Memorial of Lord Geum (琴公), Director of the Palace Library, declining the post of Academician Reader-in-waiting of the Hallim琴祕監。讓翰林侍讀學士表。
云云。爵以寵臣。蓋生眷愛。人不稱職。祗速顚隮。撫躬靡寧。敷衽自訴。竊以翰林地密。學士資崇。況復參講讀之筵。尤難應奉。苟不負該通之學。曷易承當。如臣者。濫巾儒林。附贅仕路。文詞鄙朴。慙非縟鳳之華。學問荒唐。又乏癡龍之辨。端逢盛際。驟擢淸班。顧瘝曠之實多。方譴訶之是畏。敢圖豐眷。過錄虛名。遽加芝檢之優詞。俾玷花甎之高選。自代言於詔誥。爲愧已多。更備問於燕閑。偸榮莫甚。雖欲勉強而冒處。其如謗讟之交騰。伏望聖上陛下。諒臣本出於至誠。知臣實懼於非據。追收渙號。更擇異才。不惟愚分之獲安。固亦物情之歸允。臣無任云云。
And so forth. That Your Majesty favours a servant with rank comes, in sum, from a heart that regards and loves him; but if the man does not match the charge, it only calls down his overturning. Stroking my person I am not at ease, and so I open my collar and plead for myself.
Quietly I consider that the Hallim is a post of secrecy and the academician a grade that is high. How much more to take part besides in the seat of lecturing on and reading the texts — that is the harder to answer to in service; truly, if a man has not a learning that is wide and through, how should he take it up lightly?
One such as your servant wears a scholar's cap at random among the company of scholars and clings like a wen to the course of office. My writing is mean and plain, and I am ashamed that it has not the splendour of the finely figured phoenix; my learning is coarse and empty, and falls short even of the dull dragon's discernment. Meeting by chance a flourishing age, I was suddenly chosen into the pure ranks; but looking back, my faults in leaving the seat empty are indeed many, and I now go in fear of reproof.
How should I have dared to think that by your ample regard you would set down my empty name beyond measure? All at once you have added the ample words of a splendid rescript and let me sully the high selection of the Hallim Academy. From the drafting of rescripts and patents on Your Majesty's behalf there is already much to be ashamed of; and now, in a leisured post, I am to answer your questions in full — the stealing of glory can be no worse than this. Though I would force myself and brave it out and stay, what is to be done about the slanderous talk that rises in confusion?
Prostrate I hope that Your Sage Majesty will weigh that your servant's words come from the first out of his utmost sincerity, and know that your servant truly fears a seat beyond his station, and withdraw the command already issued and choose instead a talent of rare parts. Not only will a foolish station gain its ease; truly the hearts of the multitude too will hold it fitting. Your servant cannot contain, and so forth.
Interlinear notes 2
中謝。
Here the words of thanks (中謝) are inserted.
花甎之高選 — 花甎 (the flower-figured paving tile) is the sobriquet of the Hallim Academy (翰林院). — Translator