鐔津文集 13.20

13.20

周叔智名測。九江潯陽人也。少聰悟讀書能強記。自六籍楊孟。洎司馬氏史漢老莊列禦寇之說與吾佛經。歷目則往往通之。商較古今援引故事。動有典據。嘗駭坐人。率皆伏其高論。為文學易繫辭。奇峭頗工恥於奔競。造次不移其守。故名不籍甚。朋游屢以其家貧親老勗之。逾四十始以茂才異等舉。尋斥於有司歸鄉曲。務以其道訓導後進。江州風俗剽輕其人寡能莊整。叔智侃然處於鄉黨。而後學小生不敢恣放。去年孟夏得叔智之子明服書。且聞叔智以癸未孟秋死矣。嗚呼吾嘗與叔智友。凡議論不以道相契。未始發其言。交道之中正。自謂古人不至如是也。及來吳越不相見已六七年。日夕浩然。思歸潯陽。慕永遠（一作惠遠）宗炳劉遺民之風。同叔智相與老於林下。逮此信吾事不果濟也。嗚呼交道之已矣乎。哀其人不復見矣。故辭之以揚其德也。辭曰。

Zhou Shuzhi, named Ce, was a native of Xunyang in Jiujiang. In his youth he was intelligent and perceptive, able to read and memorize with great strength. From the Six Classics, Yang Xiong, and Mencius, to Sima Qian's Shiji, the Hanshu, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Lie Yukou's treatises, and our Buddhist sutras, once they passed before his eyes, he generally comprehended them. In assessing the past and present and citing precedents, his statements were always grounded in classical authority. He often astonished those seated with him, all of whom yielded to his lofty discourses. For his literary style, he took the 'Appended Statements' of the Classic of Changes; it was strikingly crisp and quite refined. He was ashamed to compete for advancement, and even in moments of haste did not compromise his integrity; thus his fame was not widespread. His friends repeatedly urged him to strive forward on account of his family's poverty and his aging parents. Only after passing forty did he sit for the examination for 'abundant talent and extraordinary distinction'; soon dismissed by the officials, he returned to his home district. He devoted himself to instructing younger scholars with his Way. The local customs of Jiangzhou were frivolous and rash, with few people able to maintain gravity and composure; Shuzhi lived forthrightly among his fellow villagers, so the younger students did not dare act insolently. In the fourth month of last year, I received a letter from Shuzhi's son Mingfu, and learned that Shuzhi had died in the seventh month of the guizao year. Alas! I was once a friend of Shuzhi. Whenever we debated, if we did not accord in the Way, he never uttered a word. In the uprightness of our friendship, I considered that even the ancients could not surpass this. Since coming to Wu-Yue, we had not seen each other for six or seven years. Day and night, with surging longing, I thought of returning to Xunyang, admiring the demeanor of Huiyuan, Zong Bing, and Liu Yimin, to grow old together with Shuzhi beneath the forest. Now this news arrives, and my wish has come to naught. Alas, is our friendship ended thus? Mourning that this man will never be seen again, I therefore composed an elegy to make known his virtue. The elegy says: