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.