Rescript Not Allowing Choe Jungyeom (崔俊謙) to Decline the Office of Acting Great General of the Thousand Oxen Guard崔俊謙讓千牛衛攝大將軍不允批答
云云。虎之猛。憑爪牙之利。宅之固。因垣籬之防。王者之有國亦爾。能得果毅之士。寄大將之任。以捍禦非常。則何爪牙垣籬之足導哉。汝體貌魁梧。風神勁邁。早作千夫之長。望重山西。備經百戰之場。功高塞北。遇人也實恂恂長者。臨難也眞烈烈丈夫。入率巖郞。久陪禁仗。朕寢賴而安寧。行宮晏然淸溢。是惟努力宿衛之效。時乃操心謹愿之由。且積其勞而久於職。則士無以激情。知其功而嗇於賞。則人誰不解。體。宜加優等。用答膚公。肆宣出綍之恩。爰講登壇之典。朕尙慊然若不足也。汝何疑而欲勿受耶。云云。
And so forth.
The tiger's ferocity leans upon the sharpness of claw and fang, and a house's firmness comes of the barring of wall and hedge; and so it is with a sovereign's holding of a state. If he gets a scholar bold and firm, commits to him the charge of Great General, and has him ward off what comes unlooked for, what need is there to speak of claw and fang, of wall and hedge?
You are large and stout of frame, and firm and outstanding in bearing and spirit. Early you became chief over a thousand men, and your name weighed heavy west of the mountains; you passed through a hundred battlefields, and your merit stood high north of the border. In meeting men you are truly a reverent elder; in facing hardship you are truly a fierce man.
Coming within, you led the soldiers who guard the palace gates and long attended the state escort of the court. I leaned upon my pillow at ease and the travelling palace was quiet and clear; this was the fruit of your diligent guarding alone, and came of a mind careful and compliant.
Moreover, if his toil be heaped up and he yet be kept long in one place, a scholar has no way to rouse his heart; and if his merit be known and reward be grudged, who would not have his heart scattered? It is right to add an ample grade and so repay great merit.
Therefore I spread the favour of handing down the command and set forth the law of raising a man upon the platform. I count it still too little; why then do you doubt and refuse to receive it?
And so forth.
Interlinear notes 2
一作嚴郞。
Some copies read 「Eomrang (嚴郞)」.
失一句。
One phrase is missing.