Yetgeul › Dongguk Isangguk Jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of the Eastern Country) › Latter Collection, Book 1

Matching the Rhymes of Libationer Jeon (田祭酒)次韻田祭酒

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 · 2 passages · 98 Chinese characters · reading time 1 min

Dongguk Isangguk Jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of the Eastern Country) Latter Collection, Book 1 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.

予於去歲春場放牓後。開賀筵。李君需於座上作賀詩。明日學士和一首來贈。予以久病未和。今方依韻奉寄。

In the spring of last year, after the list of successful candidates was posted, I opened a feast of congratulation. Yi Su (李需) composed a poem of congratulation at that gathering, and the next day the Academician sent a poem in reply. Being long ill, I could not answer; only now do I follow his rhymes and respectfully send this.

Interlinear notes 2

甫龍幷序

His given name is Boryong (甫龍). A preface is attached as well.

李君需 — the base text has 李君需, but it is punctuated as 李君 需 and read as an honorific way of naming Yi Su (李需). Vice Minister Yi Su appears elsewhere in this book (dg-0001, dg-1630, dg-2153, dg-2181, dg-2302). ― Translator

彤墀唱牓萃朝英。第一聞公玉振聲。算我身更四座主。榮君口放一門生。春知敞宴留花艶。天爲迎賓賜日晴。華衮見褒雖可感。掄才吾豈較衡平。

At the vermilion steps, when the list was called, the court's finest were gathered, and at the very head of it I heard your voice ring like jade. Reckoning it up, I have four times been a presiding examiner, and to my honor your own lips called forth one disciple of my gate. Spring, knowing a feast was to be spread, kept the blossoms in their beauty, and Heaven, for the welcoming of guests, granted a clear day. To be praised as though robed in the king's own embroidery moves me, but in the choosing of talent, how could I claim to have weighed like a balance?

Interlinear notes 4

公首唱牓。

You were the first to call out the list.

予掌試凡四度。

I have presided over the examinations four times in all.

是日朝大雨。至迎賓時晴。

Heavy rain fell that morning, but by the time the guests were welcomed it had cleared.

來詩。衡鏡掄才奏邇英。

The poem he sent said, "With balance and mirror he chooses men of talent and reports to the Hall of Approaching Excellence (邇英殿)."