鐔津文集 10.16

10.16

具位某。奉書祕校正仲足下。近有客自藥肆中傳到七月所惠書一通。發讀若與正仲風度相接。甚慰所懷也。然以我常為往來者之稱道所以特相推高。此似未嘗有也。吾佛氏者又其德不足聞達。默於山林而時所不齒。固其宜矣。何足云云。而正仲之賢。足以大自樹立。而尚孜孜以不得志劘切為憂。如此。則何慮其道德不至耶。昔樂正子為政。而孟子喜之。謂其人好善。將有輕千里而以其善來告之者也。正仲好善之意比於樂正子。豈直千里來告乎。宜資於天下善人可矣。此雖屈彼邑幸且勉之。其道將有所張之也。所謂文集。此雖近成一書僅五千言。蓋發明吾道。以正仲方專儒。恐未遑于此。不敢輒通。秋杪如成嘉祐集。當首請於下執事者。未相見間幸倍保衛。不宣。

I, [Qisong], holder of official rank, present this letter to Secretary Zhengzhong. Recently a traveler came from a pharmacy bearing the letter you favored me with in the seventh month. Opening and reading it was as if encountering your presence and refinement, which greatly comforted my heart. Yet that you specially exalt me because people who come and go often praise me seems something I have never deserved. As a Buddhist, moreover, my virtue is insufficient to be heard and renowned; remaining silent in the mountains and forests while being disregarded by the times is indeed fitting. What is there worth discussing? Yet your virtue, Zhengzhong, is sufficient to establish yourself greatly, and nonetheless you still laboriously worry over not attaining your aims and being tempered by adversity. If you are like this, why worry that your Dao and virtue will not be perfected? Long ago, when Yuezhengzi took charge of the government, Mencius rejoiced, saying that he was a man who loved goodness, and that those who made light of traveling a thousand li would come to tell him of what is good. Your inclination toward goodness, Zhengzhong, matches that of Yuezhengzi—how could it only be that people would come a thousand li to inform you? It will suffice to draw support from all good men under Heaven. Although you are humbled in that town for now, pray press forward for the present; your Way will surely find expansion. As for the collection of writings: although I recently completed a single book of barely five thousand words, its purpose is to elucidate our Way. Since you are just now devoted exclusively to Confucianism, I feared you would not have leisure for this, so I dared not send it lightly. At the end of autumn, if the Jiayou ji is completed, I shall certainly present it first to your staff. Before we meet, please take double care of yourself. Respectfully submitted.