《長恨傳》,作者陳鴻(hong),字天亮,唐代貞元元和間人。曾任主客(ke)郎中等(deng)官(guan)職。長于(yu)史學(xue),撰(zhuan)有(you)《大統紀》三十卷(juan)。小(xiao)說(shuo)表現(xian)的(de)是(shi)(shi)一幕唐明皇(huang)與楊貴妃(fei)的(de)愛情(qing)悲(bei)劇(ju)。這(zhe)幕悲(bei)劇(ju)不僅(jin)牽涉(she)到(dao)男女(nv)主角,而(er)且關系到(dao)江(jiang)山社稷。可(ke)以說(shuo),這(zhe)篇傳奇小(xiao)說(shuo)是(shi)(shi)白居易敘事詩《長恨歌》的(de)白話版本。
開元中,泰階平,四(si)海(hai)無事。玄宗在位歲久(jiu),倦于旰食宵衣(yi),政無大小,始委于右丞相,稍深居游宴,以(yi)(yi)(yi)聲(sheng)色(se)(se)自(zi)娛。先是(shi)(shi)元獻(xian)皇(huang)后、武(wu)淑妃(fei)皆(jie)有寵,相次即世。宮(gong)(gong)(gong)中雖良家子(zi)千數,無可(ke)悅目者。上(shang)心(xin)忽忽不(bu)(bu)樂。時(shi)(shi)每歲十月,駕幸(xing)華清宮(gong)(gong)(gong),內外(wai)命(ming)婦,熠耀景從。浴日余波,賜(si)(si)以(yi)(yi)(yi)湯沐。春(chun)風靈(ling)液(ye),澹(dan)蕩其間。上(shang)心(xin)油然(ran),若有所遇,顧(gu)左右前后,粉色(se)(se)如(ru)土。詔高力(li)士(shi)潛(qian)搜外(wai)宮(gong)(gong)(gong),得(de)弘農楊玄琰(yan)女(nv)于壽邸,既(ji)笄矣。鬢發膩理(li),纖秾中度,舉(ju)止閑冶,如(ru)漢武(wu)帝李夫人(ren)(ren)(ren)。別疏湯泉,詔賜(si)(si)藻瑩,既(ji)出(chu)水,體弱(ruo)力(li)微,若不(bu)(bu)任(ren)羅綺。光彩煥發,轉(zhuan)動照(zhao)人(ren)(ren)(ren)。上(shang)甚悅,進見之(zhi)日,奏《霓裳羽衣(yi)曲》以(yi)(yi)(yi)導(dao)之(zhi);定情(qing)之(zhi)夕,授金(jin)(jin)釵鈿(dian)合以(yi)(yi)(yi)固(gu)之(zhi)。又命(ming)戴步搖,垂金(jin)(jin)珰,明年,冊為(wei)(wei)貴妃(fei),半后服(fu)用。由是(shi)(shi)冶其容(rong),敏其詞,婉(wan)孌萬態,以(yi)(yi)(yi)中上(shang)意(yi),上(shang)益嬖焉(yan)。時(shi)(shi)省風九州,泥金(jin)(jin)五岳,驪山雪夜(ye),上(shang)陽春(chun)朝,與上(shang)行同(tong)輦,止同(tong)室(shi),宴專(zhuan)席,寢專(zhuan)房。雖有三(san)夫人(ren)(ren)(ren)、九嬪、二十七世婦、八十一(yi)御妻,暨(ji)后宮(gong)(gong)(gong)才人(ren)(ren)(ren)、樂府(fu)妓女(nv),使(shi)天(tian)子(zi)無顧(gu)盼意(yi)。自(zi)是(shi)(shi)六宮(gong)(gong)(gong)無復進幸(xing)者。非徒(tu)殊艷尤(you)態致是(shi)(shi),益才智明慧(hui),善巧便佞,先意(yi)希旨,有不(bu)(bu)可(ke)形(xing)容(rong)者。叔父昆(kun)弟皆(jie)列位清貴,爵為(wei)(wei)通侯。姊妹封(feng)國(guo)夫人(ren)(ren)(ren),富埒王宮(gong)(gong)(gong),車服(fu)邸第,與大長(chang)公(gong)主侔矣。而恩澤勢力(li),則又過(guo)之(zhi),世入禁門不(bu)(bu)問,京(jing)師長(chang)吏為(wei)(wei)之(zhi)側目。故當時(shi)(shi)謠諺有云:“生女(nv)勿悲酸,生男勿喜歡。”又曰:“男不(bu)(bu)封(feng)侯女(nv)作妃(fei),看(kan)女(nv)卻為(wei)(wei)門上(shang)楣(mei)。”其為(wei)(wei)人(ren)(ren)(ren)心(xin)羨慕如(ru)此。
天寶末(mo),兄國忠(zhong)盜丞相位,愚弄(nong)國柄。及安祿山引兵向闕,以(yi)討楊(yang)氏為詞。潼(tong)關不(bu)(bu)守,翠華(hua)南(nan)幸,出咸陽,道(dao)次馬嵬亭。六(liu)軍徘徊,持戟(ji)不(bu)(bu)進(jin)。從(cong)官(guan)郎(lang)吏(li)伏(fu)上馬前,請誅晁錯以(yi)謝天下(xia)。國忠(zhong)奉(feng)牦(mao)纓盤水,死于(yu)道(dao)周。左右之(zhi)(zhi)意未(wei)快。上問(wen)之(zhi)(zhi)。當時(shi)敢言(yan)者,請以(yi)貴(gui)妃塞天下(xia)怨。上知不(bu)(bu)免,而不(bu)(bu)忍見其死,反袂掩面,使牽之(zhi)(zhi)而去。倉皇(huang)(huang)展轉(zhuan),竟就(jiu)死于(yu)尺組之(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)。既(ji)而玄宗(zong)狩成(cheng)都(dou),肅(su)宗(zong)受禪靈武。明年大(da)赦改元,大(da)駕還都(dou)。尊玄宗(zong)為太上皇(huang)(huang),就(jiu)養(yang)南(nan)官(guan),自南(nan)宮遷于(yu)西內(nei),時(shi)移(yi)事去,樂(le)盡悲來。每至春之(zhi)(zhi)日,冬之(zhi)(zhi)夜,池蓮夏(xia)開,宮槐秋落。梨園弟子,玉琯(guan)發(fa)音,聞《霓裳羽衣》一聲,則天顏不(bu)(bu)怡,左右欷歔。三(san)載一意,其念不(bu)(bu)衰。求之(zhi)(zhi)夢魂,杳不(bu)(bu)能得(de)。
適有(you)道士自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)蜀來,知(zhi)上(shang)(shang)心念(nian)楊(yang)妃如(ru)是(shi),自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)言(yan)有(you)李少君(jun)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)術。玄宗大喜(xi),命(ming)致其(qi)(qi)神。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士乃(nai)竭其(qi)(qi)術以索之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)至(zhi)。又能游神馭氣,出(chu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)界,沒地(di)府以求之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)見(jian)。又旁求四(si)虛(xu)上(shang)(shang)下(xia)(xia)(xia),東極天(tian)(tian)(tian)海,跨蓬壺。見(jian)最高(gao)仙山(shan),上(shang)(shang)多樓闕,西廂(xiang)下(xia)(xia)(xia)有(you)洞戶,東向,闔其(qi)(qi)門(men),署曰“玉(yu)妃太真院”。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士抽簪扣扉(fei),有(you)雙鬟(huan)(huan)童女(nv),出(chu)應其(qi)(qi)門(men)。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士造次(ci)未及言(yan),而(er)(er)雙鬟(huan)(huan)復(fu)入。俄有(you)碧衣(yi)侍(shi)(shi)(shi)女(nv)又至(zhi)。詰其(qi)(qi)所從。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士因(yin)(yin)稱唐(tang)天(tian)(tian)(tian)子使(shi)者(zhe)(zhe),且致其(qi)(qi)命(ming)。碧衣(yi)云(yun):“玉(yu)妃方(fang)(fang)(fang)寢(qin),請(qing)少待(dai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。”于(yu)時云(yun)海沈沈,洞天(tian)(tian)(tian)日(ri)(ri)曉,瓊戶重(zhong)闔,悄然無聲。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士屏(ping)息斂足,拱(gong)手(shou)門(men)下(xia)(xia)(xia)。久(jiu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),而(er)(er)碧衣(yi)延入,且曰:“玉(yu)妃出(chu)。”見(jian)一(yi)人(ren)冠金蓮,披紫(zi)綃,佩紅玉(yu),曳鳳舄(xi),左右侍(shi)(shi)(shi)者(zhe)(zhe)七(qi)八人(ren),揖方(fang)(fang)(fang)士,問皇(huang)帝安否,次(ci)問天(tian)(tian)(tian)寶十四(si)載以還事。言(yan)訖,憫然。指碧衣(yi)女(nv)取金釵鈿合(he)(he),各析其(qi)(qi)半(ban),授使(shi)者(zhe)(zhe)曰:“為我謝太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang),謹獻是(shi)物,尋舊好也。”方(fang)(fang)(fang)士受辭與信,將(jiang)行,色有(you)不(bu)足。玉(yu)妃固征其(qi)(qi)意(yi)。復(fu)前(qian)跪致詞:“請(qing)當(dang)時一(yi)事,不(bu)為他人(ren)聞者(zhe)(zhe),驗于(yu)太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang),恐鈿合(he)(he)金釵,負新垣(yuan)平之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)詐(zha)也。”玉(yu)妃茫然退(tui)立(li),若(ruo)有(you)所思,徐而(er)(er)言(yan)曰:“昔天(tian)(tian)(tian)寶十載,侍(shi)(shi)(shi)輦(nian)避暑(shu)于(yu)驪山(shan)宮。秋七(qi)月,牽牛織女(nv)相(xiang)見(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夕,秦人(ren)風俗,是(shi)夜張錦繡,陳飲食,樹(shu)瓜(gua)華,焚(fen)香于(yu)庭,號為乞巧。宮掖間(jian)尤尚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。時夜殆半(ban),休侍(shi)(shi)(shi)衛于(yu)東西廂(xiang),獨侍(shi)(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)。上(shang)(shang)憑(ping)肩而(er)(er)立(li),因(yin)(yin)仰天(tian)(tian)(tian)感牛女(nv)事,密相(xiang)誓心,愿世(shi)世(shi)為夫婦。言(yan)畢(bi),執手(shou)各嗚咽。此獨君(jun)王(wang)知(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)耳(er)。”因(yin)(yin)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)悲曰:“由此一(yi)念(nian),又不(bu)得(de)居此。復(fu)墮下(xia)(xia)(xia)界,且結后緣。或(huo)為天(tian)(tian)(tian),或(huo)為人(ren),決再(zai)相(xiang)見(jian),好合(he)(he)如(ru)舊。”因(yin)(yin)言(yan):“太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)亦不(bu)久(jiu)人(ren)間(jian),幸(xing)惟(wei)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)安,無自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)苦耳(er)。”使(shi)者(zhe)(zhe)還奏太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang),皇(huang)心震悼,日(ri)(ri)日(ri)(ri)不(bu)豫。其(qi)(qi)年夏四(si)月,南宮宴駕。
元(yuan)和(he)元(yuan)年冬十二月,太原白樂(le)(le)天(tian)自校書(shu)郎尉于(yu)盩(zhou)厔,鴻與(yu)瑯(lang)琊王質夫家于(yu)是(shi)邑,暇日相攜(xie)游仙游寺(si),話(hua)及(ji)此事,相與(yu)感(gan)嘆。質夫舉(ju)酒于(yu)樂(le)(le)天(tian)前曰(yue):“夫希代之事,非遇出世之才(cai)潤色之,則與(yu)時消(xiao)沒,不(bu)聞(wen)于(yu)世。樂(le)(le)天(tian)深(shen)于(yu)詩,多于(yu)情者也(ye)(ye)。試(shi)為歌之。如何?”樂(le)(le)天(tian)因(yin)為《長恨歌》。意者不(bu)但(dan)感(gan)其事,亦欲懲(cheng)尤物,窒亂階,垂于(yu)將來者也(ye)(ye)。歌既成,使鴻傳(chuan)焉。世所不(bu)聞(wen)者,予非開元(yuan)遺民,不(bu)得知。世所知者,有《玄宗本紀》在。今但(dan)傳(chuan)《長恨歌》云爾。
唐代安(an)史年間(jian),安(an)祿(lu)山反,玄宗幸蜀,貴妃被縊死(si)。及玄宗返(fan)京,思念貴妃不已,不久即崩。元(yuan)和元(yuan)年冬,白(bai)(bai)居(ju)易(yi)(yi)為周(zhou)至縣尉,與陳鴻、王質夫等暇日游仙游寺,談及此事,陳鴻乃作《長(chang)恨傳》,而白(bai)(bai)居(ju)易(yi)(yi)歌(ge)焉。