《投筆記(ji)》,最早是(shi)(shi)明朝著錄的(de)傳奇劇(ju)本(ben),作者(zhe)尚(shang)不(bu)明確(que)。從其他文獻看來(lai),明朝昆劇(ju)也有(you)(you)同名劇(ju)本(ben)。另外湖南(nan)省戲曲工作室也有(you)(you)同名湘劇(ju)高腔劇(ju)本(ben)。劇(ju)本(ben)情節都是(shi)(shi)描寫東漢班固投筆從戎的(de)故(gu)事。
傳奇劇本(ben),明祁彪(biao)佳《遠山堂(tang)曲(qu)品(pin)(pin)》著錄為華山居士作,清(qing)無(wu)(wu)名氏(shi)《古人(ren)傳奇總目》著錄為明人(ren)丘濬作,恐非。現存明萬(wan)歷三(san)十八年三(san)槐(huai)堂(tang)本(ben),題《新鐫(juan)徽版音(yin)釋評(ping)林全(quan)像班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)(chao)投(tou)筆(bi)記(ji)》,以及明萬(wan)歷存誠堂(tang)本(ben),題《新刻魏(wei)仲雪先生批評(ping)投(tou)筆(bi)記(ji)》,三(san)十八出,《古本(ben)戲曲(qu)叢(cong)刊(kan)》初集據之(zhi)影印。劇作取(qu)材于(yu)(yu)《后漢書》的(de)(de)《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)(chao)傳》和《班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)昭傳》,劇譜東漢班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)(chao)文武全(quan)才,在(zai)任尚幕下(xia)任職,受(shou)(shou)任府(fu)家院侮辱,憤而投(tou)筆(bi)從(cong)戎(rong)。時(shi)竇(dou)固元帥(shuai)欲通(tong)西(xi)域、伐(fa)匈奴,招募天下(xia)豪(hao)杰;班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)投(tou)竇(dou),竇(dou)認為班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)可以“仗絕域立(li)邊功(gong),清(qing)海寧靖(jing)羌戎(rong)”,任班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)為司馬,出使西(xi)域至鄯(shan)善國。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)在(zai)鄯(shan)善國備受(shou)(shou)厚待(dai),漢使李邑嫉班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)才,誣陷(xian)之(zhi);漢武帝受(shou)(shou)騙抄班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)家,逮班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)母(mu)、班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻下(xia)獄。后班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)(chao)破北(bei)匈奴軍,斬北(bei)匈奴王首(shou)級(ji)獻鄯(shan)善國王,鄯(shan)善國王因之(zhi)臣服于(yu)(yu)漢。班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)派人(ren)帶書信回(hui)(hui)漢,被誣陷(xian)一(yi)事(shi)真相大白,封為定遠侯,班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)師回(hui)(hui)朝,合家團圓(yuan)。劇作寫班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)超(chao)(chao)投(tou)筆(bi)從(cong)戎(rong),立(li)大功(gong)于(yu)(yu)異域的(de)(de)同時(shi),也寫了(le)班(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)妻鄧二(er)娘(niang)在(zai)家歷盡艱(jian)辛力行孝(xiao)道的(de)(de)事(shi)跡。明呂天成《曲(qu)品(pin)(pin)》評(ping)此劇說(shuo):“詞(ci)平常,音(yin)不葉,俱以事(shi)佳而傳耳”。但祁彪(biao)佳《遠山堂(tang)曲(qu)品(pin)(pin)》評(ping)云:“詞(ci)雖平實,局亦正大。投(tou)筆(bi)出關處,想見古人(ren)慷慨之(zhi)概。‘無(wu)(wu)語依南樓’一(yi)曲(qu),歌者盛(sheng)習之(zhi)。”