釋鑑稽古略續集 2.54

2.54

上咨宿學之士於宋濂。對曰。會稽郭傳雖寄跡浮屠。誠一代奇才也。上頷之濂以其文進。上召見俾日侍左右以備顧問。傳清白一心。凡可以獻替者咸無隱情。擢為翰林應舉。陞起居注遷考功丞　劉基甘露頌稱。洪武四年十月。甘露降於鍾山沾潤草木。瑩若凝脂。五年十一月又降。今年春及十一月仍降如初。帝德應大。禎祚屢應。

The Emperor inquired about seasoned scholars from Song Lian, who replied, 'Although Guo Chuan of Kuaiji has lodged his traces in the Buddhist fold, he is truly an extraordinary talent of a generation.' The Emperor nodded. Song Lian presented his writings; the Emperor summoned him to an audience and had him attend at his side daily to serve as a consultant. Chuan was incorruptible and single-minded; wherever he could offer counsel or propose changes, he held back nothing. He was promoted to be a Hanlin Erudite for Imperial Examinations, elevated to Diarist of the Imperial Activity and Repose, and transferred to Assistant in the Bureau of Evaluations. In his Ganlu song (Ode on Sweet Dew), Liu Ji stated: In the tenth month of the fourth year of Hongwu [1371], sweet dew descended upon Mount Zhong, moistening the grasses and trees, lustrous like congealed fat. In the eleventh month of the fifth year it descended again. In the spring and eleventh month of the present year, it still descended as before. The imperial virtue responds to greatness; auspicious blessings repeatedly respond.