陳(chen)圓(yuan)圓(yuan)出身于貨郎之家,母(mu)親早亡,育于姨夫家,從姨父(fu)的姓“陳(chen)”。居蘇(su)州(zhou)桃花塢。隸(li)籍(ji)梨園,為吳中名優(you),戲(xi)曲家尤西堂少時“猶及(ji)見之”。
陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan)色藝雙絕,名動江左(zuo)。她自幼冰(bing)雪聰明,艷(yan)驚鄉里。時(shi)(shi)逢江南年谷(gu)不登(deng)(deng),重利輕義的(de)(de)姨夫將(jiang)圓(yuan)圓(yuan)賣給蘇州梨園(yuan),善演(yan)弋陽(yang)腔戲(xi)劇(ju)。初(chu)登(deng)(deng)歌臺,圓(yuan)圓(yuan)扮演(yan)《西廂記》中的(de)(de)紅娘,人麗如花(hua),似云出岫,鶯聲嚦嚦,六馬仰秣,臺下(xia)看客皆凝神(shen)屏氣,入迷著魔。陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan)“容辭閑雅,額秀頤豐”,有名士(shi)大家風度(du),每一登(deng)(deng)場(chang)演(yan)出,明艷(yan)出眾,獨冠當時(shi)(shi),“觀者為之魂斷”。
陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)作為(wei)梨園女妓,難以擺(bai)脫以色事人(ren)的命(ming)運(yun)。圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)曾(ceng)屬意于吳江(jiang)鄒(zou)樞,“常在予家(jia)演劇(ju),留(liu)連(lian)不(bu)去”(《十(shi)美詞紀》)。據載,江(jiang)陰(yin)貢(gong)修齡之(zhi)子貢(gong)若甫(fu)曾(ceng)以重金贖陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)為(wei)妾,然圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)不(bu)為(wei)正妻所(suo)容。而貢(gong)若甫(fu)的父親貢(gong)修齡,在 見到(dao)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)后(hou),非常吃驚,說:“此(ci)貴(gui)人(ren)!”“縱之(zhi)去,不(bu)責贖金。”(李介立《天香(xiang)閣(ge)隨筆》)。陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)還與冒(mao)襄(xiang)有過(guo)一段情緣(yuan),崇禎十(shi)四年(1641)春,冒(mao)襄(xiang)省親衡岳,道經蘇州,經友(you)人(ren)引薦,得(de)會陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),并訂后(hou)會之(zhi)期;當年八(ba)月,冒(mao)襄(xiang)移(yi)舟蘇州再會圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),時圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)遭豪家(jia)劫奪,幸(xing)脫身(shen)虎口(kou),遂有許嫁冒(mao)襄(xiang)之(zhi)意,并冒(mao)兵(bing)火之(zhi)險至冒(mao)襄(xiang)家(jia)所(suo)棲(qi)舟拜(bai)見冒(mao)襄(xiang)之(zhi)母。二人(ren)感情繾(qian)綣,申以盟誓(shi)。此(ci)后(hou)冒(mao)襄(xiang)因喪亂屢失約期,陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)不(bu)幸(xing)為(wei)外(wai)戚田(tian)弘(hong)遇劫奪入京。
崇(chong)禎(zhen)十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)年(nian)(1642)仲春(chun),陳(chen)圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)被外戚田(tian)弘遇(yu)劫(jie)奪(duo)入(ru)(ru)京(jing)。圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)入(ru)(ru)京(jing)的時間,有(you)崇(chong)禎(zhen)十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)四(si)、十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)、十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)三說,其(qi)中,胡介祉(zhi)《茨村詠史新樂(le)府》稱:“崇(chong)禎(zhen)辛(xin)巳年(nian),田(tian)貴妃父宏(hong)遇(yu)進(jin)香普(pu)陀,道過金(jin)閶,漁獵聲妓,遂挾沅(yuan)(yuan)以(yi)歸。”持十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)四(si)年(nian)說;葉夢珠(zhu)《閱世(shi)編》稱:“十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)春(chun),戚畹(wan)田(tian)宏(hong)遇(yu)南游(you)吳閶,聞歌(ge)妓陳(chen)沅(yuan)(yuan)、顧(gu)(gu)壽。名震一時,宏(hong)遇(yu)使人購得顧(gu)(gu)壽,而沅(yuan)(yuan)尤(you)靚(jing)麗(li)絕世(shi),客有(you)私(si)于宏(hong)遇(yu)者,以(yi)八百金(jin)市沅(yuan)(yuan)進(jin)之(zhi),宏(hong)遇(yu)載(zai)以(yi)還京(jing)。”持十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)說。然據冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)《影梅庵憶語》載(zai),冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)與陳(chen)圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)私(si)訂(ding)盟約在崇(chong)禎(zhen)十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)四(si)年(nian)秋,此后(hou)冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)因家事(shi)牽(qian)累,未(wei)能赴圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)約會(hui)。其(qi)間圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)屢(lv)次寄(ji)書(shu)冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),促其(qi)踐約,冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)皆不(bu)及回復。崇(chong)禎(zhen)十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)年(nian)仲春(chun),冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)至蘇州會(hui)圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan),不(bu)意圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)已于十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)日前被劫(jie)入(ru)(ru)京(jing)。由于冒(mao)襄(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)所記為自己(ji)親歷之(zhi)事(shi),故陳(chen)圓(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)入(ru)(ru)京(jing)時間當為崇(chong)禎(zhen)十(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)年(nian)仲春(chun)。
至于(yu)劫(jie)奪圓(yuan)圓(yuan)之(zhi)人(ren),有(you)(you)崇(chong)禎帝(di)田妃(fei)之(zhi)父(fu)田宏遇、崇(chong)禎帝(di)周(zhou)后之(zhi)父(fu)周(zhou)奎兩說。持(chi)前說者以鄒樞、劉(liu)健、尤侗(dong)、李介立、葉夢珠、陸次云(yun)等(deng)人(ren)代(dai)表,由于(yu)他們為(wei)陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan)同時代(dai)人(ren),較可憑信。持(chi)后說者僅有(you)(you)姓名難以稽(ji)考(kao)的(de)“之(zhi)江抱(bao)陽生(sheng)”之(zhi)記載及(ji)鈕(niu)琇的(de)轉(zhuan)述。之(zhi)江抱(bao)陽生(sheng)《甲申朝事小紀(ji)》稱:“外戚(qi)周(zhou)嘉定采辦江南,聞其美,厚縑得之(zhi)。攜(xie)歸京師(shi)。”孤證(zheng)單說,似不可靠。
陳(chen)(chen)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)入京(jing)后,成(cheng)(cheng)為田(tian)弘遇家樂演員。田(tian)弘遇因貴妃去世,日漸失勢,為了(le)鞏(gong)固自(zi)(zi)己的(de)(de)(de)地位以(yi)及在亂世中找到倚靠,有意結交(jiao)當時聲望甚(shen)隆且(qie)握有重兵的(de)(de)(de)吳(wu)三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)。田(tian)弘遇曾盛邀吳(wu)三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)赴(fu)其家宴,“出群姬調(diao)絲竹(zhu),皆殊秀。一淡(dan)妝(zhuang)(zhuang)者,統諸美而(er)(er)先(xian)眾音,情艷(yan)意嬌(jiao)。”而(er)(er)這(zhe)位淡(dan)妝(zhuang)(zhuang)麗質的(de)(de)(de)歌姬,就(jiu)是陳(chen)(chen)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。吳(wu)三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)驚(jing)詫于陳(chen)(chen)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)美艷(yan),“不(bu)覺其神移心(xin)蕩也”(陸次云(yun)《圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)傳》)。田(tian)弘遇遂因三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)之請(qing),將圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)贈送吳(wu)三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui),并置辦豐厚的(de)(de)(de)妝(zhuang)(zhuang)奩,送至(zhi)吳(wu)府。李自(zi)(zi)成(cheng)(cheng)農(nong)民軍(jun)攻占北京(jing)后,圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)為劉宗敏(min)所奪。吳(wu)三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)本欲投(tou)降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)農(nong)民軍(jun),但(dan)得(de)知圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)遭(zao)劫后,沖冠一怒(nu),憤而(er)(er)降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)清。《明(ming)史·流寇》稱:“初,三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)奉詔(zhao)入援至(zhi)山(shan)(shan)海(hai)關(guan),京(jing)師陷,猶豫(yu)不(bu)進(jin)。自(zi)(zi)成(cheng)(cheng)劫其父襄,作書招(zhao)之,三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)欲降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang),至(zhi)灤州,聞愛姬陳(chen)(chen)沅被劉宗敏(min)掠去,憤甚(shen),疾歸山(shan)(shan)海(hai),襲破賊將。自(zi)(zi)成(cheng)(cheng)怒(nu),親部賊十余萬(wan),執(zhi)吳(wu)襄于軍(jun),東攻山(shan)(shan)海(hai)關(guan),以(yi)別將從一片(pian)石越關(guan)外。三(san)(san)桂(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)懼,乞降(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)于我。”
在吳(wu)三(san)桂所(suo)部和清(qing)軍(jun)的聯(lian)系夾擊下(xia),李自成農(nong)民軍(jun)遭受重創,倉皇逃離(li)北京(jing),盡棄所(suo)掠輜重、婦(fu)女于道。吳(wu)三(san)桂在兵火中找到了(le)陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),軍(jun)營團(tuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。此后陳圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)一直跟隨吳(wu)三(san)桂輾轉征戰。吳(wu)三(san)桂平定(ding)云南后,圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)圓(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)進(jin)入了(le)吳(wu)三(san)桂的平西王府,一度“寵冠后宮”(《十美詞紀(ji)》)。
吳(wu)三桂獨(du)霸(ba)云南后,陰懷異志(zhi),窮奢侈(chi)(chi)欲,歌舞征逐。構(gou)建(jian)園(yuan)林安阜園(yuan),“采買(mai)吳(wu)伶之(zhi)年(nian)十(shi)五(wu)者,共四十(shi)人(ren)(ren)為一(yi)隊”(《甲申朝事小紀》),“園(yuan)囿聲伎之(zhi)盛(sheng),僭侈(chi)(chi)逾禁中”(王澐(yun)《漫(man)游紀略》)。陳圓圓因年(nian)老色衰(shuai),加(jia)之(zhi)與(yu)吳(wu)三桂正妻不諧,且吳(wu)三桂另有(you)寵姬數人(ren)(ren),于(yu)是日漸(jian)失寵,遂(sui)辭宮入道,“布衣蔬食(shi),禮(li)佛以畢此生(sheng)”(《天香閣隨筆》)。一(yi)代紅妝從此豪華落盡,歸于(yu)寂寞。
陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan),雖遠不如(ru)梁紅玉英姿颯爽,但她以她的(de)美(mei)貌傾(qing)倒了(le)(le)吳(wu)三(san)桂(gui)(gui),傾(qing)倒了(le)(le)劉宗敏,傾(qing)倒了(le)(le)大順王朝,也(ye)傾(qing)倒了(le)(le)許(xu)多年(nian)(nian)后的(de)無數(shu)的(de)男人。即(ji)便(bian)李自成不敵悍滿(man),但吳(wu)三(san)桂(gui)(gui)若不投降多爾袞,滿(man)人最少要(yao)晚入關幾十年(nian)(nian)。所以說(shuo),陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan)以她個(ge)人魅力的(de)影響著別人而改變了(le)(le)歷(li)史。在隨后的(de)日子里,身(shen)負國賊之名(ming)的(de)吳(wu)三(san)桂(gui)(gui)以陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan)作為(wei)精神支柱,自山西,渡黃河、入潼(tong)關、克(ke)西安、平李闖、定云南、驅永歷(li),可謂風塵(chen)仆仆,東(dong)征西伐,為(wei)清(qing)廷統一中國立下了(le)(le)汗馬功勞。 ?
陸次云稱贊曰:“聲(sheng)甲(jia)天下(xia)之(zhi)聲(sheng),色(se)甲(jia)天下(xia)之(zhi)色(se)。”(《陳圓(yuan)圓(yuan)傳》)
吳三桂曰﹕“大(da)丈夫(fu)不能保一女子,何(he)面目見人耶(ye)!”(劉(liu)建《庭聞錄(lu)》)
冒辟疆(jiang)曾說:“婦(fu)人以資質為主,色次之,碌(liu)(liu)碌(liu)(liu)雙(shuang)鬢,難(nan)其選(xuan)也(ye)。慧心紈質,淡秀(xiu)天然,平生所見(jian),則獨有圓圓爾。”(《影梅庵(an)憶語》)
冒(mao)襄稱“其(qi)人澹而韻,盈(ying)盈(ying)冉冉,衣(yi)椒繭(jian),時背顧湘裙(qun),真如孤鸞之在(zai)煙霧”,觀(guan)看陳(chen)圓圓演弋陽(yang)腔《紅梅(mei)記》,為其(qi)演技所迷醉:“是曰演弋腔《紅梅(mei)》,以燕俗之劇,咿呀啁(zhou)哳之調,乃出之陳(chen)姬(ji)身口,如云出岫,如珠大盤,令人欲仙欲死。”(《影梅(mei)庵憶(yi)語》)
鄒樞稱她“演《西(xi)廂》,扮貼旦、紅娘(niang)腳色,體態傾(qing)靡,說白便(bian)巧(qiao),曲盡蕭寺當(dang)年(nian)情緒。”(《十美詞(ci)紀》“陳圓”)