रत्नावली नाटिका (सम्राट हर्षवर्धन - शास्त्रीय नाटिका रत्न सम्पूर्ण ४ अङ्क सान्वय सटीक)

APPENDIX B 459

General Criticism of the Drama

"Comparison with Kálidása is doubtless the cause why Harsha has tended to receive less praise than is due to his. dramas. The originality of his Natikás is not perhaps great, but he has effectively devised the plot in both ; the action moves smoothly, and in either play there is ingenuity. The scene of the magician's activity...is depicted with humour and vivacity ; the parrot's escape and its chatter are sketched with piquancy ; and the exchange of costumes...is natural and effective. ...It is true that that the plays are full of reminiscences of the Málavikágnimitra, such as the escape of the monkey, and the monkey that there frightens the little princess...But in this artificial comedy elegance is sought, not originality, and Harsha is a clever borrower.... The dominant emotion...is love of the type which apper- tains to a noble and gay (dhira-lalita) hero, who is always courteous (dakshina), whose loves, that is to say, mean very little to him and who does not forget to assure the old love of his devotion while playing with the new. This is a different aspect of Vatsa's character from that displayed by Bhása and admittedly a much inferior one. Vásavadattá suffers equal deterioration; for she is no longer the wife who sacrifices herself for her husband's good ; she is rather a jealous, though noble and kind-hearted woman whose love for her husband makes her resent too deeply his inconstancy. The heroine is an ingénue with nothing but good looks and willingness.