Sacrificial address offered to King Gangjong祭康宗大王文
云云。嗚呼哀哉。安安之德。克邁唐高。則高之享壽宜可較。翼翼之心。有過周文。則文之受命想可期。何奄捐萬乘之尊。而未保千年之祚。豈今之異古。善莫有徵者耶。嗟予不良。爲子無狀。方出居於別館。暫違問於寢門。豈謂斯時已嬰于疾。忽然棄世。間不容毫。所以手未親進藥之勤。耳不聞憑几之命。嗟嗟此恨。永永奚終。人誰無喪考之悲。世孰有如予之痛。鶴駕來迎兮。曾不少假。龍髥永斷兮。曷其更攀。日掩九霄。天崩萬國。眞也妄也。夢也覺也。吾猶未知。號之泣之。思之慕之。肯可得見。徒抱無窮之思。聊斟不腆之觴。許以允歆。慰予摧裂。
And so forth.
Alas, how sad. Your ease and tranquillity of virtue surpassed Gaozu (高祖) of the Tang, so that it was fit to be matched with the span of years that Gaozu enjoyed. Your heart of care and caution was finer than that of King Wen (文王) of the Zhou, so that we thought even King Wen's receiving of Heaven's mandate might be counted upon. How is it that you suddenly left the high seat of ten thousand chariots and did not keep the blessing of a thousand years? Can it be that the present differs from the past, and that goodness has no proof in it?
Alas, I am not worthy, and my part as a son was a poor thing. I happened to be out at a detached palace, and for a little while I omitted my greeting at the bedchamber gate. How was I to know that by then you had already fallen ill and would suddenly leave the world, with no room between for even a single hair? And so I could not fulfill with my own hands the devotion of presenting your medicine, nor hear with my own ears the words you left as you leaned on your armrest.
Alas, this regret is long and long; how shall it ever end? Among men, who is without the grief of losing a father? Yet who in the world has a pain such as mine? The crane carriage came to fetch you and gave not the least reprieve; the dragon's whiskers are severed forever, and how shall I take hold of them again?
The sun is hidden in the sky ninety thousand leagues away, and the heavens have fallen upon the whole country. Whether it is true or false, a dream or waking, I do not know even now. Though I cry out and weep and yearn and long, can I see you? Holding only this endless longing, I merely pour a poor cup. Partake of it, I beg, and console my heart that is tearing apart.
Interlinear notes 2
主上行翰林所製
Written on behalf of the king. It was composed in the Hallim Academy.
The base text has 克邁唐高. Since 安安 comes from the Canon of Yao in the Book of Documents, 唐 could also be read as Dotang (陶唐), that is, the sage ruler Yao; but since what follows directly is 周文, which pairs as dynasty plus ruler, it has been read as Gaozu of the Tang. — Translator