38), Keble (Kuṟaḷ 47), Wordsworth (Kuṟaḷ 47), Terence (Kuṟaḷ 60), Ovid (Kuṟaḷ 86), Aristotle (Kuṟaḷ 98, 280), Psalms (Kuṟaḷ 169), Matthew Arnold (Kuṟaḷ 298), St. Paul (Kuṟaḷ 292), Robinson (Kuṟaḷ 596), Nero (Kuṟaḷ 753), Shelley (Kuṟaḷ 804), St. John ch. XCV and Geetha (Kuṟaḷ 34, 35 & 327), Upanishad (Kuṟaḷ 355) and Vemanna - Telugu: Poet (Kuṟaḷ 60 and 106)⁸⁸. :Such a large list shows undoubtedly the wide knowledge of Pope and the comparison shows “the idea familiar to all races” expressed by the unique Kuṟaḷ.

For each couplet Pope gives the interpretation of his predecessors Beschi, Graul, Ariel and Drew besides adding his own. This kind of collection has enabled a study in comparison and contrast which has been adopted by the Tharmapura Athenam in this century which has collected all the important Tamil native commentaries and published a book. Perhaps Pope’s collections led the way for this publication.

The third book is on “Love” of which Drew writes: “It could not be translated into any European language without exposing the translator to infamy.”⁸⁹ The misconceived notion that this book dealt with “Lust” left it unread by many a scholar but as Pope confesses later it was taken up for study and translation by him and he writes, “I am persuaded that it is perfectly pure in its tendency and in the intention of its wise and high-souled composer.” His translation, he believes has done good service which was earlier done in German and Latin by Graul and in French by Ariel.⁹⁰

IPope adds, “These last chapters must be considered as a Eastern Romance not fully told but indicated in a number of beautiful verses which leave much to the imagination of the readers and the ingenuity of the interpreter......... Taken as they are, these chapters are worthy of Theocritus and much less open to objective than parts of his writings,”⁹¹

88. P.T.S.K. P. 309

89. Ibid. Introduction P. (xii)

90. Ibid. P. (xii)

91. Ibid P. 322