Chapter XX — The Murder of the Prince

The Prince Udhaya-kKumaran was in despair. His parents seemed to have but one interest. They exclaimed at the Miracle of the Bowl. They talked over their plea- sant plans for the new Home of Mercy. They spoke of it at table; they discussed it inthe audience hall. His ears rang with it. He thought of his duty as a Prince. He thought of the honour of his house. He thought of the warnings of the gods. But the name of Manimekalai was printed in letters of fire on his heart. Her lovely form floated ever in a vision before his eyes. Was that not enough to bearP And now his ears were filled with the sound of her name. He could no longer resist.

He said to himself, * My love is stronger than the will of the gods. It is stronger than princely duty. It is stronger than the desire of my father. Surely then, might is right! My love must be as wonderful as the cause of it! It is not all madness. Manimekalai is wise as she is fair. To love her is no sin. I shall lie at her feet. Her words of truth shall be her words of love. Her looks of wisdom shall flow like cooling balm into my eyes.

I can keep away no longer. To-night,. | go to the alms-house. Her weary children have fed from her hand. They lie fast asleep. She is free. She will listen to me. She cannot refuse me. Surely she will understand. She will say, ‘His hunger is greater than any in the alms-house.’ Only the magic bowl of her love can appease it. Only the divine dew from her eyes may quench my thirst. Her heart is full of pity for the sick and the needy. I shall tell her of my sickness and my need. She shall take pity on me too.”

It seemed to the lovesick Prince that his plea could not fail. He was sure of success. He could not wait till night. He said to himself, “I shall go now. I may

not speak with her. But I can watch her. That is better than nothing.” So he called his chariot, and drove to Chakkaravala- kottam.

Now the curse af Kayachandika was at an end. The twelve years had passed. The sage Vrishikan ate once more of the juicy Jambu fruit. He lifted the curse from Kayachandika. Kanchana waited with joy. But the wife of his bosom did not return to the bright hills of the Gandharvas. * What can have happened?” asked poor Kanchana. “Once more I shall go to Kaveripatnam, and seek her.” So he came to the city. In the temples, and the groves, and the streets of the great city, he looked , for her. At last he came to the public alms-house in Chakkaravala-kottam. There he thought he saw her. He did not know that it was Manimekalai in disguise. She was hemmed about by all the sick poor of the town. Kanchana wondered much at the sight. For a while, he was struck dumb. “Can Kayachandika then, be favour- ed of the gods?” he asked himself. He could hold back no longer. He pushed his way through the crowd. He stood at her elbow. “What is this mystery? I have

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watched you for some time. It is buta small bowl. You have fed many people, yet it stands full to the brim. Tell me, dear wile, is ita gift of the gods? Did their kind hearts grow sad at the sight of your hunger? And now the curse of the sage is lifted. You no longer need the bowl. Out of the kindness of your heart, you stay here to feed poor strangers. You do not return to your own country. You stay away from your beloved husband.”

Just then, Manimekalai saw the Prince. Her heart gave a great bound. “He loves me still. He does not give up hope. I must speak with him. May the good gods put into my mouth the right words! I must cure him of his passion. But I cannot be cruel. He is my husband, my beloved Raghulan.”

So she scarcely heard the words of Kan- chana at her elbow. She took no notice of his plea. She passed through the crowd. She made her way to the Prince, Udhaya- kumaran. Near them, stood an old _ hag. At sight of her, Manimekalai knew at once what to say. The wretched old woman was like a message from the gods.

“O Valiant Prince!” she said, “Do you see that poor old woman? Once she was fair as the dawn, and lovely as the lotus bud. To what depths is she now fallen! Is she not an example of our earthly life? Who could love her now? Once a fond lover shook with fever at the sight of her. Her black curls brought him rapture. ‘He made poems to her eyebrows. When she spoke, his hand wandered to the lute. He made sweet music for her sweeter words. He thought the world well lost, to win her love. She filled all his life.

“And now? As beauty fades, so does. our earthly passion. As the fair flesh shrinks, so does our mortal love. As the bright eyes grow dim, so does loyalty fade. The life leaves the glossy hair. It withers greyly. So does the joy of life together wane and wither. The pretty poems on coral lips and pearly teeth are turned to. vile cruel jests.

“Ts it not true of all of usP Such an end lies in store for.each one of us. The promise of youth is—decay! We know it well. We see it all about us. But we try to disguise the truth, We drench our bodies “with sweet scents, and hope to drive

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olf the smells of decay. We put fresh flowers in our hair, to hide the greying threads. We cover the shrunken limbs with rich cloths and rare jewels. And we say, ‘This is real life! Age and decay can be driven away by these beauties.”

The Prince Udhaya-kumaran __ listened earnestly to the words of his beloved Manimekalai. He cared not what she said. Enough that she spoke. Her words flowed over him like a cooling stream. He cared not why she was near him. Enough that she was near. The sweet loveliness of her body seemed to shine through the drab coverings of her nun’s garb. His eyes were dim with love. He thought, “Never was I so happy as this! I could stay like this for ever! Ido not ask for her love. I am content with her words and her nearness. Yes! I shall come again to-night. I shall ‘hear more of her sweet wisdom.”

The Prince and the begging nun stood ‘close together. Poor Kanchana stood afar off. The Prince knew her for Manimekalai. But Kanchana thought her Kayachandika. His heart was filled with grief and rage. He could not hear their words. But he guessed their love. “For long years, I

have loved Kayachandika, For long years. Kayachandika has loved me. The sage put his curse on her, Yet year after year, I came to her to show her my love. From the far north I came, to the city in the south. But while | mourn for her and wait, she loves a stranger. His princely favour has made her forget me. I leave the silvery hills of my country. I seek her in a vast city. lL find her here in a dreary alms-house.. [ approach her eagerly. Yet she heeds not my words of love. She sees this stranger. She hastens to his side. She leaves me without a single glance. She cannot hide her love. She does not touch him. But I can see her love shine all about them.

“T cannot endure this. I must take revenge. He is surely her lover. He will come again to-night. She will await him with loving arms. So shall I—but with naked sword in hand, And when I shall go from this place, it shall be red with his false blood.”

of MANIMEKALAI