《投(tou)筆(bi)記》,最早是明朝著錄的傳(chuan)奇劇(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben),作者尚(shang)不明確。從其(qi)他文獻看來,明朝昆劇(ju)(ju)也有同(tong)名劇(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben)。另外湖(hu)南省戲曲工作室也有同(tong)名湘劇(ju)(ju)高腔(qiang)劇(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben)。劇(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben)情(qing)節都是描寫(xie)東漢班固投(tou)筆(bi)從戎(rong)的故(gu)事。
傳(chuan)奇(qi)劇(ju)本(ben)(ben)(ben),明(ming)(ming)祁彪佳(jia)(jia)《遠山(shan)堂(tang)(tang)曲品(pin)》著錄為(wei)(wei)(wei)華山(shan)居士作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo),清無名氏(shi)《古(gu)(gu)(gu)人(ren)傳(chuan)奇(qi)總(zong)目》著錄為(wei)(wei)(wei)明(ming)(ming)人(ren)丘(qiu)濬作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo),恐非。現存明(ming)(ming)萬歷三(san)十八年(nian)三(san)槐堂(tang)(tang)本(ben)(ben)(ben),題《新(xin)鐫徽版音釋評林全像班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超投(tou)筆(bi)記》,以(yi)及明(ming)(ming)萬歷存誠堂(tang)(tang)本(ben)(ben)(ben),題《新(xin)刻魏(wei)仲雪(xue)先生批評投(tou)筆(bi)記》,三(san)十八出(chu),《古(gu)(gu)(gu)本(ben)(ben)(ben)戲曲叢刊》初(chu)集(ji)據(ju)之(zhi)(zhi)影印。劇(ju)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)取材于(yu)《后(hou)漢書(shu)》的《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超傳(chuan)》和《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)昭傳(chuan)》,劇(ju)譜東漢班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超文武全才,在任尚(shang)幕(mu)下(xia)(xia)任職,受(shou)任府家(jia)院(yuan)侮辱,憤而投(tou)筆(bi)從戎。時竇(dou)固元帥欲通西域(yu)、伐匈奴,招募(mu)天下(xia)(xia)豪杰;班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)投(tou)竇(dou),竇(dou)認(ren)為(wei)(wei)(wei)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)可以(yi)“仗絕域(yu)立邊功(gong),清海寧靖羌戎”,任班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)為(wei)(wei)(wei)司馬,出(chu)使(shi)西域(yu)至鄯(shan)(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)在鄯(shan)(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)備(bei)受(shou)厚待,漢使(shi)李邑嫉(ji)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)才,誣(wu)陷之(zhi)(zhi);漢武帝受(shou)騙抄班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)家(jia),逮班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)母、班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻下(xia)(xia)獄。后(hou)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超破北(bei)匈奴軍(jun),斬(zhan)北(bei)匈奴王(wang)首級獻鄯(shan)(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)王(wang),鄯(shan)(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)王(wang)因之(zhi)(zhi)臣服于(yu)漢。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)派(pai)人(ren)帶書(shu)信回漢,被誣(wu)陷一(yi)事(shi)真相(xiang)大白(bai),封為(wei)(wei)(wei)定(ding)遠侯,班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)師(shi)回朝,合家(jia)團圓。劇(ju)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)寫班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超投(tou)筆(bi)從戎,立大功(gong)于(yu)異(yi)域(yu)的同時,也寫了(le)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻鄧二娘(niang)在家(jia)歷盡艱(jian)辛力行孝道的事(shi)跡。明(ming)(ming)呂天成(cheng)《曲品(pin)》評此劇(ju)說(shuo):“詞平常(chang),音不葉,俱以(yi)事(shi)佳(jia)(jia)而傳(chuan)耳”。但(dan)祁彪佳(jia)(jia)《遠山(shan)堂(tang)(tang)曲品(pin)》評云:“詞雖平實,局亦正(zheng)大。投(tou)筆(bi)出(chu)關處,想見古(gu)(gu)(gu)人(ren)慷慨之(zhi)(zhi)概。‘無語依南樓’一(yi)曲,歌者盛習之(zhi)(zhi)。”