鐔津文集 12.23

12.23

余在故鄉時。亡友道士馬知章出端溪硯為贈。及遊四方硯且俱行。于今十有四年矣。知章不幸早死。嗚呼知章為人有信義。好學問耿潔。務持高節。未果其志而天奪之壽。視硯往往想見其人。故持之而未嘗棄置。是歲康定紀元之季冬也。為之銘曰。

When I was in my native place, my deceased friend, the Daoist Ma Zhizhang, brought out a Duanxi inkstone to present to me as a gift. When I traveled through the four quarters, the inkstone went with me; it has been fourteen years now. Zhizhang unfortunately died young. Alas! Zhizhang as a person was trustworthy and righteous, fond of learning, upright and pure, dedicated to upholding lofty integrity. Before his aspirations were realized, Heaven robbed him of his lifespan. Looking at the inkstone, I often seem to see the man; therefore I have kept it and never discarded it. This is the final month of winter in the first year of the Kangding reign [early 1041]. I compose an inscription for it, saying: