中國文人借各體文字顯示其才情和學問、修養,這種追求"美文"的傳統非常既深且久。明清傳奇是中國古代戲曲中最見民族個性的一類,其寫作無疑也處于這一傳統之中。但傳奇畢竟是一種敘事藝術,故"美文"傳統與戲劇敘事必然形成一定的張力,這在傳奇曲辭、賓白的寫作中都有反映。曲辭寫作主要表現為套曲的程式化、曲辭的案頭化以及曲與人物的悖離,賓白寫作則主要表現為人物定場詩詞、人物定場駢文、出末收場詩以及賦、表、詔、箋、誄、策等各體韻文的插用。明清的傳奇家們一方面試圖成功地講述故事,但他們也不會放過任何良機以表現其才學、修養,以便贏得當時人的認可和贊譽。在今人看來,"美文"傳統或為傳奇敘事不能承受之重,但如果還原至其所產生的文化語境,我們或能產生更多的理解和同情。

The pursuit of"good writing"is a long and profound tradition among Chinese literati,who demonstrate their talent,knowledge and accomplishment by writing various types of literary works. Among them,the unique Ming-Qing marvel tales as a kind of ancient Chinese drama mostly represent national characters. However,as the marvel tale is a narrative art,there must be certain tension between the "good writing"tradition and the drama narrative,which is reflected in both speeches and songs.Songs,often desktop-oriented,tend to be conventionalized and detached from or even in conflict with characters. Speeches are often used for characters’ opening and concluding poems,and other occasions with texts written in verse. Marvel tale writers try to tell stories successfully and show their talent and accomplishment in the meantime in order to win the recognition and praise of contemporary people. For the people of nowadays,the pursuit of"good writing"should have played a minor role in marvel tale narration,but if we put it into its original cultural context,we may have more understanding and appreciation of it.