Third memorial on the same matter三度同前表
云云。桑楡暮景。乞收耄矣之軀。綸綍優詞。申降溫然之諭。所難稟受。敢復籲號。伏念臣本無施廈之才。濫側秉鈞之地。虛蒙眷渥。訖寂勞能。雖拂暗思明而欲答奬知。若負重致遠而幾至顚踣。方朝廷之謀帥。斂鋒縮氣而莫當。及寵祿之萃身。過器溢涯而不止。已極鼎台之上級。復兼臺閣之劇權。叨榮已多。受謗不少。曾未引年而退。其爲愧也尙深。況當告老之期。又可頑然自處。上章猶晚。下勅不兪。聖度至寬。雖若天容而未忍遽棄。衆口難杜。焉得戶到而使皆坦知。設迫承君命而留焉。必有指臣顔而笑者。伏望聖上陛下。俯循微懇。俾就閑居。游泳聖辰。作太平之逸老。逍遙晚境。盡餘樂於平生。云云。
And so forth. Being a body like the late sun caught in the mulberry and the elm, I begged that my old body be gathered in; and with a rescript of ample words you sent down a warm charge once again. Hard put to take it up, I dare to cry out again.
Prostrate, I consider that your servant, having from the first no talent for raising a great hall, presumed to be counted in the place that holds the balance. In vain was I visited with thick regard, and in the end there was neither labor nor merit. Though I shook off my darkness and thought upon brightness, wishing to answer the grace of being known, in bearing a heavy load and meaning to go far I came near to falling.
When generals were planned for in court I drew in my blade and shrank in my vigor and could not bear it; and when favor and stipend came gathering upon me, they passed the measure of my vessel and ran over the brim without stopping. Already I was at the utmost of the upper seat of a minister, and then I held besides the weighty authority of the Censorate (臺閣). The glory I presumed upon was much already, and the slander I received not little. I did not plead my years and withdraw in good time, and the shame of it is deep indeed.
How much more, coming to the time for declaring my old age, could I stubbornly stay on of myself? My sending up the writing was late as it was, and the edict you sent down did not consent. Your holy measure is generous to the utmost, embracing me as heaven does, and you cannot bear to cast me off all at once; yet the mouths of the many are hard to stop, and how should one reach every house and make all see clearly? Even if, driven by the sovereign's command, I were to stay, there would surely be those who point at your servant's face and laugh.
Prostrate I hope that Your Majesty the Holy Sovereign will bend down and follow this small entreaty, letting me live at leisure. Swimming and roaming in a holy age, I would become an old man at ease in a world at peace; and strolling in my late years, I would use up what joy remains of a lifetime.
Interlinear notes 1
中謝。
Here the words of thanks (中謝) are inserted.