A Letter of Congratulation on the Vice Director Jang Jamok (張自牧) Becoming Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud and Academician in Direct Attendance of the Bomun Pavilion After Laying Down Office, and Then Retiring賀張侍郞自牧解職後拜大僕卿寶文閣直學士仍致仕啓
右伏審。澤霈層霄。春還暮景。聖明所以優老。耆舊莫不爲榮。竊惟有國已來。爲臣之體。年甫滿七旬。則身雖解職。官不登三品。則祿未及家。故進而就列也。不辭夙夜從事之勞。及老而釋位也。未免朝夕奉己之患。孰於得謝居閑之際。致此崇資進秩之榮。嘉若異恩。始于大丈。恭惟學士閣下。襟期倜儻。器度汪涵。書是張芝之後身。文爲燕國之大手。夙登顯要。卓著聲稱。腰鞓帶也。已飾列卿之儀。掌棘圍也。已更座主之任。曁當退逸。反困食貧。昔日榮華。似罷邯鄲之一夢。餘生計活。翻爲顔巷之屢空。有識同嗟。無人不憫。然積其善者慶不艾。種其德者福所滋。果蒙牽復之名。忽擢高華之秩。奉車職緊。學士資淸。實明公胡考之基。亦世嗣熾昌之兆。凡叨夙眷。盡罄欣悰。祿踰百鍾。豈高門之所獨慶耳。歲釀九醞。如吾輩者亦與霑焉。抃擢之誠。述宣莫旣云云。
Respectfully observing: favor has poured down from the high heavens, and spring has returned upon the scene of the closing season. Our sage and enlightened sovereign treats the aged thickly, and there is none among the old ministers of many years who does not count it an honor.
When I consider quietly, the way of those who have been ministers since the founding of the state has been this. When their years were barely full seventy, their persons laid down office; but if their rank had not risen to the third grade, no stipend reached their houses. Therefore, when they went forward and stood in the ranks, they did not decline the labor of working from early dawn until night; and when in old age they laid down their seats, they were not spared the care of providing for themselves morning and evening. Who, in the course of having given up office and living at leisure, has gained such an honor as this, with his grade raised and his seat lifted? This fine and uncommon kindness has begun with you, sir.
I consider respectfully that Your Excellency the Academician holds an outstanding purpose, and your vessel and capacity are broad and deep. In writing of the brush you are Jang Ji (張芝) reborn; in composition you have the great hand of the Duke of Yan (燕國公). You rose early to manifest and important posts, and your name and praise stood tall. With the leather girdle about your waist you had already taken on the dress of one of the ranked ministers (列卿), and having presided over the examination hall you had already passed through the duty of a presiding master (座主).
When you withdrew and came to live at leisure, you were on the contrary harried by a poor household. Your glory of former days was like waking from the one dream at Handan (邯鄲), and the living of your remaining years was rather like the lane of Yan Hui (顔回), often empty. There was none among those who knew you who did not sigh together and pity you.
But for one who has heaped up goodness the happy events do not cease, and for one who has planted virtue the blessings increase. And in truth you have received again the name of being drawn into service, and have suddenly been chosen for a high and shining seat. The office of Master of the Carriage (奉車) is of consequence, and the Academician's seat is pure. It is truly the ground on which Your Enlightened Self shall live long, and likewise the sign that the sons and grandsons who continue your line shall flourish.
Those of us who have presumed to receive your regard before this all exhaust their glad hearts. Your stipend passes a hundred measures (鍾) — how should it be a happy event for your lofty house alone? If each year you steep the wine of nine brewings, such as we shall be steeped in it together. The sincerity with which we clap our hands and leap cannot be unfolded fully in words. And so forth.