. She looked at her bracelet and her tender arm and then she looked at her feet: these are the signs that she made to me.^[3]

HE SPEAKS TO THE MAID

1280. She telleth me of the pangs of separation and prayeth for permission to accompany me if I go : how she surpasseth womanhood's self in delicacy to tell this only with her eyes !

1. The fear that the husband is going again to part : the pair are now to be supposed to have met again after their separation.
2. So intense is my grief even at anticipated separation.
3. See next verse.