《長恨傳(chuan)》,作者陳鴻,字天亮,唐代(dai)貞元(yuan)元(yuan)和間(jian)人。曾任主(zhu)客郎中等官職。長于史學(xue),撰有《大統(tong)紀》三十卷。小說表現的是一幕唐明皇與楊貴(gui)妃(fei)的愛情悲劇。這幕悲劇不僅(jin)牽涉到男女主(zhu)角,而(er)且關系到江山(shan)社稷(ji)。可以說,這篇傳(chuan)奇小說是白居易敘事詩《長恨歌》的白話(hua)版本。
開元中(zhong),泰階平,四(si)海無(wu)(wu)事。玄(xuan)宗(zong)在位(wei)歲久,倦于旰食宵衣,政無(wu)(wu)大(da)小,始委于右(you)丞相,稍深(shen)居游宴,以(yi)聲色(se)自(zi)娛。先是(shi)元獻皇后、武淑妃皆(jie)有(you)寵,相次即(ji)世。宮(gong)中(zhong)雖良(liang)家子(zi)千數,無(wu)(wu)可悅(yue)目(mu)者(zhe)。上心(xin)忽忽不(bu)樂(le)。時(shi)每歲十(shi)(shi)月(yue),駕(jia)幸(xing)華清宮(gong),內外命婦,熠耀景從(cong)。浴日(ri)余波,賜以(yi)湯(tang)沐。春風(feng)靈液(ye),澹蕩其(qi)間。上心(xin)油然,若有(you)所遇,顧左右(you)前(qian)后,粉色(se)如(ru)(ru)土(tu)。詔(zhao)高力(li)士潛搜外宮(gong),得弘(hong)農楊玄(xuan)琰女于壽邸,既(ji)笄矣。鬢發膩理(li),纖秾中(zhong)度,舉止閑冶(ye),如(ru)(ru)漢武帝李(li)夫(fu)人(ren)(ren)。別疏湯(tang)泉,詔(zhao)賜藻(zao)瑩(ying),既(ji)出水,體弱力(li)微,若不(bu)任(ren)羅綺。光彩煥發,轉動(dong)照人(ren)(ren)。上甚悅(yue),進見之(zhi)日(ri),奏《霓裳羽衣曲》以(yi)導(dao)之(zhi);定情之(zhi)夕,授金釵鈿合以(yi)固(gu)之(zhi)。又命戴步搖(yao),垂(chui)金珰,明年(nian),冊(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)貴(gui)妃,半后服(fu)用。由(you)是(shi)冶(ye)其(qi)容,敏其(qi)詞,婉孌萬態,以(yi)中(zhong)上意(yi),上益(yi)嬖焉。時(shi)省(sheng)風(feng)九(jiu)州,泥金五岳,驪山雪夜,上陽春朝,與上行同輦,止同室,宴專席(xi),寢專房。雖有(you)三夫(fu)人(ren)(ren)、九(jiu)嬪、二十(shi)(shi)七世婦、八十(shi)(shi)一御(yu)妻,暨后宮(gong)才人(ren)(ren)、樂(le)府妓女,使天子(zi)無(wu)(wu)顧盼(pan)意(yi)。自(zi)是(shi)六宮(gong)無(wu)(wu)復進幸(xing)者(zhe)。非徒殊艷尤態致是(shi),益(yi)才智明慧,善巧便佞,先意(yi)希旨,有(you)不(bu)可形容者(zhe)。叔父(fu)昆弟皆(jie)列位(wei)清貴(gui),爵為(wei)(wei)(wei)通侯。姊妹封國(guo)夫(fu)人(ren)(ren),富埒王宮(gong),車服(fu)邸第(di),與大(da)長(chang)(chang)公(gong)主侔矣。而(er)恩(en)澤勢力(li),則又過之(zhi),世入(ru)禁(jin)門不(bu)問,京師長(chang)(chang)吏為(wei)(wei)(wei)之(zhi)側目(mu)。故當時(shi)謠(yao)諺(yan)有(you)云:“生女勿悲酸,生男勿喜歡。”又曰(yue):“男不(bu)封侯女作(zuo)妃,看女卻(que)為(wei)(wei)(wei)門上楣(mei)。”其(qi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)人(ren)(ren)心(xin)羨慕如(ru)(ru)此。
天(tian)寶末,兄(xiong)國(guo)忠(zhong)盜(dao)丞相位,愚弄國(guo)柄(bing)。及(ji)安祿山(shan)引兵向(xiang)闕,以討楊氏為詞。潼關不(bu)守,翠華南幸(xing),出咸陽,道次馬(ma)嵬亭。六軍徘(pai)徊,持(chi)戟不(bu)進。從官(guan)郎(lang)吏伏(fu)上(shang)馬(ma)前(qian),請誅晁錯以謝天(tian)下(xia)。國(guo)忠(zhong)奉(feng)牦(mao)纓盤水,死(si)于道周。左右之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)意未快(kuai)。上(shang)問之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。當時敢(gan)言者,請以貴妃塞天(tian)下(xia)怨。上(shang)知不(bu)免,而不(bu)忍(ren)見(jian)其(qi)死(si),反袂(mei)掩面(mian),使(shi)牽之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)而去。倉皇(huang)展(zhan)轉(zhuan),竟就死(si)于尺組(zu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)。既(ji)而玄宗(zong)狩成都(dou),肅宗(zong)受(shou)禪(chan)靈武。明年(nian)大赦改元,大駕還(huan)都(dou)。尊玄宗(zong)為太上(shang)皇(huang),就養(yang)南官(guan),自南宮(gong)遷于西內(nei),時移事去,樂盡悲來。每至春之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)日,冬(dong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夜,池蓮夏開(kai),宮(gong)槐秋落。梨園弟子(zi),玉(yu)琯發音,聞《霓裳羽衣》一聲,則天(tian)顏不(bu)怡,左右欷歔。三載一意,其(qi)念不(bu)衰。求之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夢魂,杳不(bu)能(neng)得。
適有道士(shi)自蜀來,知上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)心念楊(yang)妃如是(shi)(shi),自言有李(li)少君(jun)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)術(shu)。玄(xuan)宗大喜,命致其(qi)神(shen)。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)乃竭其(qi)術(shu)以(yi)(yi)索之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),不至。又(you)(you)能(neng)游(you)神(shen)馭氣,出天(tian)(tian)界,沒地府以(yi)(yi)求(qiu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),不見(jian)(jian)。又(you)(you)旁求(qiu)四虛上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)下,東(dong)極(ji)天(tian)(tian)海(hai),跨(kua)蓬壺。見(jian)(jian)最高仙山,上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)多(duo)樓闕,西廂(xiang)下有洞戶,東(dong)向(xiang),闔(he)其(qi)門,署(shu)曰“玉(yu)妃太(tai)真院”。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)抽簪扣扉,有雙鬟(huan)童女,出應其(qi)門。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)造(zao)次(ci)(ci)未及言,而(er)(er)雙鬟(huan)復入(ru)。俄有碧(bi)衣侍(shi)(shi)(shi)女又(you)(you)至。詰其(qi)所(suo)從。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)因(yin)(yin)稱唐天(tian)(tian)子使(shi)者(zhe),且致其(qi)命。碧(bi)衣云:“玉(yu)妃方(fang)(fang)寢,請少待之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。”于(yu)時云海(hai)沈沈,洞天(tian)(tian)日(ri)曉,瓊戶重闔(he),悄然無聲。方(fang)(fang)士(shi)屏息斂足(zu),拱手(shou)門下。久(jiu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),而(er)(er)碧(bi)衣延(yan)入(ru),且曰:“玉(yu)妃出。”見(jian)(jian)一人(ren)冠(guan)金蓮(lian),披紫綃,佩(pei)紅玉(yu),曳(ye)鳳舄,左(zuo)右侍(shi)(shi)(shi)者(zhe)七八人(ren),揖方(fang)(fang)士(shi),問皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)安(an)否,次(ci)(ci)問天(tian)(tian)寶十(shi)四載(zai)以(yi)(yi)還(huan)事。言訖,憫然。指碧(bi)衣女取金釵鈿合,各析其(qi)半,授使(shi)者(zhe)曰:“為(wei)(wei)我謝太(tai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang),謹獻是(shi)(shi)物,尋舊好也。”方(fang)(fang)士(shi)受辭與信,將行,色有不足(zu)。玉(yu)妃固(gu)征其(qi)意。復前跪致詞:“請當時一事,不為(wei)(wei)他(ta)人(ren)聞者(zhe),驗于(yu)太(tai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang),恐鈿合金釵,負(fu)新垣平之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)詐(zha)也。”玉(yu)妃茫然退立,若有所(suo)思,徐而(er)(er)言曰:“昔天(tian)(tian)寶十(shi)載(zai),侍(shi)(shi)(shi)輦避暑于(yu)驪山宮。秋(qiu)七月,牽牛(niu)織女相(xiang)見(jian)(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夕,秦人(ren)風(feng)俗,是(shi)(shi)夜(ye)張錦繡,陳飲食,樹瓜華,焚香于(yu)庭,號為(wei)(wei)乞巧。宮掖(ye)間尤尚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。時夜(ye)殆(dai)半,休侍(shi)(shi)(shi)衛于(yu)東(dong)西廂(xiang),獨侍(shi)(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)。上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)憑(ping)肩而(er)(er)立,因(yin)(yin)仰天(tian)(tian)感(gan)牛(niu)女事,密相(xiang)誓心,愿世(shi)世(shi)為(wei)(wei)夫婦。言畢,執(zhi)手(shou)各嗚咽(yan)。此(ci)(ci)獨君(jun)王知之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)耳。”因(yin)(yin)自悲曰:“由此(ci)(ci)一念,又(you)(you)不得居此(ci)(ci)。復墮(duo)下界,且結后(hou)緣(yuan)。或為(wei)(wei)天(tian)(tian),或為(wei)(wei)人(ren),決(jue)再相(xiang)見(jian)(jian),好合如舊。”因(yin)(yin)言:“太(tai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)亦(yi)不久(jiu)人(ren)間,幸惟自安(an),無自苦耳。”使(shi)者(zhe)還(huan)奏太(tai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang),皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)心震悼(dao),日(ri)日(ri)不豫。其(qi)年(nian)夏四月,南宮宴駕。
元和元年冬(dong)十(shi)二月,太原(yuan)白樂(le)(le)(le)天(tian)自校書郎(lang)尉于(yu)(yu)盩厔,鴻(hong)與(yu)瑯琊王質夫(fu)家于(yu)(yu)是(shi)邑,暇日相攜游仙游寺,話及此事,相與(yu)感嘆。質夫(fu)舉酒于(yu)(yu)樂(le)(le)(le)天(tian)前曰:“夫(fu)希代之(zhi)(zhi)事,非遇出(chu)世(shi)之(zhi)(zhi)才潤色之(zhi)(zhi),則與(yu)時消沒,不聞于(yu)(yu)世(shi)。樂(le)(le)(le)天(tian)深于(yu)(yu)詩,多(duo)于(yu)(yu)情者(zhe)(zhe)也(ye)。試為歌(ge)之(zhi)(zhi)。如何?”樂(le)(le)(le)天(tian)因為《長恨(hen)歌(ge)》。意者(zhe)(zhe)不但感其事,亦欲懲尤物,窒亂階,垂于(yu)(yu)將來者(zhe)(zhe)也(ye)。歌(ge)既成,使鴻(hong)傳焉。世(shi)所(suo)(suo)不聞者(zhe)(zhe),予(yu)非開元遺民(min),不得知。世(shi)所(suo)(suo)知者(zhe)(zhe),有《玄宗本紀》在。今但傳《長恨(hen)歌(ge)》云爾。
唐(tang)代安史年間,安祿山(shan)反,玄宗幸蜀(shu),貴(gui)妃被縊死。及(ji)玄宗返京(jing),思(si)念貴(gui)妃不已,不久(jiu)即(ji)崩。元(yuan)和元(yuan)年冬,白居(ju)(ju)易為周至縣尉,與陳鴻、王質夫等暇日游(you)仙游(you)寺,談及(ji)此(ci)事,陳鴻乃作《長恨傳》,而白居(ju)(ju)易歌焉。