Rescript Not Allowing Son Deukji (孫得之), Magistrate of Gyeyang, to Decline the Command to Return to Office while in Mourning桂陽守孫得之讓起復不允批答
云云。夫人子之欲終喪制。固其情也禮也。宜若不可奪之。然仲尼所以制墨縗從事者。蓋亦順變適宜。而非必薄於親者也。汝早擢龍頭。榮參鷺序。忠義之誠貫乎日。遠不忘君。孝敬之性資諸天。勤於事母。頃從西掖。出守南州。方興有袴之歌。遽致枕苫之患。坐移流景。已踰百日之期。宜假吉儀。往徇一方之愛。夫何泥古而守志。不欲割愛而從權。況桂陽。殘邑也。頻遭歲儉。民有菜色。非若爾之廉平。孰能撫吾疲民哉。雖以情陳。固難頷肯。云云。
And so forth.
Now that a son should wish to see out the full term of mourning is truly his feeling and truly the rite, and it would seem it ought not to be taken from him. Yet the reason Zhongni (仲尼) laid it down that one should put on the black mourning robe and go forward to business was that he followed the change and fitted it to what was proper; it was not that he must needs be sparing toward a parent.
You were early chosen as first in the examinations and gloriously took part in the ranks of office. The sincerity of your loyalty and righteousness pierced the sun, so that far away you did not forget your sovereign; and the nature of your filial piety and reverence you received from Heaven, so that you were diligent in serving your mother. Of late you came out from the Chancellery and guarded a district in the south. The song of the people praising your government was just about to rise when of a sudden you met the sorrow of lying with a straw mat for a pillow.
Sitting still you have let the flowing seasons pass and have already gone beyond the term of a hundred days; you ought to borrow the auspicious dress, go, and follow the love of a whole district. Why be mired in the old and keep only to your own purpose, unwilling to cut off your love and follow what the time requires?
How much more when Gyeyang is a worn-out district, meeting bad harvests again and again, so that there is a famished look upon the faces of the people. If it be not one honest and fair like you, who shall soothe my weary people? Though you set forth your feeling, truly it is hard to give my nod.
And so forth.
Interlinear notes 1
The base text has 「方興有袴之歌」. The phrase comes from the Song of the Five Pairs of Trousers (五袴歌), which the people are said to sing in praise of a magistrate's good government. — Translator