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Preface

杭州，一個(gè)優(yōu)雅又有著浪漫情懷的城市，從古至今傳唱著多少才子佳人的愛(ài)情故事。人蛇共枕的白素貞與許仙、雙宿雙飛的梁山伯與祝英臺(tái)，這些凄美的民間愛(ài)情傳說(shuō)，都將故事場(chǎng)景設(shè)定在了美麗的西子湖畔。出身于錢(qián)塘（今杭州）大族的清初戲曲家洪昇，在1688年完成了轟動(dòng)一時(shí)的《長(zhǎng)生殿》，著墨于唐玄宗、楊貴妃二人纏綿悱惻的愛(ài)情故事。作者濃墨熏染了西湖水之柔情，不顧當(dāng)時(shí)的政治環(huán)境，譜寫(xiě)了一曲唯美的帝妃愛(ài)情傳奇。水因情而變得愈發(fā)婀娜，情因水而變得愈發(fā)柔美，杭州也因此成為人人艷羨的“人間天堂”。

Hangzhou, elegant and romantic, has fostered numerous love stories since ancient times. The legends of Madame White Snake and Butterfly Lovers all took place at the picturesque West Lake. The Palace of Eternal Love, created in 1688 by Hong Sheng (an early Qing Dynasty playwright who was born of a famous clan in Hangzhou), depicts the beautiful yet tragic love story of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and his favorite consort Lady Yang. Some would say the author had very possibly been inspired by the grace of West Lake to create this beautiful literary piece that was a sharp contrast to the harsh political environment then. These stories and literary figures add a romantic appeal to both West Lake and Hangzhou, a city known as the “paradise of the human realm”.