佛祖歷代通載 13.41

13.41

（二十九）　九月。太子詹事嚴挺之卒。少有風操累登顯用。皆著聲績。天下引領望其為相。帝亦知其賢。欲遂相之。晚為李林甫所抑。欝欝不得逞至是預為墓誌曰。天寶元年挺之自絳州刺史抗疏陳乞。天恩允從許養疾歸間。兼授太子詹事。前後歷三十五官。每承聖恩常忝獎擢。不盡驅策駑蹇。何階仰答鴻造。春秋七十無所展用。為上士所悲。其年九月寢疾于洛陽之私第。以某月某日葬于大照和上塔次之西禮也。盡忠事君叨載國史。勉拙從事或布人謠。陵谷可以自紀。文章焉用為飾。初挺之師事大照禪師惠義。深明釋典。及遺葬大照塔次。示不忘其德。見舊唐史。

[29] In the ninth month, Yan Tingzhi, Supervisor of the Household of the Crown Prince, died. In his youth, he had a distinguished demeanor and repeatedly held prominent positions, achieving renown and merit in all of them. The realm craned their necks hoping he would become Chancellor. The Emperor also knew his worth and intended to make him Chancellor. Later in life, he was suppressed by Li Linfu and held back with grievances, unable to fulfill his ambitions. At this point, he wrote his own epitaph beforehand, stating: 'In the first year of Tianbao, Tingzhi, as Prefect of Jiangzhou, submitted a memorial requesting retirement. The imperial grace granted permission, allowing him to nourish his illness and return to leisure, while concurrently conferring upon him the office of Supervisor of the Household of the Crown Prince. In all, I held thirty-five offices throughout my career. Whenever receiving imperial favor, I was always unworthy of the promotion. Never having exerted my full strength like an inferior steed, on what basis could I look up and repay the immense creation? At the age of seventy, with nothing further to accomplish, I am pitied by noble gentlemen. In the ninth month of this year, I fell ill in my private residence in Luoyang, and on such-and-such month and day, I was buried to the west of the stūpa of Upādhyāya Dazhao, which was in accordance with propriety. Having served the sovereign with utter loyalty, I am undeservedly recorded in the national history. Having exerted my humble efforts in affairs, rumors may spread among the people. The shifting of hills and valleys can serve as my own record; what need is there for fine literary embellishment?' Originally, Tingzhi had studied under Chan Master Dazhao, Huiyi, and deeply understood the Buddhist scriptures. Being buried beside Dazhao's stūpa according to his testament showed that he did not forget his virtue. See the Old Book of Tang.