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

द्वितीयोऽङ्कः 219
dattá ( as seen in the Cupid-worship in Act I ), has now comp-
letely changed ; his heart is now full of duplicity towards his
old love for the sake of a new one to whom he has recently
been introduced. This change is not at all sudden, but is
gradually brought about through an aptly arranged collocation
of different episodes and incidents. On the whole, every part of
this Act has naturally developed itself from the corresponding
incidents in Act I and nothing is here haphazardly done, or
put forward as a patch-work for the mere justification of any
stray incident. Everything is well-conceived, beautifully arran-
ged and skilfully manipulated for the spontaneous develop-
ment of the main action. The different characters have been
gradually developed to show their individual peculiarities as
contrasted with their mere delineation as in Act I.
The character of Vásavadattá as developed in Act II, may be
compared and contrasted with the characters of the two queens
in Kálidása's Málavikágnimitra to which Shri Harsha is much
indebted for his Ratnávali and Priyadarshiká. In Kálidásí's
drama the chief Queen Dhárini is characterized for her grace,
dignity and finally divine magnanimity despite the just cause for
her jealousy and anger. But the second Queen Irávati is
marked for her passionate impetuosity which leads her to
constant eavesdropping and to an outbreak against the King
forgetful of his rank and rights. In Ratnávali, Vásavadattá,
on the other hand, is represented as a rather jealous though
noble and kind-hearted lady whose love for her husband makes
her resent too deeply his inconstancy.
──────