《投筆記》,最(zui)早是明朝著(zhu)錄的傳奇劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben),作者尚不明確。從其他文獻看來(lai),明朝昆劇(ju)(ju)(ju)也(ye)有同名劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben)。另(ling)外湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)戲曲工作室也(ye)有同名湘劇(ju)(ju)(ju)高腔劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben)。劇(ju)(ju)(ju)本(ben)(ben)情(qing)節都是描寫東漢(han)班(ban)固投筆從戎的故事。
傳奇(qi)劇(ju)本(ben)(ben),明祁(qi)彪(biao)佳(jia)《遠(yuan)山(shan)(shan)堂(tang)曲(qu)品》著錄(lu)為(wei)華(hua)山(shan)(shan)居士作,清(qing)無名氏《古(gu)(gu)人傳奇(qi)總目》著錄(lu)為(wei)明人丘濬作,恐非。現存明萬歷三十(shi)八年三槐堂(tang)本(ben)(ben),題(ti)《新鐫徽版音(yin)釋評(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)林全像班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超投(tou)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)記》,以及明萬歷存誠堂(tang)本(ben)(ben),題(ti)《新刻魏仲(zhong)雪先生批(pi)評(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)投(tou)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)記》,三十(shi)八出,《古(gu)(gu)本(ben)(ben)戲曲(qu)叢(cong)刊》初集據之(zhi)影印。劇(ju)作取材(cai)于(yu)《后漢(han)書》的《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超傳》和《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)昭傳》,劇(ju)譜東漢(han)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超文武全才,在(zai)任(ren)尚幕(mu)下任(ren)職,受(shou)(shou)任(ren)府家院(yuan)侮(wu)辱,憤而投(tou)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)從戎(rong)(rong)。時竇(dou)固元帥(shuai)欲通(tong)西(xi)域(yu)、伐匈奴,招募(mu)天下豪杰;班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)投(tou)竇(dou),竇(dou)認為(wei)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)可(ke)以“仗絕域(yu)立(li)邊功,清(qing)海寧(ning)靖羌戎(rong)(rong)”,任(ren)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)為(wei)司馬,出使西(xi)域(yu)至(zhi)鄯(shan)善(shan)(shan)國(guo)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)在(zai)鄯(shan)善(shan)(shan)國(guo)備受(shou)(shou)厚待(dai),漢(han)使李(li)邑嫉(ji)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)才,誣陷之(zhi);漢(han)武帝受(shou)(shou)騙抄班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)家,逮(dai)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)母、班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻(qi)下獄。后班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超破北(bei)(bei)匈奴軍(jun),斬北(bei)(bei)匈奴王首級獻鄯(shan)善(shan)(shan)國(guo)王,鄯(shan)善(shan)(shan)國(guo)王因(yin)之(zhi)臣(chen)服(fu)于(yu)漢(han)。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)派人帶書信回漢(han),被誣陷一事真相大(da)白,封為(wei)定遠(yuan)侯,班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)師回朝,合家團圓。劇(ju)作寫(xie)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超投(tou)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)從戎(rong)(rong),立(li)大(da)功于(yu)異域(yu)的同時,也寫(xie)了班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻(qi)鄧(deng)二娘在(zai)家歷盡艱辛力行孝(xiao)道(dao)的事跡。明呂天成《曲(qu)品》評(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)此劇(ju)說:“詞平(ping)常(chang),音(yin)不葉,俱以事佳(jia)而傳耳(er)”。但(dan)祁(qi)彪(biao)佳(jia)《遠(yuan)山(shan)(shan)堂(tang)曲(qu)品》評(ping)(ping)(ping)(ping)云:“詞雖平(ping)實,局亦正大(da)。投(tou)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)出關處,想見古(gu)(gu)人慷慨之(zhi)概。‘無語依(yi)南(nan)樓’一曲(qu),歌者(zhe)盛習之(zhi)。”