Memorial thanking for being given the posts of Grand Master of the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, Manager of Affairs of the Chancellery, Minister of Revenue, and Grand Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies同前謝表
云云。器盈則傾。乞避論思之位。汗出不返。申加慰藉之詞。祗服訓書。唯知感涕。伏念臣受資褊狷。臨事迂疏。所自業者文章。猶未擅彫龍之手。矧不閑於軍旅。何嘗有汗馬之功。環顧一身。略無片效。旣不適方圓之用。又莫斟進退之機。晚涉末寮。已甘微分。豈謂尫殘之物。得遭明聖之朝。凡荷遷除。輒超資級。故立登於要路。得徑到於巍階。方佩銀章。光拜鴻樞之寵。遽腰金印。超參鳳閣之遊。坐席未溫。頭銜忽改。況學士之稱大。本書生之所高。顧有何能。獲叨玆選。此蓋云云。求善如不及。用人取所長。至令疲曳之軀。與沐殊尤之命。臣敢不夙夜匪懈。夷險勿渝。蕞爾之材。雖棟梁之莫中。確然之志。與金石以不移。云云。
And so forth. Since a vessel that is full tips over, I begged to be excused from the place of deliberation and thought; but you said that sweat once shed does not come back, and added words of consolation again. Reverently bearing and receiving your letter of instruction, I know only how to be moved and to let the tears fall.
Prostrate I consider that your servant is by birth narrow and hasty, and in facing affairs is loose and sparse. Though what I made my own business was letters, I still have not shown the craft of carving dragons; how much less am I practised in military affairs — what merit should I have of sweating a horse? Looking myself over, there is hardly a fragment of achievement. I neither suit the uses of the square or the round, nor can I reckon the chances of going forward or drawing back. Late I set foot in an office at the last place, and had already held my lowly measure sweet.
How should a wasted and worn-out thing have thought to meet an enlightened and holy court? Every time I bore a transfer, each time I skipped a grade. Thus, standing where I was, I rose to an essential road and came by a short cut to a high stair. I was just then wearing a silver seal and bowing in splendour to receive the grace of the Privy Council, when suddenly I bore a golden seal at my waist and by a leap took part in the roaming of the Phoenix Pavilion (鳳閣). Before the seat I sat on had grown warm, my office-name was suddenly changed.
How much more, the title of academician is a great one and is of itself what scholars who read books hold in honour; yet looking back, what talent have I, that I should presumptuously receive this selection?
This is, in the main, and so forth. You seek good men as though you could never reach them, and in using men you take what is better in them; and so you have let even a weary and dragging body bathe in an extraordinary command.
Shall your servant not dare to be unslackening from early dawn until night, and unchanging whether the road be level or steep? Though a petty timber does not suit pillar and beam, this firm purpose alone will not change, being as iron and stone. And so forth.
Interlinear notes 1
中謝。
Here the words of thanks (中謝) are inserted.