《投筆記》,最早是明(ming)(ming)朝著錄的傳奇劇(ju)本(ben),作者尚不明(ming)(ming)確。從其他文獻看來,明(ming)(ming)朝昆劇(ju)也有同(tong)名劇(ju)本(ben)。另外湖南省戲曲工作室也有同(tong)名湘劇(ju)高腔(qiang)劇(ju)本(ben)。劇(ju)本(ben)情節都是描寫東漢班固投筆從戎的故事。
傳(chuan)(chuan)奇劇(ju)(ju)本,明(ming)(ming)祁(qi)彪(biao)佳(jia)《遠山(shan)堂曲品》著(zhu)(zhu)錄(lu)為(wei)華(hua)山(shan)居士作,清無名(ming)氏《古人(ren)傳(chuan)(chuan)奇總目(mu)》著(zhu)(zhu)錄(lu)為(wei)明(ming)(ming)人(ren)丘濬(jun)作,恐非。現存(cun)明(ming)(ming)萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)三十(shi)八年三槐堂本,題《新鐫(juan)徽版(ban)音釋評(ping)林全(quan)像班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)投(tou)(tou)筆記(ji)》,以及明(ming)(ming)萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)存(cun)誠堂本,題《新刻魏仲雪先生批評(ping)投(tou)(tou)筆記(ji)》,三十(shi)八出,《古本戲曲叢刊》初集據之(zhi)影印。劇(ju)(ju)作取材于《后漢(han)(han)書》的《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)傳(chuan)(chuan)》和《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)昭傳(chuan)(chuan)》,劇(ju)(ju)譜東漢(han)(han)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)文武全(quan)才(cai),在任(ren)尚幕下(xia)任(ren)職,受(shou)任(ren)府家院侮辱,憤而投(tou)(tou)筆從(cong)戎(rong)。時竇(dou)固元帥(shuai)欲通西(xi)域(yu)(yu)、伐(fa)匈(xiong)(xiong)奴,招募(mu)天(tian)下(xia)豪杰(jie);班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)投(tou)(tou)竇(dou),竇(dou)認為(wei)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)可(ke)以“仗絕(jue)域(yu)(yu)立邊功,清海(hai)寧(ning)靖羌戎(rong)”,任(ren)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)為(wei)司馬(ma),出使(shi)西(xi)域(yu)(yu)至鄯(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)在鄯(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)備受(shou)厚(hou)待,漢(han)(han)使(shi)李邑嫉班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)才(cai),誣(wu)陷之(zhi);漢(han)(han)武帝(di)受(shou)騙(pian)抄班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)家,逮(dai)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)母(mu)、班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻下(xia)獄。后班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)破北(bei)匈(xiong)(xiong)奴軍(jun),斬北(bei)匈(xiong)(xiong)奴王(wang)首級獻(xian)鄯(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)王(wang),鄯(shan)(shan)善(shan)國(guo)王(wang)因之(zhi)臣(chen)服于漢(han)(han)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)派人(ren)帶書信回(hui)(hui)漢(han)(han),被誣(wu)陷一(yi)事(shi)真相大(da)白,封為(wei)定(ding)遠侯,班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)師(shi)回(hui)(hui)朝(chao),合家團(tuan)圓。劇(ju)(ju)作寫班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)投(tou)(tou)筆從(cong)戎(rong),立大(da)功于異域(yu)(yu)的同時,也(ye)寫了(le)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻鄧二(er)娘(niang)在家歷(li)盡艱(jian)辛力行孝道的事(shi)跡。明(ming)(ming)呂(lv)天(tian)成《曲品》評(ping)此(ci)劇(ju)(ju)說:“詞平常,音不(bu)葉(xie),俱以事(shi)佳(jia)而傳(chuan)(chuan)耳”。但祁(qi)彪(biao)佳(jia)《遠山(shan)堂曲品》評(ping)云:“詞雖平實,局亦正(zheng)大(da)。投(tou)(tou)筆出關處,想見(jian)古人(ren)慷慨之(zhi)概。‘無語依南樓’一(yi)曲,歌者盛習之(zhi)。”