《長恨傳》,作(zuo)者陳鴻,字天亮,唐代貞元元和(he)間人。曾(ceng)任主客(ke)郎中等官職。長于史學,撰有《大統紀》三(san)十卷。小說表現的是(shi)一幕(mu)唐明皇(huang)與楊貴妃的愛情悲劇。這(zhe)幕(mu)悲劇不僅(jin)牽涉到男女主角,而且關系到江山社稷。可(ke)以說,這(zhe)篇傳奇小說是(shi)白(bai)居易敘事詩《長恨歌》的白(bai)話版本(ben)。
開(kai)元中,泰階平,四(si)海(hai)無(wu)事。玄(xuan)宗在位歲久,倦于旰(gan)食宵衣,政無(wu)大(da)小,始委于右丞相,稍深居游宴,以(yi)聲色(se)自(zi)娛(yu)。先是(shi)(shi)元獻皇(huang)后、武淑妃皆有(you)(you)寵,相次即(ji)世。宮(gong)中雖(sui)良家(jia)子(zi)(zi)千數,無(wu)可(ke)悅(yue)目者(zhe)。上(shang)(shang)心忽(hu)(hu)忽(hu)(hu)不樂。時每歲十(shi)月(yue),駕幸華清(qing)宮(gong),內(nei)外命婦,熠耀景(jing)從。浴日(ri)余波,賜(si)以(yi)湯沐(mu)。春風靈液,澹蕩(dang)其間。上(shang)(shang)心油然(ran),若有(you)(you)所遇,顧(gu)左右前后,粉色(se)如土。詔高力(li)(li)士(shi)潛搜外宮(gong),得弘農楊(yang)玄(xuan)琰女(nv)于壽邸(di),既(ji)笄矣(yi)。鬢發膩理,纖秾中度(du),舉止閑(xian)冶,如漢武帝李夫人(ren)(ren)(ren)。別疏湯泉,詔賜(si)藻(zao)瑩,既(ji)出(chu)水(shui),體弱力(li)(li)微,若不任羅(luo)綺。光(guang)彩(cai)煥發,轉動照(zhao)人(ren)(ren)(ren)。上(shang)(shang)甚悅(yue),進見之(zhi)日(ri),奏《霓裳羽衣曲》以(yi)導之(zhi);定情之(zhi)夕,授金(jin)釵鈿(dian)合以(yi)固之(zhi)。又命戴步搖,垂(chui)金(jin)珰(dang),明年,冊(ce)為貴妃,半(ban)后服用。由是(shi)(shi)冶其容,敏其詞,婉(wan)孌萬態(tai),以(yi)中上(shang)(shang)意,上(shang)(shang)益(yi)(yi)嬖(bi)焉。時省風九州,泥(ni)金(jin)五岳,驪山雪夜(ye),上(shang)(shang)陽春朝(chao),與(yu)上(shang)(shang)行同輦(nian),止同室,宴專(zhuan)席,寢專(zhuan)房(fang)。雖(sui)有(you)(you)三夫人(ren)(ren)(ren)、九嬪、二十(shi)七世婦、八(ba)十(shi)一御妻,暨后宮(gong)才(cai)人(ren)(ren)(ren)、樂府妓女(nv),使(shi)天子(zi)(zi)無(wu)顧(gu)盼意。自(zi)是(shi)(shi)六宮(gong)無(wu)復進幸者(zhe)。非(fei)徒(tu)殊(shu)艷尤態(tai)致是(shi)(shi),益(yi)(yi)才(cai)智明慧,善巧便佞(ning),先意希(xi)旨,有(you)(you)不可(ke)形容者(zhe)。叔父昆弟(di)皆列位清(qing)貴,爵為通侯。姊妹(mei)封國夫人(ren)(ren)(ren),富埒王宮(gong),車(che)服邸(di)第,與(yu)大(da)長(chang)公主(zhu)侔矣(yi)。而恩澤勢(shi)力(li)(li),則(ze)又過之(zhi),世入(ru)禁門不問,京師長(chang)吏為之(zhi)側目。故(gu)當(dang)時謠諺有(you)(you)云:“生女(nv)勿悲(bei)酸,生男勿喜歡。”又曰:“男不封侯女(nv)作(zuo)妃,看女(nv)卻(que)為門上(shang)(shang)楣。”其為人(ren)(ren)(ren)心羨慕如此。
天(tian)(tian)(tian)寶末(mo),兄(xiong)國(guo)忠盜丞相位,愚(yu)弄(nong)國(guo)柄(bing)。及(ji)安祿山引兵向闕(que),以(yi)討楊氏為詞。潼關(guan)不(bu)守,翠(cui)華南幸,出咸陽(yang),道次(ci)馬(ma)嵬亭(ting)。六軍徘徊,持戟不(bu)進。從(cong)官郎吏伏上馬(ma)前(qian),請誅晁錯以(yi)謝天(tian)(tian)(tian)下(xia)。國(guo)忠奉牦纓盤水,死于道周。左(zuo)右之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)意(yi)未快(kuai)。上問之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。當時(shi)敢言者,請以(yi)貴妃塞天(tian)(tian)(tian)下(xia)怨。上知不(bu)免,而(er)(er)不(bu)忍見其死,反袂掩面,使(shi)牽之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)而(er)(er)去。倉(cang)皇(huang)展轉(zhuan),竟(jing)就死于尺組之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)。既而(er)(er)玄宗(zong)狩成都,肅宗(zong)受(shou)禪靈武。明(ming)年(nian)大(da)赦改元(yuan),大(da)駕還都。尊(zun)玄宗(zong)為太(tai)上皇(huang),就養南官,自南宮遷于西(xi)內,時(shi)移(yi)事去,樂盡悲來。每至春之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)日,冬(dong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夜,池蓮夏(xia)開,宮槐秋落。梨(li)園弟子,玉琯發音,聞《霓(ni)裳羽衣》一聲,則天(tian)(tian)(tian)顏不(bu)怡,左(zuo)右欷歔。三載一意(yi),其念不(bu)衰。求之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夢魂,杳不(bu)能得。
適有(you)道士(shi)(shi)自(zi)蜀來,知(zhi)(zhi)上心念楊妃(fei)如(ru)是(shi),自(zi)言(yan)有(you)李少(shao)君之(zhi)(zhi)術。玄(xuan)宗大喜,命致(zhi)其神(shen)(shen)。方士(shi)(shi)乃竭其術以索(suo)之(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)(bu)至。又(you)能游神(shen)(shen)馭氣,出天(tian)(tian)界(jie),沒地(di)府以求之(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)(bu)見(jian)。又(you)旁求四(si)虛(xu)上下(xia)(xia),東極天(tian)(tian)海,跨蓬壺。見(jian)最(zui)高仙山(shan),上多樓闕,西廂下(xia)(xia)有(you)洞戶(hu),東向,闔其門,署(shu)曰(yue)“玉妃(fei)太(tai)真院(yuan)”。方士(shi)(shi)抽簪(zan)扣扉,有(you)雙(shuang)鬟(huan)童女(nv),出應其門。方士(shi)(shi)造次(ci)未及言(yan),而(er)雙(shuang)鬟(huan)復入(ru)。俄有(you)碧衣侍女(nv)又(you)至。詰其所從(cong)。方士(shi)(shi)因(yin)(yin)稱唐天(tian)(tian)子使者,且致(zhi)其命。碧衣云:“玉妃(fei)方寢,請(qing)少(shao)待(dai)之(zhi)(zhi)。”于(yu)(yu)時云海沈(shen)沈(shen),洞天(tian)(tian)日曉,瓊戶(hu)重闔,悄然(ran)無聲。方士(shi)(shi)屏息(xi)斂足,拱手門下(xia)(xia)。久之(zhi)(zhi),而(er)碧衣延入(ru),且曰(yue):“玉妃(fei)出。”見(jian)一人(ren)冠(guan)金蓮(lian),披紫綃(xiao),佩紅玉,曳鳳(feng)舄,左右侍者七(qi)八人(ren),揖方士(shi)(shi),問皇(huang)帝安否,次(ci)問天(tian)(tian)寶十四(si)載以還事(shi)。言(yan)訖,憫(min)然(ran)。指(zhi)碧衣女(nv)取金釵鈿合(he),各析其半(ban)(ban),授使者曰(yue):“為(wei)我謝太(tai)上皇(huang),謹獻是(shi)物,尋舊好也(ye)。”方士(shi)(shi)受辭與信,將行,色有(you)不(bu)(bu)足。玉妃(fei)固征其意。復前跪致(zhi)詞:“請(qing)當(dang)時一事(shi),不(bu)(bu)為(wei)他人(ren)聞者,驗于(yu)(yu)太(tai)上皇(huang),恐鈿合(he)金釵,負新(xin)垣平(ping)之(zhi)(zhi)詐也(ye)。”玉妃(fei)茫然(ran)退立(li),若有(you)所思,徐而(er)言(yan)曰(yue):“昔天(tian)(tian)寶十載,侍輦(nian)避暑于(yu)(yu)驪山(shan)宮(gong)。秋七(qi)月,牽牛織女(nv)相(xiang)見(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)夕,秦人(ren)風(feng)俗,是(shi)夜張錦(jin)繡(xiu),陳飲食,樹(shu)瓜華,焚香(xiang)于(yu)(yu)庭,號為(wei)乞巧。宮(gong)掖間(jian)尤尚之(zhi)(zhi)。時夜殆半(ban)(ban),休(xiu)侍衛于(yu)(yu)東西廂,獨(du)侍上。上憑肩而(er)立(li),因(yin)(yin)仰天(tian)(tian)感牛女(nv)事(shi),密相(xiang)誓心,愿世世為(wei)夫婦。言(yan)畢,執(zhi)手各嗚(wu)咽。此(ci)獨(du)君王知(zhi)(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)耳。”因(yin)(yin)自(zi)悲曰(yue):“由此(ci)一念,又(you)不(bu)(bu)得居此(ci)。復墮下(xia)(xia)界(jie),且結后緣。或為(wei)天(tian)(tian),或為(wei)人(ren),決再相(xiang)見(jian),好合(he)如(ru)舊。”因(yin)(yin)言(yan):“太(tai)上皇(huang)亦不(bu)(bu)久人(ren)間(jian),幸惟自(zi)安,無自(zi)苦耳。”使者還奏太(tai)上皇(huang),皇(huang)心震(zhen)悼,日日不(bu)(bu)豫。其年夏四(si)月,南宮(gong)宴駕(jia)。
元和(he)元年冬十二月(yue),太原(yuan)白樂天(tian)(tian)(tian)自校書郎尉于盩厔,鴻與瑯琊(ya)王(wang)質夫(fu)(fu)(fu)家于是邑(yi),暇日相(xiang)攜游仙游寺,話及此事,相(xiang)與感嘆。質夫(fu)(fu)(fu)舉(ju)酒(jiu)于樂天(tian)(tian)(tian)前曰:“夫(fu)(fu)(fu)希代之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)事,非遇出(chu)世之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)才潤(run)色之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),則(ze)與時消沒,不聞于世。樂天(tian)(tian)(tian)深于詩,多于情者也(ye)(ye)。試為歌之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。如(ru)何?”樂天(tian)(tian)(tian)因為《長(chang)恨歌》。意者不但感其事,亦欲懲尤物,窒亂階,垂于將來(lai)者也(ye)(ye)。歌既成,使鴻傳(chuan)焉。世所(suo)不聞者,予非開元遺民(min),不得知。世所(suo)知者,有《玄宗本紀》在。今但傳(chuan)《長(chang)恨歌》云爾。
唐代安史年(nian)間(jian),安祿山反,玄(xuan)(xuan)宗(zong)幸蜀,貴妃(fei)被縊死。及(ji)玄(xuan)(xuan)宗(zong)返京(jing),思念貴妃(fei)不(bu)(bu)已,不(bu)(bu)久(jiu)即崩(beng)。元(yuan)和元(yuan)年(nian)冬,白居易為周至縣尉(wei),與陳鴻(hong)、王質(zhi)夫等(deng)暇日(ri)游(you)(you)仙游(you)(you)寺,談(tan)及(ji)此事,陳鴻(hong)乃作《長恨(hen)傳(chuan)》,而白居易歌焉。