《長(chang)恨傳》,作者陳(chen)鴻(hong),字(zi)天亮,唐代貞元元和間人。曾任主客郎中等(deng)官職。長(chang)于史學,撰(zhuan)有《大統紀》三(san)十卷。小說(shuo)表現的是一(yi)幕唐明皇與楊貴妃的愛情悲(bei)(bei)劇(ju)。這幕悲(bei)(bei)劇(ju)不(bu)僅牽涉到男女主角,而且(qie)關(guan)系到江山社(she)稷(ji)。可以(yi)說(shuo),這篇傳奇小說(shuo)是白居易(yi)敘(xu)事詩《長(chang)恨歌》的白話版(ban)本。
開元中(zhong),泰階平,四海無(wu)事。玄(xuan)(xuan)宗在位(wei)歲久(jiu),倦于旰(gan)食宵衣,政無(wu)大小,始委(wei)于右丞相,稍(shao)深(shen)居游宴,以(yi)(yi)聲色自(zi)娛(yu)。先是(shi)元獻皇(huang)后、武淑妃皆(jie)有(you)(you)寵,相次(ci)即(ji)世(shi)(shi)。宮中(zhong)雖(sui)良家(jia)子千數,無(wu)可悅(yue)(yue)目(mu)(mu)者。上(shang)(shang)心(xin)忽忽不樂。時每(mei)歲十月,駕幸(xing)華清宮,內外(wai)命婦,熠耀景從。浴日(ri)余波,賜以(yi)(yi)湯沐。春風靈液,澹蕩其(qi)間(jian)。上(shang)(shang)心(xin)油然,若(ruo)有(you)(you)所遇,顧左右前后,粉色如土(tu)。詔高力士潛搜外(wai)宮,得弘農楊玄(xuan)(xuan)琰女于壽邸,既(ji)笄矣。鬢發膩理(li),纖秾中(zhong)度,舉(ju)止閑冶,如漢武帝李夫人(ren)(ren)。別(bie)疏(shu)湯泉,詔賜藻瑩(ying),既(ji)出水,體弱力微,若(ruo)不任羅綺(qi)。光彩煥發,轉動照人(ren)(ren)。上(shang)(shang)甚悅(yue)(yue),進(jin)見之(zhi)(zhi)日(ri),奏《霓裳羽衣曲》以(yi)(yi)導之(zhi)(zhi);定情之(zhi)(zhi)夕(xi),授金釵鈿(dian)合以(yi)(yi)固之(zhi)(zhi)。又(you)命戴步搖(yao),垂金珰(dang),明年,冊為(wei)(wei)貴(gui)妃,半(ban)后服用(yong)。由是(shi)冶其(qi)容,敏其(qi)詞,婉(wan)孌萬態(tai),以(yi)(yi)中(zhong)上(shang)(shang)意,上(shang)(shang)益(yi)嬖焉(yan)。時省風九州,泥金五(wu)岳(yue),驪山雪夜,上(shang)(shang)陽春朝,與上(shang)(shang)行(xing)同(tong)輦,止同(tong)室,宴專(zhuan)席,寢專(zhuan)房。雖(sui)有(you)(you)三夫人(ren)(ren)、九嬪、二(er)十七世(shi)(shi)婦、八十一(yi)御妻,暨后宮才人(ren)(ren)、樂府妓女,使天子無(wu)顧盼意。自(zi)是(shi)六宮無(wu)復進(jin)幸(xing)者。非徒(tu)殊艷(yan)尤態(tai)致是(shi),益(yi)才智明慧,善巧便佞(ning),先意希旨,有(you)(you)不可形容者。叔父昆弟皆(jie)列位(wei)清貴(gui),爵為(wei)(wei)通(tong)侯(hou)(hou)。姊妹封國夫人(ren)(ren),富(fu)埒(lie)王(wang)宮,車服邸第,與大長公主侔矣。而恩澤勢力,則又(you)過之(zhi)(zhi),世(shi)(shi)入禁門不問,京師(shi)長吏(li)為(wei)(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)側目(mu)(mu)。故當時謠諺有(you)(you)云:“生女勿悲酸,生男勿喜歡。”又(you)曰:“男不封侯(hou)(hou)女作(zuo)妃,看女卻為(wei)(wei)門上(shang)(shang)楣。”其(qi)為(wei)(wei)人(ren)(ren)心(xin)羨慕如此。
天(tian)寶末,兄國忠(zhong)盜丞相位,愚(yu)弄國柄。及(ji)安祿山(shan)引兵向闕,以(yi)討楊氏為詞。潼關不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)守,翠華南幸,出咸陽,道(dao)次馬(ma)嵬亭。六軍徘徊,持戟不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)進。從官郎吏伏上(shang)馬(ma)前,請誅(zhu)晁錯以(yi)謝天(tian)下。國忠(zhong)奉牦(mao)纓盤水,死(si)(si)于道(dao)周。左(zuo)(zuo)右之意未快。上(shang)問之。當時敢言(yan)者,請以(yi)貴(gui)妃塞天(tian)下怨。上(shang)知不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)免(mian),而(er)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)忍(ren)見其死(si)(si),反(fan)袂掩面,使牽之而(er)去。倉(cang)皇展轉,竟就死(si)(si)于尺組之下。既(ji)而(er)玄宗(zong)狩成都,肅宗(zong)受禪靈武。明年(nian)大赦改元,大駕還都。尊玄宗(zong)為太上(shang)皇,就養南官,自(zi)南宮(gong)遷于西內,時移事去,樂盡悲來。每至春之日,冬之夜,池蓮夏開,宮(gong)槐秋落。梨(li)園(yuan)弟子,玉琯發音,聞《霓裳羽(yu)衣》一聲,則(ze)天(tian)顏不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)怡,左(zuo)(zuo)右欷歔。三載一意,其念(nian)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)衰(shuai)。求之夢(meng)魂,杳不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)能得。
適有道士(shi)自(zi)(zi)(zi)蜀來(lai),知上(shang)(shang)心(xin)念(nian)楊妃如(ru)是,自(zi)(zi)(zi)言有李少君(jun)之術。玄宗(zong)大喜,命致其(qi)神。方士(shi)乃竭其(qi)術以(yi)索之,不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)至(zhi)。又能游(you)神馭氣,出(chu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)界(jie),沒地(di)府以(yi)求之,不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)見。又旁(pang)求四(si)虛上(shang)(shang)下,東極天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)海,跨蓬壺。見最高仙山,上(shang)(shang)多樓闕,西廂下有洞戶(hu),東向,闔其(qi)門,署曰(yue)“玉(yu)(yu)(yu)妃太(tai)(tai)(tai)真院”。方士(shi)抽(chou)簪扣扉(fei),有雙(shuang)鬟童女,出(chu)應其(qi)門。方士(shi)造次未及言,而(er)雙(shuang)鬟復(fu)入。俄有碧(bi)衣(yi)(yi)侍女又至(zhi)。詰其(qi)所從。方士(shi)因(yin)稱唐(tang)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)子使者,且致其(qi)命。碧(bi)衣(yi)(yi)云(yun):“玉(yu)(yu)(yu)妃方寢(qin),請少待(dai)之。”于時云(yun)海沈沈,洞天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)日曉,瓊戶(hu)重(zhong)闔,悄然(ran)無聲。方士(shi)屏息斂(lian)足(zu),拱手(shou)門下。久之,而(er)碧(bi)衣(yi)(yi)延入,且曰(yue):“玉(yu)(yu)(yu)妃出(chu)。”見一(yi)人(ren)冠金蓮,披紫綃(xiao),佩紅(hong)玉(yu)(yu)(yu),曳鳳舄,左右(you)侍者七八人(ren),揖方士(shi),問皇(huang)(huang)帝安否,次問天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)寶十四(si)載(zai)以(yi)還事。言訖,憫然(ran)。指碧(bi)衣(yi)(yi)女取(qu)金釵鈿(dian)(dian)合,各(ge)析(xi)其(qi)半,授(shou)使者曰(yue):“為(wei)(wei)我謝太(tai)(tai)(tai)上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang),謹獻是物,尋舊(jiu)好也。”方士(shi)受辭與信,將行,色有不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)足(zu)。玉(yu)(yu)(yu)妃固征其(qi)意。復(fu)前跪致詞(ci):“請當時一(yi)事,不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)他人(ren)聞者,驗于太(tai)(tai)(tai)上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang),恐鈿(dian)(dian)合金釵,負(fu)新垣平(ping)之詐也。”玉(yu)(yu)(yu)妃茫然(ran)退立,若有所思,徐而(er)言曰(yue):“昔天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)寶十載(zai),侍輦避暑(shu)于驪山宮。秋七月,牽(qian)牛(niu)織(zhi)女相(xiang)見之夕,秦人(ren)風俗,是夜張錦繡,陳飲食,樹瓜華,焚(fen)香于庭,號為(wei)(wei)乞巧。宮掖間尤尚(shang)之。時夜殆半,休侍衛于東西廂,獨(du)侍上(shang)(shang)。上(shang)(shang)憑(ping)肩而(er)立,因(yin)仰(yang)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)感牛(niu)女事,密相(xiang)誓心(xin),愿(yuan)世(shi)世(shi)為(wei)(wei)夫婦。言畢(bi),執手(shou)各(ge)嗚咽。此獨(du)君(jun)王知之耳。”因(yin)自(zi)(zi)(zi)悲曰(yue):“由此一(yi)念(nian),又不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)得(de)居此。復(fu)墮下界(jie),且結(jie)后(hou)緣。或為(wei)(wei)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),或為(wei)(wei)人(ren),決再(zai)相(xiang)見,好合如(ru)舊(jiu)。”因(yin)言:“太(tai)(tai)(tai)上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang)亦不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)久人(ren)間,幸惟自(zi)(zi)(zi)安,無自(zi)(zi)(zi)苦耳。”使者還奏太(tai)(tai)(tai)上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang),皇(huang)(huang)心(xin)震(zhen)悼,日日不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)豫。其(qi)年夏四(si)月,南宮宴駕(jia)。
元(yuan)和元(yuan)年冬十二月(yue),太(tai)原白樂(le)(le)天(tian)自(zi)校書郎尉于(yu)(yu)盩(zhou)厔(zhi),鴻與瑯琊王(wang)質(zhi)夫家(jia)于(yu)(yu)是邑(yi),暇日相(xiang)攜游(you)仙游(you)寺(si),話及此事(shi),相(xiang)與感(gan)嘆(tan)。質(zhi)夫舉酒于(yu)(yu)樂(le)(le)天(tian)前(qian)曰:“夫希代之事(shi),非(fei)遇出世(shi)之才潤(run)色(se)之,則(ze)與時消沒,不聞于(yu)(yu)世(shi)。樂(le)(le)天(tian)深于(yu)(yu)詩,多于(yu)(yu)情(qing)者(zhe)也。試為歌之。如何?”樂(le)(le)天(tian)因為《長恨歌》。意(yi)者(zhe)不但(dan)感(gan)其事(shi),亦欲懲(cheng)尤物,窒(zhi)亂階,垂于(yu)(yu)將來者(zhe)也。歌既成,使鴻傳(chuan)焉。世(shi)所不聞者(zhe),予非(fei)開元(yuan)遺民,不得(de)知。世(shi)所知者(zhe),有《玄宗本紀》在。今但(dan)傳(chuan)《長恨歌》云爾。
唐代安史年間,安祿山(shan)反,玄宗(zong)(zong)幸蜀,貴(gui)妃被縊死。及玄宗(zong)(zong)返京,思念貴(gui)妃不已,不久即崩(beng)。元(yuan)和元(yuan)年冬(dong),白(bai)居(ju)易(yi)為周至縣尉,與陳鴻、王質(zhi)夫等暇日游仙游寺,談及此事,陳鴻乃作《長恨(hen)傳》,而白(bai)居(ju)易(yi)歌焉。