《投筆記》,最早是明(ming)朝(chao)著錄的(de)傳奇劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本,作(zuo)者尚不明(ming)確。從其他文(wen)獻(xian)看來,明(ming)朝(chao)昆(kun)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)也有同名劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本。另外湖南省戲曲工(gong)作(zuo)室也有同名湘(xiang)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)高腔劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本。劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本情節(jie)都是描寫東(dong)漢班固投筆從戎的(de)故事(shi)。
傳(chuan)奇劇(ju)本(ben),明(ming)祁(qi)彪(biao)佳(jia)《遠山(shan)堂(tang)(tang)曲(qu)品》著錄為(wei)華(hua)山(shan)居士作,清(qing)無名(ming)氏《古(gu)人傳(chuan)奇總目》著錄為(wei)明(ming)人丘濬作,恐(kong)非。現存明(ming)萬歷(li)三十八年(nian)三槐(huai)堂(tang)(tang)本(ben),題(ti)《新鐫(juan)徽版(ban)音(yin)釋評(ping)(ping)林全像班(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)投筆(bi)記(ji)》,以(yi)及明(ming)萬歷(li)存誠堂(tang)(tang)本(ben),題(ti)《新刻魏仲雪(xue)先生(sheng)批評(ping)(ping)投筆(bi)記(ji)》,三十八出(chu),《古(gu)本(ben)戲曲(qu)叢刊》初集據之(zhi)影印(yin)。劇(ju)作取材于《后漢(han)(han)書(shu)》的《班(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)傳(chuan)》和(he)《班(ban)(ban)(ban)昭傳(chuan)》,劇(ju)譜(pu)東漢(han)(han)班(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)文(wen)武(wu)全才,在(zai)任尚幕下(xia)任職,受(shou)任府(fu)家院侮辱(ru),憤而(er)投筆(bi)從戎。時(shi)竇(dou)(dou)(dou)固(gu)元(yuan)帥欲通(tong)西域、伐匈奴,招募(mu)天(tian)下(xia)豪(hao)杰;班(ban)(ban)(ban)投竇(dou)(dou)(dou),竇(dou)(dou)(dou)認為(wei)班(ban)(ban)(ban)可(ke)以(yi)“仗絕域立(li)邊功,清(qing)海(hai)寧(ning)靖羌戎”,任班(ban)(ban)(ban)為(wei)司馬,出(chu)使(shi)西域至(zhi)鄯善(shan)國(guo)(guo)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)在(zai)鄯善(shan)國(guo)(guo)備受(shou)厚(hou)待,漢(han)(han)使(shi)李邑嫉班(ban)(ban)(ban)才,誣(wu)陷之(zhi);漢(han)(han)武(wu)帝受(shou)騙抄班(ban)(ban)(ban)家,逮(dai)班(ban)(ban)(ban)母(mu)、班(ban)(ban)(ban)妻下(xia)獄。后班(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)破北(bei)匈奴軍,斬北(bei)匈奴王首級獻鄯善(shan)國(guo)(guo)王,鄯善(shan)國(guo)(guo)王因之(zhi)臣(chen)服于漢(han)(han)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)派人帶(dai)書(shu)信回(hui)漢(han)(han),被誣(wu)陷一(yi)事(shi)(shi)真相(xiang)大白,封為(wei)定遠侯,班(ban)(ban)(ban)師回(hui)朝(chao),合家團(tuan)圓。劇(ju)作寫(xie)班(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)投筆(bi)從戎,立(li)大功于異(yi)域的同時(shi),也寫(xie)了班(ban)(ban)(ban)妻鄧二(er)娘(niang)在(zai)家歷(li)盡(jin)艱辛力行孝(xiao)道的事(shi)(shi)跡。明(ming)呂天(tian)成(cheng)《曲(qu)品》評(ping)(ping)此劇(ju)說:“詞平常,音(yin)不(bu)葉,俱以(yi)事(shi)(shi)佳(jia)而(er)傳(chuan)耳(er)”。但祁(qi)彪(biao)佳(jia)《遠山(shan)堂(tang)(tang)曲(qu)品》評(ping)(ping)云:“詞雖平實(shi),局亦正大。投筆(bi)出(chu)關處,想見古(gu)人慷慨(kai)之(zhi)概。‘無語依南樓’一(yi)曲(qu),歌者(zhe)盛習之(zhi)。”