Letter of Congratulation Presented to the Marquis of Yeonchang at the New Year正旦賀狀 上延昌侯
Dongguk Isangguk Jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of the Eastern Country) 東國李相國集 · Yi Gyubo · Compiled 1241 (Goryeo, 28th year of King Gojong); revised and enlarged 1251 · 1 passages · 76 Chinese characters · reading time 0.9 min
Dongguk Isangguk Jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of the Eastern Country) Former Collection, Book 32 The collected writings of Yi Gyubo of Goryeo, gathered and cut in woodblock by his son Yi Ham in 1241 and revised and enlarged by his grandson Yi Ikbae in 1251. It holds poems and rhapsodies, memorials and reports sent up to the king, records written for temples and pagodas, stele and tomb inscriptions, letters and prefaces, and the state letters that passed to and from the Mongols during the invasions. The Lay of King Dongmyeong, which sings the founder of Goguryeo, stands in volume 3 of the first collection, and the daily life of a man who called himself the White Cloud Layman — with his wine, his zither and his verse — fills the later collection. The book closes with the last poem he wrote as his eyes failed and he laid down the brush, and with the dirge and tomb inscription others made for him after his death.
The warp of heaven turns to the left, and the cord of the first day runs to the right. We think of Your greeting the auspicious signs upon the orchid hill and pouring cups of pepper wine to offer up long life.
In reverence I consider that Your Highness, my Lord (令公), is nobly joined to the royal house and weighty in repute at the cords of the state. The thoughts You have heaped up are deep and deep, and You long ago surpassed the wit that weighed an elephant by hanging it from a boat; Your bearing is frugal, and You take no delight in the amusements of the pond where wild geese play. Meeting the upright morning thickly, You receive pure blessing in great measure.
We, in reverent keeping of the business entrusted to the district hall, cannot attend upon Your amusements at the mansion.