釋門自鏡錄 1.83

1.83

慧休字茂遠。俗姓湯。住長干寺。流宕倜儻嗜酒好色。輕釋侶慕俗意秉筆造牘。文辭斐然。非直黑衣吞音。亦是世上杜口。於是名譽頓上才鋒挺出。清艶之美有逾古歌。流轉入東。皆良詠紙貴賞歎絕倫。自以微賤不欲罷道。當時有清賢勝流。皆共賞愛之。至宋世祖孝武始勅令還俗。補楊州文學從事。意氣既高。甚有慚愧。會出補勾容令。不得意而卒。出沈約宋書。

Huixiu, courtesy name Maoyuan, had the secular surname Tang and lived at Changgan Monastery. He was reckless and unrestrained, fond of wine and lust. Disdaining the monastic assembly and yearning for worldly ways, he took up the brush to compose writings, and his literary phrasing was resplendent. Not only did those in black robes swallow their voices, but worldly people also held their tongues. Thereupon his fame rose suddenly and his talent stood out sharply; the elegance and beauty of his works surpassed ancient songs. When they circulated to the east, they were all considered fine verses that made paper expensive, admired beyond compare. Considering himself of humble status, he did not wish to renounce the monastic path. At that time, men of pure virtue and eminent talent all admired and cherished him. When Emperor Xiaowu, Sejo of Song, took the throne, he first decreed that Huixiu return to lay life and appointed him as Attendant Officer of Literature in Yangzhou. His spirits having already been high, he felt great shame. It happened that he was sent out to serve as Magistrate of Jurong, where he died disappointed. This comes from Shen Yue's *Book of Song*.