Presented to Chancellor Choe, two poems — a preface is joined to it上崔相國二首幷序
1Preface
某昨蒙鈞慈許參兩府一會華筵。仍賜斑犀鞓帶一腰令帶之。親臨觀焉。枯瘦之姿。爛生光彩。眞分外之榮也。又僕在陳久矣。兼令別頒月捧。以救垂死之命。退思厚眷。不勝感荷。謹成惡詩二首。奉謝萬一云。
Not long ago I received Your Excellency's favor and was allowed to take part in the splendid gathering of the Two Bureaus (兩府). Thereupon you bestowed on me a belt of mottled rhinoceros horn and leather and had me wear it, and came in person to see it. On my dry and wasted frame a shining splendor appeared, and it was truly an honor beyond my station. Moreover my provisions had been gone for a long while, and you had a separate monthly stipend issued to me besides, and so saved a life that was dying away. Withdrawing and thinking on your heavy care for me, I cannot master my gratitude. Respectfully I have made two poor poems, to thank you for one ten-thousandth part of it.
Interlinear notes 1
今晉陽侯也
He is the present Marquis of Jinyang (晉陽侯).
2First poem
三公聯席預華筵。更受文犀直萬錢。較日初生光更爛。譬金方鍊色逾鮮。初疑蟹脚徘徊去。還認龜跟躑躅旋。但恐微官輕帶著。却招外謗忽喧傳。榮生里巷朝爭賀。誇向妻兒夜未眼。一𫌮千年如祝壽。凡於十𫌮十千年。
Seated level with the three chancellors I took part in the splendid feast And received besides a figured rhinoceros-horn belt worth ten thousand coins Set beside the newly risen sun its light is the more dazzling Compared with gold just now refined its color is the lovelier At first I doubted whether crab's legs were sidling along it Then I took it for turtle's heels turning about and hesitating My one fear is that a petty official has lightly girded such a belt And will draw slander from outside that will presently be noised abroad The honor goes out through the ward, and in the morning they vie to congratulate me And boasting of it to my wife and children I cannot sleep at night One belt plaque (𫌮) is like a prayer for a thousand years of life So all ten of them are ten thousand years
右謝帶
The above is to thank him for the belt.
4Second poem
官爲三品許多人。世上寒窮。獨此身。餓僕長嚬慵作屋。羸蹄忽斃絶供薪。一家罷釀甁無酒。數日停炊甑有塵。豈意鈞階垂眷顧。別頒月俸慰飢貧。舂珠狼籍來相積。感淚滂沱拭更新。一斛千春如祝壽。凡於十斛十千春。
Men of the third rank are many and to spare Yet in all the world the cold and destitute one is this body alone My starving servant is forever scowling and slack at building the house My lean horse has suddenly died and the supply of firewood is cut off The whole house has given up brewing and there is no wine in the bottle For some days we have stopped the fire and dust has settled in the steamer How could I have thought that Your Excellency would look to me And issue a separate monthly stipend to comfort my hunger and poverty Rice like pounded pearls comes in a rush and is heaped up And tears of gratitude pour out, and wiped away they flow again anew One bushel is like a prayer for a thousand springs of life So all ten bushels are ten thousand springs
Interlinear notes 1
初移都。皆作屋。予未爾。
When the capital was first moved everyone built a house, but I could not.
右謝祿
The above is to thank him for the stipend.