To Minister Pei Zan of the Ministry of Personnel吏部裵瓚尙書
1On his coming out of the mountains to take charge of appointments
伏承榮膺寵命。伏惟感慰。竊以勛華聖代。唯務擧能。邵泰賢流。共推取實。用捨旣歸於重柄。古今皆託於長材。人望所諧。主恩斯在。尙書情疏宦路。性悅道風。月高而霜鶴數聲。雲卷而蓮峯萬仞。早知厄運。久避囂氛。洋川之瑞草仙花。幾牽蝶夢。閬苑之朝嵐暮靄。深潤豹姿。然而陶勻難住於山中。塗炭待平於天下。遂辭肥遯。來謁宸遊。果登銓管之司。允洽簪纓之望。昔年掌貢搜。海嶽以皆空。今日掄材。酌淄澠而不混。淸通所莅。淆亂必除。歷居六郡之峻資。終補三台之缺位。遠祈邇禱。匪夕伊朝。某早仰仙標。遙欽懿範。抃慰瞻望。不任下情云云
He has received a favored command in honor, and I bow low in thanks and gladness. I humbly consider that in the sage age of Yao and Shun the only care was to raise up the able, and that the worthy company of Shao and Tai all pressed to take what was solid. Use and dismissal already rest with the weighty handle of power, and all times have entrusted them to men of outstanding talent. Where the hopes of men agree, there the ruler's kindness lies. The Minister's feeling is distant from the road of office, and his nature delights in the manner of the Way. When the moon is high, the frosted crane calls a few times; when the clouds roll back, the lotus peak stands ten thousand fathoms. He knew the hard turn of fortune early and long avoided the noisy air. The lucky grasses and the immortal flowers of Yangchuan drew his butterfly dream more than once, and the morning haze and the evening mist of Langyuan soaked deep into his leopard form. Yet one who molds and shapes can hardly stay in the mountains, and those in mire and fire wait for peace over all under heaven. So he gave up his rich retreat and came to attend the imperial progress. He has indeed risen to the office that holds the scales of appointment, and he truly satisfies the hopes of those who wear the cap pin and the tassel. In a former year he took charge of the search for candidates, and the sea and the mountains were left empty. Today he picks out men of talent, and he tastes the Zi and the Sheng and does not confuse them. Where a clear and open man takes his seat, muddle and disorder must be swept away. He will pass through the lofty ranks of the six commanderies and at last fill the empty seat among the Three Terraces. Far off men pray for it and near at hand they beg for it, and it will come not in an evening but in a morning. I looked up early to his immortal bearing and honored his fine example from afar. I clap and take comfort and gaze toward him, and I cannot bear the feeling of one below, and so on.
Interlinear notes 1
The graph in the received text is 六郡, "six commanderies," and it is kept as it stands. Since the man addressed is Minister of Personnel, it is also read as 六部, "the six ministries." — tr.