《琵(pi)琶記》為元朝(chao)高明(則誠)所作昆曲(qu)傳統劇目(mu),改編自南曲(qu)戲(xi)文。講述的是漢代書生(sheng)蔡伯喈(jie)與(yu)趙五娘悲(bei)歡(huan)離(li)合的故事,共四十二出。
書生蔡(cai)(cai)伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)與趙五娘(niang)新婚不(bu)久,恰(qia)逢朝廷開科(ke)取(qu)士,伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)以(yi)父母年事(shi)已高,欲辭(ci)試留(liu)在家(jia)(jia)(jia)中,服(fu)(fu)侍父母。但(dan)蔡(cai)(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)不(bu)從,鄰居張(zhang)大公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)也在旁邊(bian)勸(quan)說。伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)只好告別父母、妻子,赴京(jing)應試,中了狀元。牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)丞(cheng)相有一(yi)(yi)女尚未婚配,奉旨招新科(ke)狀元為婿。伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)以(yi)父母年邁,在家(jia)(jia)(jia)無(wu)人照顧,需回(hui)家(jia)(jia)(jia)盡(jin)孝為由,欲辭(ci)婚、辭(ci)官,但(dan)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)丞(cheng)相與皇帝不(bu)從,被(bei)迫滯留(liu)京(jing)城。自伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)離家(jia)(jia)(jia)后,故鄉(xiang)陳留(liu)連(lian)年遭受旱(han)災,五娘(niang)任勞任怨,盡(jin)力服(fu)(fu)侍公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po),讓公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)吃米,自己則背著公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)私下(xia)自咽糟糠。但(dan)這(zhe)卻惹起婆(po)(po)(po)婆(po)(po)(po)的(de)(de)懷(huai)疑,誤認(ren)她(ta)躲著吃好東西,及至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)發(fa)現是吃糠,婆(po)(po)(po)婆(po)(po)(po)一(yi)(yi)時痛(tong)悔(hui)過(guo)甚而亡,后蔡(cai)(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)也死于(yu)(yu)饑荒。而伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)被(bei)強贅入牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)府(fu)后,終日(ri)思念父母,寫信去陳留(liu)家(jia)(jia)(jia)中,信被(bei)拐兒騙走,致(zhi)使音信不(bu)通。一(yi)(yi)日(ri),在書房(fang)彈琴(qin)抒(shu)發(fa)幽思,為牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)聽(ting)見(jian),得(de)知(zhi)實情,告知(zhi)父親。牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)丞(cheng)相為女兒說服(fu)(fu),遂派人去陳留(liu)迎取(qu)伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)父母、妻子來(lai)京(jing)。蔡(cai)(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、蔡(cai)(cai)婆(po)(po)(po)去世后,五娘(niang)剪發(fa)賣錢,安排喪(sang)葬,羅裙包土,自筑墳墓。又親手繪(hui)成公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)遺(yi)容(rong),身(shen)背琵琶,沿路(lu)彈唱乞食,往(wang)京(jing)城尋(xun)夫。來(lai)到(dao)(dao)京(jing)城,正(zheng)遇彌陀寺大法會,便(bian)往(wang)寺中募化求食,將公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)真(zhen)(zhen)容(rong)供于(yu)(yu)佛前。正(zheng)逢伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)也來(lai)寺中燒香,祈禱父母路(lu)上(shang)平(ping)安。見(jian)到(dao)(dao)父母真(zhen)(zhen)容(rong),便(bian)拿(na)回(hui)府(fu)中掛在書房(fang)內(nei)。五娘(niang)尋(xun)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)府(fu),被(bei)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)請(qing)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)府(fu)內(nei)彈唱。五娘(niang)見(jian)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)賢淑,便(bian)將自己的(de)(de)身(shen)世告知(zhi)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)。牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)為讓五娘(niang)與伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)團(tuan)聚(ju)(ju),又怕伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)不(bu)認(ren),便(bian)讓五娘(niang)到(dao)(dao)書房(fang)在公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)的(de)(de)真(zhen)(zhen)容(rong)上(shang)題(ti)詩(shi)暗喻。伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)回(hui)府(fu),見(jian)畫(hua)上(shang)所題(ti)之詩(shi),正(zheng)欲問牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi),牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)便(bian)帶五娘(niang)入內(nei),夫妻遂得(de)以(yi)團(tuan)聚(ju)(ju)。五娘(niang)告知(zhi)家(jia)(jia)(jia)中事(shi)情,伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)悲痛(tong)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)極,即刻上(shang)表辭(ci)官,要求回(hui)鄉(xiang)守孝。在得(de)到(dao)(dao)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)丞(cheng)相的(de)(de)同(tong)意后,伯(bo)(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)遂攜趙氏(shi)(shi)、牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)氏(shi)(shi)同(tong)歸故里,廬(lu)墓守孝。后皇帝下(xia)詔,旌表蔡(cai)(cai)氏(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)門。
戲曲表現
該劇目有(you)《六(liu)十種(zhong)曲》本、容與(yu)堂(tang)刻本和上海古籍出版社1980年(nian)排印(yin)本。