《長(chang)(chang)(chang)恨傳》,作者(zhe)陳鴻(hong),字天(tian)亮,唐(tang)代貞元(yuan)(yuan)元(yuan)(yuan)和間人。曾任(ren)主客郎中(zhong)等官(guan)職(zhi)。長(chang)(chang)(chang)于(yu)史(shi)學(xue),撰有《大統紀》三十卷。小說(shuo)表現(xian)的是(shi)一幕唐(tang)明皇與楊貴妃的愛情悲(bei)劇。這幕悲(bei)劇不(bu)僅(jin)牽涉到(dao)男女主角,而且關(guan)系到(dao)江山(shan)社(she)稷。可以說(shuo),這篇傳奇小說(shuo)是(shi)白居易敘事詩《長(chang)(chang)(chang)恨歌》的白話版(ban)本(ben)。
開元中(zhong)(zhong),泰階(jie)平(ping),四海無事。玄(xuan)宗在位歲(sui)久,倦于旰食宵衣(yi),政無大小,始委于右(you)丞相,稍深居游(you)宴,以(yi)聲色自(zi)娛。先是元獻(xian)皇后(hou)、武(wu)淑妃皆(jie)有寵,相次即世(shi)。宮(gong)(gong)中(zhong)(zhong)雖良家子千數,無可(ke)悅目(mu)者(zhe)。上(shang)心(xin)忽忽不(bu)樂(le)。時(shi)每(mei)歲(sui)十月,駕幸華清(qing)宮(gong)(gong),內外(wai)命婦,熠(yi)耀景從。浴日余波,賜(si)以(yi)湯沐。春(chun)風(feng)靈(ling)液,澹蕩其(qi)(qi)間。上(shang)心(xin)油然,若(ruo)有所遇(yu),顧左右(you)前(qian)后(hou),粉色如(ru)土。詔高(gao)力(li)(li)士潛搜外(wai)宮(gong)(gong),得弘農楊玄(xuan)琰女于壽邸,既(ji)笄矣。鬢發膩理,纖秾中(zhong)(zhong)度,舉止閑冶(ye),如(ru)漢武(wu)帝李夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)。別疏湯泉,詔賜(si)藻瑩(ying),既(ji)出水,體弱力(li)(li)微,若(ruo)不(bu)任羅綺。光彩煥(huan)發,轉(zhuan)動照(zhao)人(ren)。上(shang)甚(shen)悅,進見之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)日,奏《霓(ni)裳(shang)羽(yu)衣(yi)曲》以(yi)導之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi);定情(qing)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夕,授(shou)金(jin)釵(chai)鈿(dian)合以(yi)固之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。又(you)命戴步(bu)搖,垂金(jin)珰(dang),明年,冊(ce)為(wei)(wei)貴(gui)妃,半(ban)后(hou)服(fu)用。由是冶(ye)其(qi)(qi)容(rong),敏(min)其(qi)(qi)詞,婉孌萬態,以(yi)中(zhong)(zhong)上(shang)意(yi),上(shang)益嬖焉。時(shi)省風(feng)九(jiu)州,泥(ni)金(jin)五岳,驪山雪(xue)夜,上(shang)陽春(chun)朝(chao),與上(shang)行同(tong)輦,止同(tong)室(shi),宴專席,寢專房。雖有三夫(fu)(fu)人(ren)、九(jiu)嬪、二十七世(shi)婦、八(ba)十一御妻,暨后(hou)宮(gong)(gong)才人(ren)、樂(le)府妓女,使天子無顧盼意(yi)。自(zi)是六宮(gong)(gong)無復進幸者(zhe)。非徒殊艷(yan)尤態致是,益才智明慧,善(shan)巧便佞,先意(yi)希旨,有不(bu)可(ke)形容(rong)者(zhe)。叔父昆弟皆(jie)列位清(qing)貴(gui),爵為(wei)(wei)通侯。姊妹封國(guo)夫(fu)(fu)人(ren),富埒王(wang)宮(gong)(gong),車服(fu)邸第,與大長公(gong)主侔矣。而(er)恩澤勢力(li)(li),則又(you)過之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),世(shi)入禁門不(bu)問,京師長吏為(wei)(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)側(ce)目(mu)。故(gu)當時(shi)謠諺有云:“生女勿悲酸,生男(nan)勿喜歡。”又(you)曰(yue):“男(nan)不(bu)封侯女作妃,看女卻為(wei)(wei)門上(shang)楣。”其(qi)(qi)為(wei)(wei)人(ren)心(xin)羨慕如(ru)此。
天(tian)寶末,兄國(guo)忠盜丞相位,愚弄國(guo)柄。及安(an)祿山引(yin)兵向闕(que),以討楊氏為詞(ci)。潼(tong)關(guan)不守,翠華南(nan)(nan)(nan)幸,出咸陽,道次馬(ma)嵬(wei)亭。六軍(jun)徘徊,持(chi)戟不進(jin)。從官郎(lang)吏伏上馬(ma)前,請(qing)誅晁(chao)錯以謝天(tian)下。國(guo)忠奉(feng)牦纓盤水,死于(yu)(yu)道周。左右(you)之(zhi)(zhi)意(yi)未快。上問之(zhi)(zhi)。當時敢言(yan)者(zhe),請(qing)以貴妃塞天(tian)下怨。上知不免(mian),而不忍見(jian)其死,反袂掩面,使牽之(zhi)(zhi)而去。倉(cang)皇展轉(zhuan),竟就(jiu)死于(yu)(yu)尺組(zu)之(zhi)(zhi)下。既而玄宗(zong)狩(shou)成都(dou),肅宗(zong)受禪靈武。明年大赦改(gai)元,大駕(jia)還都(dou)。尊玄宗(zong)為太上皇,就(jiu)養(yang)南(nan)(nan)(nan)官,自(zi)南(nan)(nan)(nan)宮(gong)遷于(yu)(yu)西內,時移事去,樂盡悲(bei)來。每至春之(zhi)(zhi)日,冬之(zhi)(zhi)夜(ye),池蓮(lian)夏開,宮(gong)槐秋(qiu)落。梨園弟(di)子,玉琯(guan)發(fa)音,聞《霓裳羽衣》一聲(sheng),則天(tian)顏不怡(yi),左右(you)欷(xi)歔。三(san)載一意(yi),其念(nian)不衰。求之(zhi)(zhi)夢魂,杳不能得。
適有(you)(you)(you)(you)道士(shi)(shi)自蜀(shu)來,知上心(xin)念(nian)楊妃如(ru)是,自言有(you)(you)(you)(you)李少君之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)術。玄宗大喜,命(ming)致其(qi)(qi)神(shen)。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi)乃竭其(qi)(qi)術以(yi)索之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)(bu)至。又能(neng)游(you)神(shen)馭氣,出天(tian)界(jie),沒地府以(yi)求之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)(bu)見(jian)。又旁求四(si)(si)(si)虛上下,東(dong)極天(tian)海(hai),跨(kua)蓬壺。見(jian)最高(gao)仙(xian)山,上多樓闕,西(xi)廂(xiang)下有(you)(you)(you)(you)洞戶,東(dong)向,闔其(qi)(qi)門,署曰(yue)“玉妃太(tai)(tai)真院”。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi)抽(chou)簪扣扉,有(you)(you)(you)(you)雙(shuang)鬟(huan)童女(nv)(nv),出應其(qi)(qi)門。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi)造次未及言,而(er)(er)(er)雙(shuang)鬟(huan)復入(ru)(ru)。俄(e)有(you)(you)(you)(you)碧衣侍(shi)(shi)(shi)女(nv)(nv)又至。詰其(qi)(qi)所(suo)從。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi)因(yin)稱唐(tang)天(tian)子(zi)使(shi)者,且致其(qi)(qi)命(ming)。碧衣云:“玉妃方(fang)(fang)寢,請少待(dai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。”于(yu)時云海(hai)沈(shen)沈(shen),洞天(tian)日(ri)曉(xiao),瓊戶重闔,悄然(ran)無聲。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi)屏(ping)息斂足,拱手門下。久(jiu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),而(er)(er)(er)碧衣延入(ru)(ru),且曰(yue):“玉妃出。”見(jian)一人(ren)冠(guan)金(jin)蓮(lian),披紫綃,佩紅(hong)玉,曳(ye)鳳舄(xi),左右(you)侍(shi)(shi)(shi)者七八人(ren),揖方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi),問皇(huang)帝安(an)否,次問天(tian)寶(bao)十(shi)四(si)(si)(si)載(zai)以(yi)還事(shi)。言訖,憫然(ran)。指碧衣女(nv)(nv)取金(jin)釵鈿合(he),各析其(qi)(qi)半(ban),授(shou)使(shi)者曰(yue):“為我謝太(tai)(tai)上皇(huang),謹獻是物,尋舊(jiu)好也(ye)。”方(fang)(fang)士(shi)(shi)受(shou)辭與信,將行,色有(you)(you)(you)(you)不(bu)(bu)足。玉妃固征(zheng)其(qi)(qi)意(yi)。復前跪(gui)致詞:“請當時一事(shi),不(bu)(bu)為他人(ren)聞者,驗(yan)于(yu)太(tai)(tai)上皇(huang),恐鈿合(he)金(jin)釵,負(fu)新垣平之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)詐也(ye)。”玉妃茫(mang)然(ran)退立,若有(you)(you)(you)(you)所(suo)思,徐而(er)(er)(er)言曰(yue):“昔天(tian)寶(bao)十(shi)載(zai),侍(shi)(shi)(shi)輦避暑于(yu)驪(li)山宮。秋(qiu)七月(yue),牽牛織(zhi)女(nv)(nv)相(xiang)(xiang)見(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夕,秦人(ren)風俗,是夜張錦繡,陳飲食,樹(shu)瓜華,焚香于(yu)庭,號為乞(qi)巧。宮掖(ye)間尤尚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。時夜殆半(ban),休侍(shi)(shi)(shi)衛于(yu)東(dong)西(xi)廂(xiang),獨侍(shi)(shi)(shi)上。上憑肩而(er)(er)(er)立,因(yin)仰天(tian)感牛女(nv)(nv)事(shi),密相(xiang)(xiang)誓心(xin),愿世世為夫婦(fu)。言畢,執手各嗚咽。此獨君王知之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)耳(er)。”因(yin)自悲曰(yue):“由此一念(nian),又不(bu)(bu)得居(ju)此。復墮下界(jie),且結后緣。或為天(tian),或為人(ren),決再相(xiang)(xiang)見(jian),好合(he)如(ru)舊(jiu)。”因(yin)言:“太(tai)(tai)上皇(huang)亦不(bu)(bu)久(jiu)人(ren)間,幸惟自安(an),無自苦耳(er)。”使(shi)者還奏太(tai)(tai)上皇(huang),皇(huang)心(xin)震(zhen)悼,日(ri)日(ri)不(bu)(bu)豫。其(qi)(qi)年夏四(si)(si)(si)月(yue),南宮宴駕。
元和元年冬十二(er)月,太原(yuan)白樂(le)天(tian)自校書郎尉于盩(zhou)厔,鴻與(yu)瑯(lang)琊王質夫家于是邑,暇日相攜(xie)游(you)仙游(you)寺,話及(ji)此事(shi),相與(yu)感嘆。質夫舉酒(jiu)于樂(le)天(tian)前曰:“夫希代之事(shi),非(fei)遇出世(shi)(shi)之才潤色之,則與(yu)時消(xiao)沒,不聞于世(shi)(shi)。樂(le)天(tian)深于詩,多于情(qing)者(zhe)也(ye)。試為歌之。如何?”樂(le)天(tian)因為《長(chang)恨歌》。意(yi)者(zhe)不但感其(qi)事(shi),亦(yi)欲懲尤物,窒亂階,垂于將來者(zhe)也(ye)。歌既成,使鴻傳焉。世(shi)(shi)所不聞者(zhe),予非(fei)開(kai)元遺(yi)民,不得知(zhi)。世(shi)(shi)所知(zhi)者(zhe),有《玄宗本紀》在(zai)。今但傳《長(chang)恨歌》云爾(er)。
唐代安(an)史年(nian)間,安(an)祿山反(fan),玄宗幸蜀,貴妃被縊死。及(ji)玄宗返京(jing),思(si)念貴妃不(bu)已,不(bu)久即崩。元和元年(nian)冬,白(bai)居易為周至縣尉,與陳(chen)鴻、王質夫(fu)等暇日游仙游寺,談及(ji)此事(shi),陳(chen)鴻乃作《長恨(hen)傳》,而(er)白(bai)居易歌焉。