《琵琶記》為元朝高(gao)明(則誠)所作昆曲(qu)傳(chuan)統劇(ju)目,改(gai)編(bian)自南曲(qu)戲(xi)文。講述(shu)的是漢代書生蔡伯喈與(yu)趙五(wu)娘(niang)悲歡離合的故事,共四十二出。
書(shu)生蔡(cai)(cai)伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)與(yu)趙五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)新婚(hun)不久,恰逢朝廷開科取士,伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)以(yi)父(fu)母年事(shi)已高,欲(yu)辭(ci)試留(liu)在(zai)(zai)家(jia)中(zhong),服侍父(fu)母。但(dan)蔡(cai)(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)不從,鄰(lin)居張大公(gong)(gong)(gong)也(ye)(ye)在(zai)(zai)旁(pang)邊勸說。伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)只好告別(bie)父(fu)母、妻子(zi),赴京(jing)應(ying)試,中(zhong)了(le)狀元(yuan)。牛(niu)丞(cheng)相(xiang)有一女(nv)尚未婚(hun)配,奉旨招新科狀元(yuan)為(wei)婿。伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)以(yi)父(fu)母年邁,在(zai)(zai)家(jia)無(wu)人照顧,需回家(jia)盡孝(xiao)為(wei)由,欲(yu)辭(ci)婚(hun)、辭(ci)官,但(dan)牛(niu)丞(cheng)相(xiang)與(yu)皇(huang)帝不從,被(bei)(bei)迫(po)滯(zhi)留(liu)京(jing)城(cheng)(cheng)。自伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)離家(jia)后,故鄉陳留(liu)連年遭受旱災(zai),五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)任勞任怨,盡力(li)服侍公(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po),讓公(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)吃(chi)米(mi),自己(ji)則背著(zhu)公(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)私(si)下(xia)自咽糟糠。但(dan)這卻(que)惹起婆(po)(po)(po)婆(po)(po)(po)的(de)(de)懷疑,誤認她躲著(zhu)吃(chi)好東西,及至發(fa)現是吃(chi)糠,婆(po)(po)(po)婆(po)(po)(po)一時痛悔過甚而亡,后蔡(cai)(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)也(ye)(ye)死于饑(ji)荒。而伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)被(bei)(bei)強(qiang)贅入牛(niu)府(fu)后,終日思念父(fu)母,寫(xie)信(xin)去陳留(liu)家(jia)中(zhong),信(xin)被(bei)(bei)拐兒(er)騙走,致使音信(xin)不通。一日,在(zai)(zai)書(shu)房彈琴(qin)抒發(fa)幽思,為(wei)牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)聽見,得知(zhi)(zhi)實情(qing),告知(zhi)(zhi)父(fu)親。牛(niu)丞(cheng)相(xiang)為(wei)女(nv)兒(er)說服,遂派人去陳留(liu)迎(ying)取伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)父(fu)母、妻子(zi)來京(jing)。蔡(cai)(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)、蔡(cai)(cai)婆(po)(po)(po)去世(shi)后,五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)剪發(fa)賣(mai)錢,安(an)排喪葬(zang),羅(luo)裙包土,自筑墳墓。又親手繪(hui)成公(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)遺容(rong),身背琵琶,沿路(lu)彈唱乞食(shi),往(wang)京(jing)城(cheng)(cheng)尋夫。來到京(jing)城(cheng)(cheng),正(zheng)遇彌陀寺大法會,便往(wang)寺中(zhong)募化求食(shi),將公(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)真(zhen)容(rong)供于佛前。正(zheng)逢伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)也(ye)(ye)來寺中(zhong)燒香,祈禱父(fu)母路(lu)上(shang)平安(an)。見到父(fu)母真(zhen)容(rong),便拿回府(fu)中(zhong)掛在(zai)(zai)書(shu)房內。五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)尋至牛(niu)府(fu),被(bei)(bei)牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)請至府(fu)內彈唱。五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)見牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)賢淑(shu),便將自己(ji)的(de)(de)身世(shi)告知(zhi)(zhi)牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)。牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)為(wei)讓五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)與(yu)伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)團聚,又怕伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)不認,便讓五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)到書(shu)房在(zai)(zai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)婆(po)(po)(po)的(de)(de)真(zhen)容(rong)上(shang)題詩暗(an)喻。伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)回府(fu),見畫上(shang)所題之詩,正(zheng)欲(yu)問牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi),牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)便帶五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)入內,夫妻遂得以(yi)團聚。五(wu)(wu)(wu)娘(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)(niang)告知(zhi)(zhi)家(jia)中(zhong)事(shi)情(qing),伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)悲痛至極,即刻上(shang)表辭(ci)官,要求回鄉守孝(xiao)。在(zai)(zai)得到牛(niu)丞(cheng)相(xiang)的(de)(de)同(tong)(tong)意后,伯(bo)(bo)喈(jie)(jie)(jie)(jie)遂攜趙氏(shi)(shi)、牛(niu)氏(shi)(shi)同(tong)(tong)歸故里,廬墓守孝(xiao)。后皇(huang)帝下(xia)詔(zhao),旌表蔡(cai)(cai)氏(shi)(shi)一門。
戲曲表現
該劇目有《六十種曲(qu)》本、容與(yu)堂刻本和上海古籍(ji)出版社1980年(nian)排印本。