Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c30.s2.3

c30.s2.3

38. “O stupid one! why do you speak dolefully? how can a woman live who cannot *Mat weaving* weave?” Swaying from side to side she asked, “Am I a slave to give you a mat?”
39. “Dear daughter, why do you talk to me? Find out how to get (for yourself) on in *song* future. Why are you thus angry with me? Let us see what we two can do at weaving.
40. “I weave a mat with *haras raṭava*, in the middle doves and parrots I am weaving, first for a foot I start with *pannan-katuru*, I will turn out a mat for my daughter to see.”
41. “I am weaving a mat with *piyum raṭava*, pretty *toḍu* and squirrels I am weaving around it, with sun and moon at head and foot, playing I will weave a mat for my Mother to see.”
42. “Why do you bandy words with me? I can weave to melt the earth! *sunu-vel daṅge* I start round the mat, *lanu-geṭa* and *pohoṭṭuva* I will weave for my daughter.”
43. “Do you speak against me? see, I start on the mat a *havaḍi daṅge*, I begin the *geṭa-pana* pattern, see *rat-mal* and *pohoṭṭu*, Mother.”
44. “When the moon in the sky is bright, ministers are willing to wage war, Lo! a fine four-legged beast, I will weave a mat for my daughter to see.”
45. “A pandit, a four-footed beast I am weaving, a friend and a four-hoofed beast, I have no ill-will towards you, I will weave a fox for my Mother to eat the hare,”
46. “Four legs and eight hoofs—I begin the weaving, cloven hoofs, shining white spots, two horns on the head I am weaving, a pretty deer I will weave for my daughter to see.”
47. “Four feet, twenty nails I begin, a devil’s face, a round chin and a beard, a tail like a cat and shining white spots, I will weave for my mother a cheetah to eat the deer.”
48. “Hear what I say well, an elephant I will weave for my daughter, with huge trunk blowing in the ten directions and two shining tusks like tender golden buds.”
49. “I will make the lord and king reigning over every jungle beast, who jumps into sea-water and swims ashore, I will weave for my Mother a lion to eat the elephant.”
50. “Devil dances are held for those who are sick and cannot be cured, for the *tovil taṭuva* in the four corners of the mat, lo, there is a fowl for my daughter.”
51. “Nought else have I done for fame in the world save a little weaving, I learnt to gather goods, I’ll better my Mother, a *kola-diviya* I will weave to spring on the fowl and devour it.”
52. “The good Lord’s praise I am telling, and the holy law o’er the three worlds spread, the shining diamond throne filled with blessings, Māra’s army I weave in the mat for my daughter.”
53. A beautiful *bō-tree* she weaves in the mat, she tells of the highest law for men, a *bō-tree* and crystal throne she weaves in the mat, Him she weaves who drove away the gathered army (of Māra).
54. “In time gone by we two were agreed, not saying harsh words, let us be in peace (again), fast friends we were ever in times gone by; you are not my daughter, you are my Mother.”
55. “Trustfully hearken to my many kind words, think how we two have grown up by the help of the Gods. If misfortune be due, be it far from us; in the future we two will be born from one Mother’s womb.”