Dispatch for the Haotian Abbey of the capital上覩昊天觀
1The Daoist of the Blue Ox becomes for a time an immortal officer of the lower world
牒大德。眞璞混成。靈源廣潤。淘俗態於心水。瑩仙姿於面氷。蓬島神仙。應待銜杯之樂。茅家兄弟。敢攀執袂之遊。猶思救苦於寰中。尙阻追歡於物外。屬以陣蛇出穴。戎馬生郊。每勤齋敬之心。深假護持之力。達聖聰而有謂。施醮禮以無虧。今則秦嶺煙昏。難尋四老。楚淮月皎。幸伴八公。但以桂苑繁華。楊都壯麗。旣見星壇月殿處處荒摧。難期鶴駕霓旌時時降會。欲設精嚴之備。須資揚統之權。白馬將軍方設大朝之元帥。靑牛道士暫充下界之仙官。比年旣遂於攀留。他日必同於輕擧。事須請充淮南管內威儀兼指揮諸宮觀庄田等務。
A dispatch to the Great Virtue. His true jade in the rough was formed whole, and his numinous source spreads wide and enriches. He washes the common manner away in the water of his mind, and makes the immortal's form shine in the ice of his face. The immortals of Penglai must be waiting for the pleasure of holding the cup with him, and the Mao brothers dare to take up the outing where they grasp his sleeve. Still he thinks of saving men from suffering within the world, and so he is kept from pursuing joy beyond all things. The snake of the battle line came out of its hole, and war horses were foaled in the suburbs. Always he has been diligent in a heart of fasting and reverence, and has deeply lent the strength of his guarding and upholding. He has had words that reached the sage ruler's ear, and he has performed the rite of offering without fault. Now the mist is dark over the Qin Range, and the Four Elders are hard to seek. The moon is bright over Chu and the Huai, and happily he keeps company with the Eight Sires. But the Cassia Garden is lush and Yangdu is grand. Already the star altars and moon halls are seen fallen to ruin in place after place, and it is hard to expect that crane carriages and rainbow banners will come down and gather from time to time. To set out a provision pure and strict, one must draw upon the authority that raises up command. The General of the White Horse now serves as marshal of the great court, so the Daoist of the Blue Ox shall for a time fill the post of immortal officer of the lower world. In recent years he has already been held back and kept here, and in days to come he will surely rise lightly with them. This matter must be a request that he fill the office of ritual master within the Huainan command, and take charge as well of the several palaces and abbeys and their estates.
Interlinear notes 2
聲讚大德。賜紫謝遵符。充淮南管內成儀指揮諸宮觀制置。
The Great Virtue Shengzan, Xie Zunfu, who was granted the purple, is appointed ritual master within the Huainan command, with charge over the several palaces and abbeys.
The base text's interlinear note has 成儀, but it is taken as the same office name as 威儀 in the main text. — translator