Memorial declining the posts of Grand Master for Court Discussion, Libationer of the National Academy, and Academician Expositor-in-waiting of the Hallim讓朝議大夫國子祭酒翰林侍講學士表
云云。望峻賢關。尤重師儒之任。職親內署。莫高學士之榮。惟其人而敢當。非若臣之得處。聞命隕越。撫躬震惶。性本憃愚。識非該博。學雖篤志。未免爲章句穿鑿之儒。才不適時。安敢備朝廷器使之用。端逢盛際。驟躡淸資。四年待制於書筵。十載代言於誥院。凡閱文章之高選。大過夙心。訖微翰墨之片能。仰裨神化。敢圖異眷。又採虛名。特除壁水訓導之司。申以銀臺講讀之地。雖欲冒受。得無愧容。況躐衆超躋。懼涉積薪之議。故叫閽自訴。期還出綍之言。伏望聖上陛下俯諒愚誠。追收渙號。自邇臣而精簡。至寒士而旁搜。則國不乏人。有副上心之虛佇。臣能安分。免遭物論之喧騰。云云。
And so forth. The repute of the gate that rears worthy men being high, the charge of the scholar who becomes their teacher is the weightier; and the office being close to the inner palace bureaus, there is nothing higher than an academician's glory. Only a fitting man can bear it, and it is no place for one such as your servant. Hearing the command I am as though I should fall, and stroking my person I tremble in fear.
My nature is of itself foolish, and my knowledge is not broad all round. Though in learning I made my purpose thick, I did not escape becoming a scholar who forces his way through phrases; and my talent does not suit the times, so how should I dare be fit for the use to which the court puts a man according to his vessel?
It happened that I met a flourishing age and suddenly trod a pure post. Four years I was Expectant Official at the book lectures (書筵), and ten years in the bureau of rescripts I spoke in the sovereign's stead. That I have passed at all through high posts to which men are chosen for their writing goes far beyond the mind I held from the first; yet with not a fragment of talent in brush and ink have I looked up and aided your wondrous governance.
Should I have dared to reckon that by an extraordinary regard you would besides pick out an empty name, bestowing especially the bureau that teaches and leads at the Moat of Learning (壁水), and giving again the place that expounds and reads at the Silver Terrace (銀臺)? Though I would brave it and receive it, can I be without a face of shame? How much more, having risen by leaping over the many, I fear to fall under the talk that one who came later is set above. Therefore I knock at the gate and plead my own case, looking for the withdrawal of the words you have sent down.
Prostrate I hope that Your Sage Majesty will bend down and reckon this foolish sincerity and withdraw the great command, choosing with precision from among the near officials and searching widely even among poor scholars. Then men will not be wanting to the state, which will suit the mind that waits above with the place kept empty; and your servant, at ease in his measure, will not meet the clamour of the many raising their talk. And so forth.
Interlinear notes 1
中謝。
Here the words of thanks (中謝) are inserted.