鐔津文集 10.62

10.62

某啟。不披伍來。倐越旬日春氣尚淺景色猶寒。惟體中無恙否。近緣禪關不固習氣寧忘因得斯謬妄。蓋適性而已。豈敢風雅可與哉。然拙人用鎪不若智人揮钁。況足下才力有餘。可能為我一鋤。勿使傍觀揜口胡盧而笑。

I state: Since parting from your presence, more than ten days have swiftly passed. The spring air is still shallow, and the scenery remains cold. Are you well in body? Recently, because my Chan barrier was not firm and my habit-energies were hard to forget, I produced these erroneous compositions. They merely served to suit my nature; how could I dare think they could join the elegance of poetry? Yet an clumsy man using an engraver's knife is not as good as a wise man wielding a hoe. Moreover, you have talent and strength to spare; could you perhaps give them a hoeing for me, so that onlookers will not cover their mouths and burst into laughter?