鐔津文集 11.40

11.40

感之以父喪罷官。即錢唐僦屋而居三年。雖無擔石之儲泊如也。未嘗踵權豪之門以聲其窮。接交游以誠不以其才。故與其交故士大夫而下逮閭巷之人。識與不識皆賢其為人。然此未足為知感之者也。夫行已自信其道不妄與人辯者。至于窮達不踰其節義。此亦君子之常道耳。蓋流俗輕悍不能守之。宜其歸美於感之耶。如感之仁義出於其天性。讀書為學識度明遠。論古今禮樂刑政。指其當否無有不是者。使其得志行于一州一邑以至天下國家。必能政教惠百姓令人無怨望。豈止自信而固窮為賢耶。蒙與感之相知為最深。嘗慨無力以張之。今春服闕復調官京師。蒙亦將返廬阜。惜其為別且遠。因作詩以散眷戀之思云。

Ganzhi, having relinquished his post due to his father's death, rented a house in Qiantang and lived there for three years; though he lacked even a meager store of grain, he remained placid and contented. He never called at the gates of the powerful and influential to advertise his destitution. He associated with friends on the basis of sincerity rather than talent; therefore, among those with whom he associated, from former scholar-officials down to common folk of the alleys, both those who knew him and those who did not regarded his conduct as worthy. Yet this is not enough to truly know Ganzhi. To act with self-confidence in one's Way and not argue recklessly with others, and not to compromise one's integrity and righteousness whether in destitution or success—this is merely the ordinary way of the gentleman. It is only because the common crowd is superficial and impetuous, incapable of maintaining it, that they naturally ascribe excellence to Ganzhi. In Ganzhi, humaneness and righteousness issue from his natural endowment; his reading and study give him profound and far-reaching insight; when he discusses ancient and modern rites, music, punishments, and administration, pointing out their appropriateness or inadequacy, he is never anything but correct. Were he to achieve his ambitions and practice them in a prefecture, in a county, or even in the state and the entire world, he would surely be able to benefit the hundred families with governance and education so that people would have no resentment or discontent. How could he be considered worthy merely because he is confident in himself and steadfast in poverty? I understand Ganzhi most deeply, and have often lamented that I lacked the power to promote him. This spring, his mourning period being completed, he goes again to the capital for appointment; I, too, am about to return to Mount Lu. Regretting our parting and the distance that will separate us, I have composed a poem to dispel my feelings of lingering affection, which runs: