Using Again the Rhymes of the Poem I Sent Earlier, Sent to the Monastic Superintendent復用前所寄詩韻。寄其僧統。
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 · 4 passages · 128 Chinese characters · reading time 1.4 min
Dongguk Isangguk Jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of the Eastern Country) Latter Collection, Book 5 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.
Of late I have met with a want like the running out of provisions in Chen (陳) — how much less could I come by wine to drink? As I sat alone with nothing to do, you suddenly came with wine and consoled me, and my stifled heart melted away like ice.
Unable to contain my engraved gratitude, I use again the rhymes we exchanged earlier and send this up, to thank you in some ten-thousandth part.
Interlinear notes 1
幷序
With a preface attached
2First Poem
徐觀世狀漸陵夷。宰相酸寒更莫疑。此事似非誰的信。由公天眼炤先知。
Looking slowly at the state of the world, it crumbles bit by bit;
do not doubt again that a minister can be poor and desolate.
Such a thing is hardly to be expected — who would truly believe it?
It is only that your heavenly eye (天眼) shone on it and knew beforehand.
3Second Poem
邇來除却定中觀。獨坐無聊度日難。何事能知遮箇態。肯携芳醞特相看。
These days, once I come out of meditation and stop my contemplation,
I sit alone with nothing to do and can hardly pass the day.
By what means did you learn of such a state,
and come looking for me on purpose, carrying fragrant wine?
Interlinear notes 1
近誦楞嚴。
Of late I have been reciting the Śūraṃgama Sūtra.
4Third Poem
適我盃中酒涸時。一樽相訪叙暌離。始知大度寬容意。莩薄親因尙不遺。
Just at the time when the wine in my cup had run dry,
you came with a jar of it, and we unwound the longing of our parting.
Only now do I understand what it means to embrace generously with a great measure:
even the bond of a thin acquaintance you still do not cast away.