To Chief Minister Zheng Tian — the second鄭畋相公 第二
1On his giving up the chancellorship and going into the mountains
伏承太保相公累陳章表。懇讓勻衡。暫輟任於股肱。果優賢於羽翼。緇衣纘美。靑綬加榮。守難進易退之規。叶居安慮危之道。莫不宸扆欽矚。搢紳詠歌。而況相公比者統冠甸侯。深攻國賊。唱義聲而飛羽徼。管爵賞而練甲兵。方驅破浪之風。佇滅燎原之火。而乃腹心有疾。牙爪無功。何君子之見欺。實小人難養。然而災爲福始。小往大來。再秉洪勻。遠安仙蹕。調鼎中之實味。運堂上之奇謀。決勝漢籌。弭災魏闕。皆憑蕭丞相指蹤之力。豈假鮑尙書統集之兵。咸推第一之功。能贊登三之業。今則奉身有裕。止足無虧。將尋疏傅之高蹤。乃訪留侯之故事。用黃石公之妙略。蔚爲帝師。從赤松子之勝遊。別作仙侶。雖云獨樂。其奈衆情。氛曀餘妖。方願靜銷於天下。陶鎔重望。豈宜久滯於山中。必計才返鸞旌。請歸鳳闕。永使蜩螗罷噪。仍令鹿馬分形。深荷眷私。況聯親懿。依攀禱望。可鑒遠誠。拜賀末由。悚戀增切云云。
I learn that the Grand Guardian, the Chief Minister, has sent up memorials again and again and has earnestly declined the scales of state, that he lays down for a time the office of the ruler's right hand, that the court has indeed favored a worthy man among its wings, that the black robe carries on its beauty and the blue cord adds to his glory. He keeps the rule of one who comes forward with difficulty and withdraws with ease, and he matches the way of one who thinks of danger while he dwells in safety. The imperial throne regards him with respect and the officers of the court sing of him. There is none who does not. Still more so since the Chief Minister of late led the lords of the capital region and struck deep at the bandits of the state, since he raised the cry of righteousness and flew his feathered summons abroad, since he took charge of ranks and rewards and drilled armor and arms, since he was about to drive on the wind that breaks the waves and waited to put out the fire that burns the plain. Yet the men he held closest turned sick at heart, and the fighting men who were his fang and claw did nothing. How bitterly a gentleman has been deceived! It is that small men are truly hard to keep. Even so, disaster is the beginning of fortune, and the small goes and the great comes. He holds the great scales again, and brings peace from afar to the imperial progress. He seasons the true flavors within the cauldron and works marvelous plans upon the hall. He settled the victory with the counting rods of Han and stopped disaster at the towers of Wei. All this leaned upon the strength of Chancellor Xiao, who pointed out the trail. What need was there to borrow the soldiers that Minister Bao gathered and led? All push him forward as first in merit, and he can aid the work of climbing to rank with the Three. Now he has enough to keep his person, and nothing is lacking to his knowing where to stop and be content. He will seek the high traces of Tutor Shu, and he will look into the old story of the Marquis of Liu. He will use the subtle strategy of the Lord of Yellow Stone and stand out as Teacher to the Emperor, and he will follow the fine wanderings of Master Red Pine and make himself a companion of immortals. Though he says that he takes his joy alone, what of the feeling of the many? The evils left over from these baleful mists, I wish them dissolved in quiet throughout the world. A repute so weighty and so well shaped, how should it stay long in the mountains? I reckon that as soon as the phoenix banners return he will be asked to come back to the phoenix gates, so that the shrilling of the cicadas may cease for good, and the deer and the horse may be kept apart in form. I have deeply received his private regard, and we are joined besides by kinship. What I lean upon, pray for, and hope may let him see my distant sincerity. I have no way to bow and offer my congratulations, and my awe and my longing grow the keener, and so on.