《鳴鳳記》為明朝無(wu)名氏所(suo)作(一說王世貞作)昆曲(qu)傳(chuan)統劇目。講述的(de)是錢南揚考證為唐(tang)儀鳳作,共(gong)四十一出。
明嘉靖(jing)朝丞(cheng)相夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)言(yan)(yan),為(wei)(wei)了(le)收復河套失地,派都(dou)御(yu)史(shi)曾(ceng)銃(chong)(chong)領(ling)命(ming)制三(san)邊。曾(ceng)銃(chong)(chong)顧慮朝中權貴從中作梗(geng),難(nan)成大計,夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)多(duo)加(jia)慰(wei)勉。曾(ceng)督兵赴(fu)邊后,受(shou)(shou)嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)指使(shi)的總(zong)兵仇(chou)鸞(luan)(luan)和(he)兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)丁汝夔都(dou)拒不(bu)(bu)發援兵救助(zhu)。嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)竊據相位(wei),與(yu)其(qi)子(zi)世蕃總(zong)攬朝政,群臣們也多(duo)趨炎附勢(shi),乘(cheng)嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)慶(qing)壽時(shi)大加(jia)獻媚的刑部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)郎中趙文(wen)華(hua),被(bei)升為(wei)(wei)通政。嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)為(wei)(wei)排擠夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)言(yan)(yan),先(xian)排除曾(ceng)銃(chong)(chong)。兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)車駕司主事(shi)楊(yang)繼(ji)(ji)盛(sheng),則(ze)上本(ben)參奏仇(chou)鸞(luan)(luan)叛逆大罪。在部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)院(yuan)議事(shi)的會上,夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)言(yan)(yan)力主收復河套,嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)則(ze)認(ren)為(wei)(wei)中華(hua)疆域(yu)廣大,河套不(bu)(bu)足惜,并認(ren)為(wei)(wei)曾(ceng)銃(chong)(chong)是罪魁,要(yao)先(xian)斬(zhan)(zhan)曾(ceng),于(yu)(yu)是指使(shi)心腹劾(he)曾(ceng),并妄加(jia)罪名于(yu)(yu)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)言(yan)(yan),讓內臣在皇(huang)帝面前(qian)進讒言(yan)(yan),曾(ceng)、夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)均遭(zao)斬(zhan)(zhan)首。夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)氏(shi)(shi)家(jia)(jia)(jia)眷(juan)遠(yuan)徙(xi)廣西(xi),夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)家(jia)(jia)(jia)老(lao)仆朱裁(cai)為(wei)(wei)保夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)家(jia)(jia)(jia)后嗣,讓已(yi)懷有五月身孕的夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)妾蘇賽瓊(qiong)連夜(ye)逃(tao)往杭(hang)州(zhou),為(wei)(wei)杭(hang)州(zhou)秀才鄒(zou)(zou)應(ying)(ying)龍(long)(long)之妻(qi)沈氏(shi)(shi)收留于(yu)(yu)家(jia)(jia)(jia)中桑園。夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)在去廣西(xi)途(tu)中,在宜山驛(yi)遇貶此為(wei)(wei)驛(yi)丞(cheng)的楊(yang)繼(ji)(ji)盛(sheng),楊(yang)知夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)家(jia)(jia)(jia)不(bu)(bu)幸事(shi),悲痛交加(jia),即(ji)(ji)備車轎(jiao)送夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)至徙(xi)地廣西(xi)全州(zhou),并致書(shu)馬平縣舉人(ren)(ren)張(zhang)翀,多(duo)方關照夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)老(lao)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)。不(bu)(bu)久,仇(chou)鸞(luan)(luan)陰謀(mou)敗露,楊(yang)被(bei)升為(wei)(wei)兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)武選司員外(wai)郎。楊(yang)為(wei)(wei)了(le)彈劾(he)嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)無道,燈下草(cao)本(ben),寫(xie)得手(shou)指流血仍不(bu)(bu)止(zhi),置身家(jia)(jia)(jia)性命(ming)于(yu)(yu)度外(wai)。這一言(yan)(yan)辭激切的奏章,惱怒了(le)皇(huang)帝,楊(yang)被(bei)斬(zhan)(zhan)首,夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)張(zhang)氏(shi)(shi)到刑場自刎,幼子(zi)與(yu)家(jia)(jia)(jia)奴被(bei)遠(yuan)徙(xi)外(wai)地。此時(shi)東南(nan)沿海倭寇猖獗(jue),嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)等人(ren)(ren)對(dui)此不(bu)(bu)聞不(bu)(bu)問,日日尋歡作樂(le)。嘉靖(jing)帝命(ming)嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)治倭寇,嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)不(bu)(bu)得不(bu)(bu)薦親信趙文(wen)華(hua)升兵部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)尚(shang)書(shu),總(zong)統江南(nan)水陸軍(jun),督兵剿(jiao)倭。其(qi)實,這些官兵只(zhi)會坑害(hai)沿海百姓(xing),殺戮良民(min)冒(mao)功(gong)邀賞(shang)。大比之年,臨安鄒(zou)(zou)應(ying)(ying)龍(long)(long)和(he)莆(pu)田林潤結義兄(xiong)弟雙雙高中。這兩(liang)人(ren)(ren)師(shi)事(shi)翰林學士郭(guo)希(xi)(xi)顏(yan),一向景仰夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)、楊(yang)之忠(zhong)(zhong)誠。兩(liang)位(wei)新科進士與(yu)師(shi)三(san)人(ren)(ren)一同(tong)(tong)拜謁(ye)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)與(yu)楊(yang)繼(ji)(ji)盛(sheng)夫(fu)(fu)婦靈墓(mu),為(wei)(wei)嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)世蕃所忌。嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)世蕃與(yu)監察御(yu)史(shi)鄢懋卿定(ding)計,派鄒(zou)(zou)巡邊塞(sai)外(wai),林出使(shi)云南(nan),想以此置兩(liang)人(ren)(ren)于(yu)(yu)死(si)地。郭(guo)希(xi)(xi)顏(yan)舉薦夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)之侄(zhi)易弘器到塞(sai)外(wai)投(tou)奔鄒(zou)(zou)應(ying)(ying)龍(long)(long),鄒(zou)(zou)即(ji)(ji)差易赴(fu)廣西(xi),照顧夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(xia)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren),等待(dai)赦(she)命(ming)。不(bu)(bu)久,回京的鄒(zou)(zou)應(ying)(ying)龍(long)(long)與(yu)刑部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)給事(shi)孫丕揚同(tong)(tong)上本(ben)章,揭嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)氏(shi)(shi)父子(zi)罪惡。已(yi)失帝寵(chong)的嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)氏(shi)(shi)父子(zi)及(ji)其(qi)黨羽終受(shou)(shou)處(chu)分,趙文(wen)華(hua)因暴(bao)飲而死(si),鄢因疽發而亡(wang),嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)被(bei)放(fang)歸江西(xi)老(lao)家(jia)(jia)(jia),嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)子(zi)世蕃被(bei)充軍(jun)南(nan)雄衛(wei)。升任(ren)南(nan)道御(yu)史(shi)的林潤,査得回籍的嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)仍橫行鄉(xiang)里,嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)世蕃也抗命(ming)不(bu)(bu)去南(nan)雄,即(ji)(ji)上奏朝廷,終將世蕃腰(yao)斬(zhan)(zhan),嚴(yan)(yan)(yan)嵩(song)收禁(jin),妻(qi)孥家(jia)(jia)(jia)產(chan)抄沒。鄒(zou)(zou)、林升為(wei)(wei)都(dou)御(yu)史(shi),死(si)難(nan)忠(zhong)(zhong)臣得到褒揚封(feng)贈。
戲曲表現
該(gai)劇目有(you)《六十種曲》本(ben)(ben)和中(zhong)華書局(ju)上海編輯(ji)所(suo)1959年(nian)排印本(ben)(ben)。