《投(tou)筆(bi)記》,最早是(shi)(shi)明朝(chao)著(zhu)錄的(de)傳奇劇本,作者尚不明確。從其他文獻(xian)看來(lai),明朝(chao)昆劇也(ye)有同(tong)名(ming)劇本。另外湖南省戲(xi)曲工(gong)作室也(ye)有同(tong)名(ming)湘劇高(gao)腔劇本。劇本情節都是(shi)(shi)描寫東漢班固投(tou)筆(bi)從戎的(de)故事(shi)。
傳奇(qi)劇(ju)本(ben),明(ming)祁彪佳《遠山堂(tang)(tang)曲(qu)品》著錄為華(hua)山居士作,清(qing)無名氏(shi)《古人(ren)傳奇(qi)總(zong)目》著錄為明(ming)人(ren)丘濬作,恐非。現存明(ming)萬(wan)歷(li)三(san)十八(ba)年三(san)槐堂(tang)(tang)本(ben),題《新(xin)(xin)鐫徽版音釋評(ping)林全像班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超投(tou)筆(bi)記(ji)》,以及明(ming)萬(wan)歷(li)存誠堂(tang)(tang)本(ben),題《新(xin)(xin)刻魏仲雪先(xian)生批評(ping)投(tou)筆(bi)記(ji)》,三(san)十八(ba)出,《古本(ben)戲曲(qu)叢刊》初集據之(zhi)(zhi)影印(yin)。劇(ju)作取材于《后漢(han)書(shu)》的《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超傳》和《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)昭傳》,劇(ju)譜(pu)東漢(han)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超文(wen)武全才,在任尚幕下任職,受(shou)任府(fu)家(jia)院(yuan)侮辱(ru),憤(fen)而投(tou)筆(bi)從戎。時竇固(gu)元帥(shuai)欲通西(xi)域(yu)、伐匈(xiong)奴(nu),招募天(tian)下豪杰;班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)投(tou)竇,竇認為班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)可以“仗絕域(yu)立邊功(gong),清(qing)海寧靖羌戎”,任班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)為司馬(ma),出使(shi)西(xi)域(yu)至鄯善(shan)國。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)在鄯善(shan)國備受(shou)厚待,漢(han)使(shi)李邑(yi)嫉班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)才,誣(wu)陷之(zhi)(zhi);漢(han)武帝受(shou)騙(pian)抄班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)家(jia),逮班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)母、班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻下獄。后班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超破北(bei)匈(xiong)奴(nu)軍(jun),斬(zhan)北(bei)匈(xiong)奴(nu)王(wang)首級獻(xian)鄯善(shan)國王(wang),鄯善(shan)國王(wang)因之(zhi)(zhi)臣服于漢(han)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)派人(ren)帶(dai)書(shu)信回(hui)漢(han),被誣(wu)陷一(yi)事真相大白,封為定遠侯(hou),班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)師回(hui)朝,合家(jia)團圓。劇(ju)作寫(xie)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超投(tou)筆(bi)從戎,立大功(gong)于異(yi)域(yu)的同時,也寫(xie)了班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻鄧二娘在家(jia)歷(li)盡艱(jian)辛力行孝道的事跡。明(ming)呂(lv)天(tian)成(cheng)《曲(qu)品》評(ping)此劇(ju)說(shuo):“詞平(ping)常,音不葉,俱以事佳而傳耳”。但祁彪佳《遠山堂(tang)(tang)曲(qu)品》評(ping)云(yun):“詞雖平(ping)實,局亦(yi)正大。投(tou)筆(bi)出關處(chu),想見(jian)古人(ren)慷慨之(zhi)(zhi)概。‘無語依南樓(lou)’一(yi)曲(qu),歌者盛(sheng)習之(zhi)(zhi)。”