The commentary and the explanatory notes of the Tēmpāvaṇi are also attributed to Beschi. But this is doubtful. The Tēmpāvaṇi is divided into three books each comprising of twelve chapters. This division also may not be Beschi’s work.11 The central hero of this epic is Joseph..... the foster father of Jesus Christ. Beschi says that there are only 86 different varieties of metre in the Rāmāyaṇam and that he has attempted four more, bringing the total to 90. Ellis says, “Viramāmuṉi has imitated not merely the expression but the modes of thought of the previous writers. In the poem which has been added though by no means intended to emulate this author in perfection of language, a similar imitation of style of these writes has been attempted”.....12 If this work is studied in the light of prosody, we see that many different kinds of metre have been used but I feel that the rhythmic echo of the words is not equal to that found in the Rāmāyanam. Though Shakespeare is still unsurpassed as a poet, Matthew Arnold feels that Milton is better at rhythm and diction.13 Likewise though Beschi has applied 90 forms of Canṭam, he is not I feel equal to Kampaṉ. The simple story of Joseph is well-known to all, even those with a slight acquaintance with the Bible. Hence it need not be narrated here. In the first part of the Tēmpāvaṇi, the marriage of Joseph to Mary and the birth of Jesus are elucidated. The second part deals with the flight of Joseph and Mary with the child to Egypt. The next division narrates the atrocities of Herod and the fear instilled by him. The services rendered to others by Joseph are also recounted. All the other events of the story are included in this chapter. Joseph is the epic hero of the Tēmpāvaṇi. Though he is the foster father of Jesus, the Gospels have not elaborately dealt with him. His was a simple and insignificant lot and it would have
11. Gnanaprakasam, R. (S. J.): Tēmpāvaṇi Coṟpoḷivukaḷ; 1960, P. 7 12. E. T. C.; P. 37 13. Matthew Arnold: Prose Selections from Matthew Arnold, Milton, Pp. 97, 98 |