Hymn in Praise of Yun Wi (威), Director of Studies (司業), for Pacifying Namwon — with a preface尹司業威安撫南原頌幷序

In the fifth year of Seungan (承安) I governed Wansan (完山). Lord Yun, Director of Studies, went out as Inspecting Commissioner (廉察使), and a whole region feared and respected him. At that time there was a lawless band in Namwon who called their fellows together, encamped on a mountain and held it fast, and plotted rebellion. The magistrate, being weak, could not control them, and ran to report it to the Inspecting Commissioner. That very day the lord rode alone into the prefectural seat and admonished them with calamity and with blessing, and of the band of brigands there was not one who did not weep in gratitude and obey his command. Thereupon he beheaded only the two or three ringleaders and pardoned all the rest, so that order was restored at once and the whole district congratulated him and clapped its hands. Hearing of this I could not have done with admiring it, and so I have humbly made one short hymn and offer it from afar to his travelling carriage (行軒).

The old district of Daebang (帶方) is the right arm of the south. If one arm should be broken, how is the body to be used? The land is broad and the people fierce, and defiance and deceit rose up like sword-points. There was an obdurate band of brigands who plotted what went against all rule. Driving and threatening the common people, they gathered and bound themselves together like ants; with the mountain at their back they held their ground and whetted their weapons keen. Now and again they came out to plunder and so filled up their stores of grain. The roots they had put down grew firmer by degrees, and they were not easy to pull up. The old men were startled and afraid and fled like hares and bounded like deer. Those called Governor (守) and those called Deputy (倅) had sweat like water on their faces. They ran to the commissioner's carriage with the news, and as the words came out the tears fell. The lord said: 「Why did you not make ready in good time? The tortoise shell and the jade are broken in their very casket; whose shame is this? Since you have failed to control them, shall I bear to stand and look on?」 That same day he ordered out his carriage, not waiting for the yoke to be put on. Shaking out his beard he sat down in the prefecture and summoned the chieftain in haste. He commanded him to come forward and admonished him with life and with death. The brigand wept and obeyed the command, laid down his arms and threw away his spear. Only the ringleaders were beheaded, and all the rest were not brought to law. The swarming band of brigands changed their hearts and longed after righteousness, and all of them said: 「We, at the outset, did not take our own measure. It was like driving a maddened horse: its headlong course was hard to stop, and not being able to master its strength we asked another to take the reins. Had this man not been here, our bodies would have been ruined and our lives thrown away. Alas for us, could we have helped coming to such a pass? Had the lord not brought us to a stop, where should we have turned, had we run?」 The old men have come to life again and leap for gladness. All of them say: 「Our lord has got us free of the tiger's teeth. These lives of ours are truly the lord's own gift.」 The sound of praise follows the wind and overflows a thousand li. His merit is great and his name is great, level with Heaven and equal with Earth. He who draws it out in song is a petty clerk of Wansan.