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 · 115 Chinese characters · reading time 1.1 min
Dongguk Isangguk Jip (Collected Works of Minister Yi of the Eastern Country) Latter Collection, Book 9 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.
1Preface
昨蒙相國枉顧蓬門。以悤悤廻轡。未得從容攀話。不無遺恨。因得詩三首奉寄云。
Yesterday Your Excellency stooped to call at my gate of mugwort, but you turned your reins away in such haste that I could not hold you and talk at my ease, and there was no little regret left in me. So I have got three poems and send them up to you.
Interlinear notes 1
幷序
Including the preface.
2First Poem
從來宰相是天星。過我閑門分外榮。但恨怱怱廻玉轡。未容片刻話平生。
From of old the chief minister is a star of heaven
That you passed by my idle gate is glory beyond my station
Only this I regret — that in haste you turned your jade reins
And would not spare me a moment's talk of a lifetime
3Second Poem
病中加又眼昏昏。燕服輕迎國相尊。顔巷雖窮猶有酒。廻車不許與開樽。
In sickness, and my eyes gone dim besides
In plain clothes I lightly met the Minister of State
Poor as the lane of Yanzi (顔子), I still had wine
But you turned your carriage and would not let us open the jar together
4Third Poem
先公門下玷門人。更荷恩私異等倫。二十九人皆鬼錄。願公憐我尙存身。
In the school of your late father (先公) I was a blot among his disciples
And again I received his private kindness beyond my fellows
Twenty-nine men are all on the register of ghosts
I beg Your Excellency to pity me, whose body yet remains
Interlinear notes 1
先公別待我
Minister Im's father treated me beyond my fellows.