Preface Written to Send Off My Fellow Graduate No (盧生) on His Return to His Country Home送同年盧生還田居序
始予與吾子遊學相從。莫不欲濯纓沐芳。縱轡靑雲。奮發平生之志矣。僕也雖未至遠步。亦得峨冠拖紫。待罪亞卿。在吾分足矣。吾子以雋秀之才。猶未霑一命。迺者尋薄田所在。携家南往。方其時勢若可矜。不能無搶心。及僕之從官歷職。鮮歡薄味。殊無有官況。然後高吾子之勇去。未嘗不南向再拜也。今足下間關復蹈京師。則予疑其不能忘疇昔之志。有意於筮仕也。足下留不過數日。來告行期。予然後大悔期君之淺。而復欲頓首再拜。挹其高風也。噫。一夢升沈。僕已諳之矣。行當掛冠。笑謝塵寰。豈汩沒然終未作靑山白雲人耶。出處謬悠。更相見未可期。努力擧爵。無以魯酒而辭也。風日淸淑。鳥鳴嚶嚶。方將與之遊。忍捨我而南乎。
In the beginning, when you and I studied together and followed one another, there was not one of us who did not wish to wash his hat-strings and bathe in fragrance and let the reins go loose among the blue clouds and give rein to the purpose of his life. I, though I have not come to walk far, have yet got a high hat to wear and purple robes to trail, and await my punishments in the seat of a Deputy Minister (亞卿); and this is ample for my portion. You, with your outstanding talent, have not yet been wetted with a single appointment, and you went seeking out a place where some poor field lay, and led your household south. At that time your case was such as might be pitied, and I could not but ache at heart.
But after I had followed office and passed through posts, and found my joys few and the savor thin and no relish at all in an official's life, then I never failed to think highly of your brave going away, and to bow twice facing south.
Now that your honor has with much trouble set foot in the capital again, I suspected that you could not forget your purpose of former days and had a mind to take up office. But your honor stayed no more than a few days, and came to tell me the day of your going. Only then did I greatly repent how shallow my expectation of you had been, and I would bow my head and bow twice again and look up to your lofty bearing.
Ah, the rising and sinking that is like a single dream I have already tasted to the full. Before long I shall hang up my hat and laugh and take my leave of the dusty world; how should I, sunk in it as I am, end by never becoming a man of blue hills and white clouds? Our going forth and our withdrawing are at cross purposes and far apart, and I cannot appoint a time for meeting you again. Put out your strength and raise the cup. Do not refuse it, saying it is the wine of Lu. The wind and the sunlight are clear and fine and the birds are calling to one another, and I am just now about to roam with you — can you bear to leave me and go south?