Memorial from Im Yeongnyeong (任永齡), Director of the Palace Library (祕書監), declining the command to resume office while in mourning任祕監永齡。讓起復表。
云云。慈顔永閟。猶鐘號慕之情。渙汗俯加。遽辱殊尤之命。所難勉受。輒敢冒陳。伏念臣早失父嚴。獨依母愛。洪惟鞠養。何以報其劬勞。奈迫官司。尙未專於定省。積玆罪釁。遭此閔凶。雖云百日之周。尙爾一心之痛。幾於滅性。誓以終身。何泥檢之批詞。俾墨纕而從事。披胸訴懇。瀝血求辭。伏望聖上陛下。曲諒愚衷。特紆大度。許其遂服。使跂及於通喪。移以爲忠。猶得申於後效。云云。
And so forth. My mother's face is closed away for good, and still the feeling that cries out and longs for her gathers in me. Yet a great command has come bending down, and suddenly I have unworthily received an uncommon charge. Hard put to take it up with any strength, I presume at once to make bold and speak.
Prostrate, I consider that your servant early lost his stern father and leaned upon his mother's love alone. With what could I repay the toil of the grace that reared me great? Yet driven by the business of office, I could not give myself wholly even to the morning and evening greeting. Such faults piled up, and I met with this sorrowful bereavement.
Though the hundredth day has come round, still the pain of my single heart is as it was, and near to harming my very life; and so I swear to keep the mourning to the end of my body. Why then, with the word of a sealed rescript, would you have my mourning garb dyed black and set me to attend to affairs? Baring my breast I plead with all earnestness, and pouring out blood I beg leave to decline.
Prostrate I hope that Your Majesty the Holy Sovereign will look down and weigh this foolish inward heart, and letting down especially a great measure, will allow me to finish the mourning garb and so reach the three years' mourning. As for turning that heart into loyalty, it may yet be unfolded as merit in the days to come. And so forth.
Interlinear notes 1
中謝。
Here the words of thanks (中謝) are inserted.