《長恨傳(chuan)》,作者陳(chen)鴻(hong),字天亮,唐(tang)代(dai)貞元元和間人(ren)。曾任(ren)主客郎中(zhong)等官職。長于(yu)史學,撰有《大統紀》三十卷。小說表現的(de)是(shi)一幕唐(tang)明皇與(yu)楊貴(gui)妃(fei)的(de)愛情悲劇。這(zhe)幕悲劇不僅(jin)牽涉到(dao)男女主角,而且關系到(dao)江(jiang)山社稷。可以說,這(zhe)篇傳(chuan)奇小說是(shi)白居易敘事(shi)詩《長恨歌》的(de)白話(hua)版(ban)本(ben)。
開元中,泰階平,四海無(wu)事。玄宗在位(wei)歲久,倦于(yu)旰食宵(xiao)衣,政無(wu)大(da)(da)小(xiao),始委于(yu)右丞相(xiang),稍深居游宴(yan),以(yi)(yi)聲色(se)自娛。先是(shi)(shi)元獻皇后、武淑妃皆(jie)有寵,相(xiang)次即世。宮(gong)中雖良家子千數,無(wu)可悅(yue)目者(zhe)。上心(xin)忽忽不樂。時(shi)每歲十(shi)月,駕幸華清宮(gong),內外(wai)命(ming)婦(fu),熠耀景從。浴日(ri)余波,賜以(yi)(yi)湯沐。春(chun)風靈液(ye),澹蕩其間(jian)。上心(xin)油(you)然,若(ruo)有所(suo)遇,顧左右前后,粉色(se)如土。詔(zhao)高力(li)士潛(qian)搜外(wai)宮(gong),得弘農楊玄琰(yan)女于(yu)壽(shou)邸,既笄矣(yi)。鬢發(fa)膩理(li),纖秾中度,舉(ju)止閑(xian)冶,如漢武帝李夫人。別疏湯泉(quan),詔(zhao)賜藻瑩,既出(chu)水,體弱力(li)微(wei),若(ruo)不任羅綺。光(guang)彩(cai)煥發(fa),轉動照人。上甚悅(yue),進見之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)日(ri),奏《霓裳(shang)羽衣曲》以(yi)(yi)導之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi);定情之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夕,授金釵鈿(dian)合以(yi)(yi)固之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。又命(ming)戴步搖(yao),垂金珰,明年(nian),冊為(wei)貴妃,半后服(fu)(fu)用。由是(shi)(shi)冶其容(rong),敏其詞,婉孌萬態(tai),以(yi)(yi)中上意(yi),上益(yi)(yi)嬖焉(yan)。時(shi)省風九州,泥金五岳,驪山雪夜(ye),上陽春(chun)朝,與上行同(tong)輦,止同(tong)室,宴(yan)專(zhuan)席,寢專(zhuan)房(fang)。雖有三夫人、九嬪、二十(shi)七世婦(fu)、八(ba)十(shi)一御妻,暨后宮(gong)才人、樂府妓女,使(shi)天子無(wu)顧盼意(yi)。自是(shi)(shi)六宮(gong)無(wu)復進幸者(zhe)。非徒殊(shu)艷尤態(tai)致是(shi)(shi),益(yi)(yi)才智明慧(hui),善巧便(bian)佞(ning),先意(yi)希旨(zhi),有不可形容(rong)者(zhe)。叔(shu)父昆(kun)弟皆(jie)列位(wei)清貴,爵為(wei)通侯。姊妹(mei)封(feng)國夫人,富埒王宮(gong),車服(fu)(fu)邸第,與大(da)(da)長(chang)公主(zhu)侔矣(yi)。而恩(en)澤勢力(li),則又過之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),世入禁(jin)門(men)不問(wen),京師(shi)長(chang)吏為(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)側目。故當時(shi)謠(yao)諺有云:“生女勿(wu)悲酸,生男勿(wu)喜歡。”又曰:“男不封(feng)侯女作妃,看(kan)女卻(que)為(wei)門(men)上楣。”其為(wei)人心(xin)羨慕如此。
天(tian)寶末,兄(xiong)國(guo)忠(zhong)(zhong)盜(dao)丞(cheng)相位(wei),愚弄國(guo)柄。及安祿山引兵向(xiang)闕,以(yi)討楊(yang)氏為詞。潼關(guan)不(bu)守,翠華南(nan)幸,出咸陽,道次(ci)馬嵬亭。六軍徘徊(huai),持(chi)戟(ji)不(bu)進。從官郎吏伏上馬前,請(qing)誅晁錯以(yi)謝天(tian)下。國(guo)忠(zhong)(zhong)奉(feng)牦纓盤水,死于道周(zhou)。左右之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)意未快。上問之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。當時敢言者,請(qing)以(yi)貴妃塞天(tian)下怨。上知不(bu)免,而不(bu)忍(ren)見其死,反袂掩面(mian),使牽(qian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)而去(qu)(qu)。倉皇(huang)展(zhan)轉,竟就(jiu)死于尺(chi)組之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下。既而玄宗(zong)狩成都,肅(su)宗(zong)受(shou)禪(chan)靈武。明年(nian)大(da)(da)赦(she)改(gai)元(yuan),大(da)(da)駕還(huan)都。尊玄宗(zong)為太上皇(huang),就(jiu)養南(nan)官,自南(nan)宮遷(qian)于西內(nei),時移事(shi)去(qu)(qu),樂(le)盡悲來。每(mei)至春(chun)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)日,冬之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夜,池蓮夏(xia)開(kai),宮槐秋落(luo)。梨園弟子,玉琯發(fa)音,聞《霓(ni)裳羽衣》一聲,則天(tian)顏不(bu)怡,左右欷歔。三載一意,其念不(bu)衰。求之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夢魂,杳不(bu)能得。
適(shi)有(you)(you)道士(shi)自蜀(shu)來,知上(shang)(shang)心(xin)念楊妃如(ru)是(shi),自言有(you)(you)李(li)少君之(zhi)(zhi)術。玄宗(zong)大喜,命致其(qi)(qi)神。方士(shi)乃竭(jie)其(qi)(qi)術以索之(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)至(zhi)。又(you)能(neng)游神馭氣,出天界,沒地府以求之(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)見。又(you)旁求四虛上(shang)(shang)下(xia),東極天海,跨蓬(peng)壺。見最高(gao)仙山(shan),上(shang)(shang)多樓闕,西(xi)(xi)廂下(xia)有(you)(you)洞(dong)戶(hu),東向,闔其(qi)(qi)門(men),署曰(yue)“玉妃太真院”。方士(shi)抽簪(zan)扣扉,有(you)(you)雙鬟(huan)童女(nv),出應其(qi)(qi)門(men)。方士(shi)造次未及言,而(er)(er)雙鬟(huan)復(fu)入。俄有(you)(you)碧衣侍(shi)(shi)女(nv)又(you)至(zhi)。詰其(qi)(qi)所從。方士(shi)因稱唐天子使(shi)者,且(qie)致其(qi)(qi)命。碧衣云:“玉妃方寢(qin),請少待之(zhi)(zhi)。”于(yu)(yu)時云海沈(shen)(shen)沈(shen)(shen),洞(dong)天日曉,瓊(qiong)戶(hu)重闔,悄然無聲(sheng)。方士(shi)屏息斂足(zu),拱手(shou)門(men)下(xia)。久之(zhi)(zhi),而(er)(er)碧衣延入,且(qie)曰(yue):“玉妃出。”見一人(ren)冠(guan)金蓮,披紫綃,佩紅玉,曳鳳舄,左右侍(shi)(shi)者七八人(ren),揖方士(shi),問(wen)皇(huang)(huang)帝安否,次問(wen)天寶十四載以還事(shi)。言訖,憫然。指碧衣女(nv)取金釵鈿(dian)合(he)(he)(he),各(ge)析其(qi)(qi)半(ban),授使(shi)者曰(yue):“為我謝太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang),謹獻是(shi)物,尋(xun)舊好也(ye)。”方士(shi)受辭與信,將(jiang)行,色有(you)(you)不(bu)足(zu)。玉妃固征其(qi)(qi)意。復(fu)前跪致詞:“請當時一事(shi),不(bu)為他(ta)人(ren)聞者,驗于(yu)(yu)太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang),恐(kong)鈿(dian)合(he)(he)(he)金釵,負新垣平之(zhi)(zhi)詐也(ye)。”玉妃茫然退(tui)立,若有(you)(you)所思(si),徐(xu)而(er)(er)言曰(yue):“昔(xi)天寶十載,侍(shi)(shi)輦避(bi)暑于(yu)(yu)驪山(shan)宮(gong)。秋七月,牽牛織女(nv)相見之(zhi)(zhi)夕,秦人(ren)風俗,是(shi)夜張(zhang)錦(jin)繡,陳(chen)飲(yin)食,樹瓜(gua)華(hua),焚香(xiang)于(yu)(yu)庭(ting),號為乞(qi)巧。宮(gong)掖(ye)間(jian)尤尚之(zhi)(zhi)。時夜殆半(ban),休侍(shi)(shi)衛(wei)于(yu)(yu)東西(xi)(xi)廂,獨侍(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)。上(shang)(shang)憑肩而(er)(er)立,因仰天感牛女(nv)事(shi),密相誓心(xin),愿世(shi)世(shi)為夫婦。言畢,執手(shou)各(ge)嗚咽(yan)。此獨君王知之(zhi)(zhi)耳。”因自悲曰(yue):“由此一念,又(you)不(bu)得居此。復(fu)墮下(xia)界,且(qie)結(jie)后(hou)緣。或為天,或為人(ren),決再相見,好合(he)(he)(he)如(ru)舊。”因言:“太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang)亦不(bu)久人(ren)間(jian),幸(xing)惟(wei)自安,無自苦耳。”使(shi)者還奏太上(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang),皇(huang)(huang)心(xin)震(zhen)悼,日日不(bu)豫。其(qi)(qi)年夏四月,南(nan)宮(gong)宴駕。
元和元年冬(dong)十二月,太原(yuan)白(bai)樂(le)(le)天自校書郎尉于(yu)盩厔(zhi),鴻與瑯琊王質夫(fu)(fu)家于(yu)是邑,暇日(ri)相(xiang)攜游(you)仙游(you)寺,話及此事,相(xiang)與感(gan)嘆(tan)。質夫(fu)(fu)舉酒于(yu)樂(le)(le)天前(qian)曰:“夫(fu)(fu)希代(dai)之(zhi)事,非遇出世之(zhi)才潤(run)色之(zhi),則(ze)與時消沒,不(bu)(bu)聞于(yu)世。樂(le)(le)天深于(yu)詩(shi),多于(yu)情者也(ye)。試為(wei)歌(ge)(ge)(ge)之(zhi)。如(ru)何(he)?”樂(le)(le)天因為(wei)《長(chang)恨歌(ge)(ge)(ge)》。意者不(bu)(bu)但(dan)感(gan)其事,亦欲懲尤物,窒亂階(jie),垂于(yu)將來者也(ye)。歌(ge)(ge)(ge)既(ji)成(cheng),使(shi)鴻傳焉(yan)。世所不(bu)(bu)聞者,予非開元遺民,不(bu)(bu)得知。世所知者,有《玄宗(zong)本紀》在。今但(dan)傳《長(chang)恨歌(ge)(ge)(ge)》云爾。
唐(tang)代安史年間(jian),安祿(lu)山(shan)反,玄宗(zong)幸(xing)蜀,貴妃(fei)被縊死。及玄宗(zong)返京,思念貴妃(fei)不已,不久(jiu)即崩。元(yuan)和元(yuan)年冬,白(bai)(bai)居易(yi)為周至縣尉,與陳鴻、王質夫等(deng)暇日游仙游寺,談及此事,陳鴻乃作《長恨傳》,而白(bai)(bai)居易(yi)歌焉。