《長(chang)恨傳(chuan)》,作者陳(chen)鴻,字(zi)天亮,唐代貞(zhen)元(yuan)元(yuan)和間人(ren)。曾任主客(ke)郎中(zhong)等官職。長(chang)于史學,撰有(you)《大統紀》三十(shi)卷。小說(shuo)(shuo)表現的是(shi)一(yi)幕唐明(ming)皇(huang)與楊貴妃的愛情悲(bei)(bei)劇。這幕悲(bei)(bei)劇不僅牽涉(she)到男女主角,而且關系(xi)到江(jiang)山社(she)稷。可以說(shuo)(shuo),這篇傳(chuan)奇小說(shuo)(shuo)是(shi)白(bai)居(ju)易敘(xu)事(shi)詩《長(chang)恨歌》的白(bai)話版本。
開(kai)元中(zhong),泰階平,四海無事。玄(xuan)宗在位歲久,倦于旰食宵衣,政無大小(xiao),始(shi)委于右丞相(xiang),稍深居游宴,以(yi)聲(sheng)色自(zi)娛。先是元獻皇后(hou)、武淑(shu)妃皆有(you)(you)寵,相(xiang)次即世。宮中(zhong)雖良家子(zi)千數,無可悅目者(zhe)。上(shang)心(xin)忽忽不(bu)樂。時(shi)每歲十月,駕幸(xing)華清宮,內外命婦(fu),熠耀景(jing)從。浴日余波,賜以(yi)湯沐。春(chun)(chun)風靈(ling)液,澹蕩其間。上(shang)心(xin)油然,若有(you)(you)所(suo)遇,顧(gu)左右前(qian)后(hou),粉色如(ru)土。詔(zhao)(zhao)高力士潛搜外宮,得弘農(nong)楊玄(xuan)琰(yan)女(nv)于壽(shou)邸,既笄矣。鬢(bin)發膩理,纖秾中(zhong)度,舉止(zhi)閑冶(ye),如(ru)漢武帝李夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)。別(bie)疏湯泉,詔(zhao)(zhao)賜藻瑩,既出(chu)水,體(ti)弱力微,若不(bu)任羅綺(qi)。光彩煥發,轉動(dong)照人(ren)(ren)。上(shang)甚悅,進見之(zhi)(zhi)日,奏《霓裳羽(yu)衣曲》以(yi)導之(zhi)(zhi);定情(qing)之(zhi)(zhi)夕,授金釵鈿合(he)以(yi)固之(zhi)(zhi)。又命戴步(bu)搖,垂(chui)金珰(dang),明年(nian),冊為(wei)(wei)貴妃,半后(hou)服(fu)用(yong)。由是冶(ye)其容,敏其詞,婉孌萬(wan)態,以(yi)中(zhong)上(shang)意,上(shang)益嬖焉(yan)。時(shi)省風九(jiu)州,泥(ni)金五岳,驪山(shan)雪夜,上(shang)陽春(chun)(chun)朝(chao),與(yu)上(shang)行同(tong)(tong)輦,止(zhi)同(tong)(tong)室(shi),宴專席,寢專房。雖有(you)(you)三(san)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren)、九(jiu)嬪、二十七世婦(fu)、八(ba)十一御妻,暨后(hou)宮才人(ren)(ren)、樂府(fu)妓女(nv),使天子(zi)無顧(gu)盼(pan)意。自(zi)是六宮無復(fu)進幸(xing)者(zhe)。非徒殊艷尤態致是,益才智(zhi)明慧(hui),善(shan)巧便佞,先意希旨,有(you)(you)不(bu)可形容者(zhe)。叔(shu)父昆弟皆列(lie)位清貴,爵為(wei)(wei)通侯。姊妹封(feng)國(guo)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)(ren),富(fu)埒王宮,車服(fu)邸第,與(yu)大長公(gong)主侔矣。而恩澤勢力,則(ze)又過之(zhi)(zhi),世入禁門(men)不(bu)問(wen),京師長吏為(wei)(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)側目。故(gu)當時(shi)謠諺有(you)(you)云:“生女(nv)勿(wu)悲(bei)酸,生男(nan)勿(wu)喜歡。”又曰:“男(nan)不(bu)封(feng)侯女(nv)作妃,看(kan)女(nv)卻為(wei)(wei)門(men)上(shang)楣(mei)。”其為(wei)(wei)人(ren)(ren)心(xin)羨慕如(ru)此(ci)。
天寶末,兄國(guo)(guo)忠盜丞相位,愚(yu)弄國(guo)(guo)柄。及(ji)安祿山引(yin)兵向闕,以討楊氏為詞。潼關不(bu)守,翠(cui)華南幸,出咸陽,道(dao)次馬(ma)嵬亭(ting)。六軍徘徊,持戟不(bu)進。從官(guan)郎吏(li)伏(fu)上(shang)馬(ma)前,請誅(zhu)晁錯以謝天下。國(guo)(guo)忠奉牦(mao)纓盤水,死于道(dao)周。左右之(zhi)意(yi)未(wei)快。上(shang)問之(zhi)。當時敢言者,請以貴妃塞天下怨。上(shang)知(zhi)不(bu)免,而不(bu)忍見其(qi)死,反(fan)袂掩(yan)面,使(shi)牽(qian)之(zhi)而去。倉皇展轉,竟就死于尺(chi)組之(zhi)下。既而玄宗(zong)狩(shou)成都,肅(su)宗(zong)受禪靈武。明年大赦改(gai)元,大駕還都。尊玄宗(zong)為太上(shang)皇,就養(yang)南官(guan),自南宮遷于西內(nei),時移事去,樂盡悲來。每至春之(zhi)日,冬(dong)之(zhi)夜,池蓮夏開,宮槐秋落。梨園弟(di)子,玉(yu)琯發音(yin),聞《霓裳羽衣》一聲,則天顏不(bu)怡,左右欷(xi)歔。三載一意(yi),其(qi)念不(bu)衰(shuai)。求之(zhi)夢魂,杳不(bu)能得(de)。
適有(you)道(dao)士(shi)自(zi)蜀來,知(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)心念(nian)楊妃(fei)如是(shi),自(zi)言(yan)(yan)有(you)李少君(jun)之(zhi)(zhi)術(shu)(shu)。玄宗大喜,命致(zhi)(zhi)其(qi)神。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi)乃竭其(qi)術(shu)(shu)以索(suo)之(zhi)(zhi),不至(zhi)。又(you)(you)能游神馭氣(qi),出(chu)天(tian)(tian)界,沒地(di)府(fu)以求之(zhi)(zhi),不見(jian)。又(you)(you)旁求四(si)虛上(shang)(shang)(shang)下(xia),東(dong)極(ji)天(tian)(tian)海(hai)(hai),跨蓬(peng)壺(hu)。見(jian)最高仙山,上(shang)(shang)(shang)多樓闕,西廂(xiang)下(xia)有(you)洞戶(hu),東(dong)向(xiang),闔其(qi)門,署曰(yue)“玉妃(fei)太真院”。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi)抽簪(zan)扣扉,有(you)雙(shuang)鬟童女(nv)(nv),出(chu)應其(qi)門。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi)造次未及言(yan)(yan),而雙(shuang)鬟復入。俄有(you)碧衣(yi)侍(shi)(shi)(shi)女(nv)(nv)又(you)(you)至(zhi)。詰其(qi)所從。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi)因(yin)稱唐天(tian)(tian)子使者,且致(zhi)(zhi)其(qi)命。碧衣(yi)云:“玉妃(fei)方(fang)(fang)(fang)寢,請少待之(zhi)(zhi)。”于時(shi)云海(hai)(hai)沈(shen)沈(shen),洞天(tian)(tian)日曉(xiao),瓊戶(hu)重闔,悄然無(wu)聲。方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi)屏息斂(lian)足,拱手門下(xia)。久(jiu)之(zhi)(zhi),而碧衣(yi)延入,且曰(yue):“玉妃(fei)出(chu)。”見(jian)一人(ren)(ren)冠金蓮,披紫綃,佩紅(hong)玉,曳鳳(feng)舄,左右侍(shi)(shi)(shi)者七八人(ren)(ren),揖(yi)方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi),問皇帝安否(fou),次問天(tian)(tian)寶(bao)十四(si)載(zai)以還事(shi)。言(yan)(yan)訖(qi),憫然。指碧衣(yi)女(nv)(nv)取金釵(chai)鈿合(he),各析其(qi)半(ban),授使者曰(yue):“為(wei)我(wo)謝太上(shang)(shang)(shang)皇,謹獻是(shi)物(wu),尋舊(jiu)好也。”方(fang)(fang)(fang)士(shi)受辭與信,將行(xing),色有(you)不足。玉妃(fei)固(gu)征其(qi)意。復前跪致(zhi)(zhi)詞(ci):“請當時(shi)一事(shi),不為(wei)他(ta)人(ren)(ren)聞(wen)者,驗于太上(shang)(shang)(shang)皇,恐鈿合(he)金釵(chai),負新垣平之(zhi)(zhi)詐也。”玉妃(fei)茫然退(tui)立,若有(you)所思,徐而言(yan)(yan)曰(yue):“昔天(tian)(tian)寶(bao)十載(zai),侍(shi)(shi)(shi)輦避暑于驪山宮(gong)。秋七月,牽牛織女(nv)(nv)相見(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)夕,秦(qin)人(ren)(ren)風俗,是(shi)夜(ye)張錦繡,陳飲食,樹瓜華,焚香于庭,號為(wei)乞巧。宮(gong)掖間尤尚之(zhi)(zhi)。時(shi)夜(ye)殆半(ban),休(xiu)侍(shi)(shi)(shi)衛于東(dong)西廂(xiang),獨侍(shi)(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)。上(shang)(shang)(shang)憑肩(jian)而立,因(yin)仰(yang)天(tian)(tian)感牛女(nv)(nv)事(shi),密相誓心,愿世(shi)世(shi)為(wei)夫(fu)婦。言(yan)(yan)畢,執手各嗚咽。此(ci)(ci)獨君(jun)王知(zhi)(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)耳(er)。”因(yin)自(zi)悲曰(yue):“由此(ci)(ci)一念(nian),又(you)(you)不得居(ju)此(ci)(ci)。復墮下(xia)界,且結后緣。或為(wei)天(tian)(tian),或為(wei)人(ren)(ren),決再相見(jian),好合(he)如舊(jiu)。”因(yin)言(yan)(yan):“太上(shang)(shang)(shang)皇亦(yi)不久(jiu)人(ren)(ren)間,幸(xing)惟自(zi)安,無(wu)自(zi)苦耳(er)。”使者還奏太上(shang)(shang)(shang)皇,皇心震悼,日日不豫。其(qi)年夏(xia)四(si)月,南宮(gong)宴駕。
元(yuan)和(he)元(yuan)年冬(dong)十二(er)月,太原(yuan)白(bai)樂天自校書郎(lang)尉于(yu)(yu)盩(zhou)厔,鴻與瑯琊王(wang)質夫家于(yu)(yu)是邑,暇日相(xiang)攜游仙游寺,話及(ji)此事,相(xiang)與感嘆。質夫舉酒于(yu)(yu)樂天前曰:“夫希代之(zhi)事,非(fei)遇出世(shi)(shi)之(zhi)才潤色之(zhi),則與時消沒,不聞于(yu)(yu)世(shi)(shi)。樂天深于(yu)(yu)詩,多(duo)于(yu)(yu)情者(zhe)(zhe)也。試為(wei)歌之(zhi)。如何?”樂天因(yin)為(wei)《長恨歌》。意者(zhe)(zhe)不但感其事,亦(yi)欲懲(cheng)尤(you)物(wu),窒亂(luan)階(jie),垂于(yu)(yu)將來者(zhe)(zhe)也。歌既成(cheng),使(shi)鴻傳焉。世(shi)(shi)所不聞者(zhe)(zhe),予非(fei)開元(yuan)遺民(min),不得知(zhi)。世(shi)(shi)所知(zhi)者(zhe)(zhe),有《玄宗本紀》在。今(jin)但傳《長恨歌》云爾。
唐代安史(shi)年(nian)間,安祿山反,玄(xuan)宗(zong)(zong)幸(xing)蜀,貴妃被縊死。及(ji)玄(xuan)宗(zong)(zong)返(fan)京(jing),思念貴妃不已,不久即崩。元和元年(nian)冬,白居易為周至縣尉,與陳(chen)鴻、王質(zhi)夫(fu)等(deng)暇日游仙游寺,談(tan)及(ji)此事,陳(chen)鴻乃作《長恨(hen)傳》,而白居易歌(ge)焉。