鐔津文集 9.25

9.25

月日沙門某。謹伏揖獻書于參政侍郎閣下。某聞昔者李膺以名儒為天下風教所繫。然其望既高。天下之士不可得而輒交。乃目其門曰龍門。今天下之士指閣下之門。猶龍門也。而閣下之門難升。又過於李膺矣。閣下文章絕出。探經術辨治亂評人物。是是非非必公必當。而天下之士欲遊閣下之門者。非有此德焉敢俯仰乎閣下之前。不惟不敢事其俯仰。亦恐其望風結舌而不敢蹈閣下之閫閾者多矣。若某者山林幽鄙之人。無狀今以其書奏之天子。因而得幸下風。閣下不即斥去。引之與語溫然。乃以其讀書為文而見問。此特大君子與人為善。誘之欲其至之耳。其放浪世外務以愚自全。所謂文章經術辨治亂評人物。固非其所能也。適乃得踐閣下之門辱閣下雅問。顧平生慚愧何以副閣下之見待耶。然其自山林來輒欲以山林之說投下執事者。願資閣下大政之餘。游思於清閒之域。又其山林無事。得治夫性命之說。復并以其性命之書。進其山林之說。有曰新撰武林山志一卷。其性命之書有曰輔教編印者一部三冊。謹隨贄獻塵黷高明。罪無所逃。皇懼之至。不宣。某謹白。

On [such] month and day, the śramaṇa [Qisong] respectfully bows and presents this letter to Your Excellency, the Vice Grand Councillor and Vice Minister. I have heard that in ancient times, Li Ying, as a renowned Confucian, was one upon whom the realm's moral customs depended. Yet because his prestige was so high, the scholars of the realm could not easily associate with him, and thus regarded his gate as the 'Dragon Gate'. Today, the scholars of the realm point to Your Excellency's gate as just such a Dragon Gate, and the difficulty of ascending Your Excellency's gate surpasses even that of Li Ying. Your Excellency's literary writings are peerless; you probe the classical arts, discern order from chaos, and assess historical figures, ever upholding fairness and rectitude in determining right from wrong. Unless scholars of the realm possess such virtue, how could they dare conduct themselves before Your Excellency? Not only would they not dare conduct themselves before you, but I fear many gaze from afar with tied tongues, not daring to cross Your Excellency's threshold. As for someone like me, an obscure and rustic dweller of mountains and forests, unworthy though I am, having presented my books to the Son of Heaven, I was fortunate to find myself in your presence. Your Excellency did not immediately dismiss me, but warmly drew me into conversation, even inquiring about my reading and writing. This was purely a great gentleman treating others with kindness, guiding me in the hope that I might attain something. Wandering outside the world, my goal has been merely to preserve myself in foolishness; such things as literary composition, classical studies, discerning order from chaos, and assessing figures are certainly beyond my ability. Having just crossed Your Excellency's threshold and received your gracious inquiries, I look back on my life with shame, wondering how I could ever measure up to the way Your Excellency received me. Yet having come from the mountains and forests, I venture to present rustic discourses from the mountains and forests to your attendants, hoping that in your leisure from grand state affairs, Your Excellency might let your thoughts wander in a realm of pure serenity. Furthermore, having had no worldly entanglements in the mountains, I was able to study the doctrines of nature and destiny; thus, together with these discourses of the mountains and forests, I present books on nature and destiny. The discourse on the mountains and forests is titled 'Newly Compiled Gazetteer of Mount Wulin' in one fascicle; the book on nature and destiny is titled 'Fujiao bian', a printed copy in one set of three volumes. I respectfully present them as tributary gifts, thereby defiling your lofty brilliance. My offense is inescapable, and my apprehension is boundless. Respectfully submitted.