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56
A. CHAKRAVARTI:
of Kannaki who and her husband were the honoured guests in that Ayarpāḍi. After feeling sorry for the troubles and privations, Kōvalan took leave of his wife and returned to the city for the purpose of selling one of the anklets. When he entered the principal market street he met a goldsmith. He spotted him out as a goldsmith patronised by the king and told him that he had an anklet worthy of being worn by the queen and wanted him to estimate the value of the same. The goldsmith wanted to see the value of the anklet which was accordingly delivered by the owner. The wicked goldsmith thought within himself of deceiving Kōvalan, asked him to wait in a house next to his own and promised to strike a very good bargain with the king, for the anklet was so valuable that only the queen could offer the price of it. Thus leaving poor Kōvalan alone he took the anklet to the king where he misrepresented facts reporting that Kōvalaṇ was a thief having in possession one of the queen's anklets which was stolen from the palace a few days before. The king without further enquiry issued orders that the thief must be killed and the anklet must be recovered at once. The wicked goldsmith returned with the king's officers who carried out the orders of the foolish king to the very letter; and thus Kōvalan had to end his life, while attempting to start life again, in the foreign country'. In the meanwhile Kannaki who resided in the shepherdess' quarters had observed several evil omens prophetic of the great calamity awaiting her.
1. Ibid., Canto 16: Kolaikkala-kkādai, 'The place of execution'.
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