鐔津文集 10.12

10.12

So-and-so, holding the official rank [stated above], presents this letter to Editorial Director Lord Ma: You have favored me with the preface and inscription on the Solitary Prominence Stone; its diction is remarkably talented and unrestrained, and its meaning lofty and succinct, as if you accomplished the composition in a single stroke of the brush without straining your thoughts. Yet this is fit to give voice to the magnificent virtues and great deeds of sages; how could an idle object like a mountain stone be worthy of such beauty? Having held and cherished it all day, admiring it, I reflect that as an incapable person, how could I reciprocate your profound condescension? My submission begins here. The stone and the mountain had both been drowned in the desolate wilderness for I know not how many thousands or hundreds of years; only recently did a curious person bring it to light. The rocks of Nanping are mostly extraordinary, but this stone is uniquely extraordinary. That mountain has been known to the world for several decades, yet the Solitary Prominence Stone was mixed in indistinguishably with the myriad stones. Was its singular and ancient excellence unrecognizable to the common sort, perhaps awaiting your true appreciation and exquisite appraisal to be discerned? Once you, sir, indeed brought it forth with your writing, the report spread among people; within a few days, sightseers coming to seek the stone have appeared everywhere. Thus the Solitary Prominence Stone encountered you, sir, and rather than remaining hidden, it became manifest. From this I am moved to reflect on how many people from ancient times to the present have harbored extraordinary and exceptional qualities only to end up submerged and discarded in the weeds, not even faring as well as this stone! Even if such a person embraces rare talent and insight, without a soulmate who understands him, he merely drifts up and down among the vulgar; if by chance he encounters scholars, he may count it a blessing if he merely avoids their jealousy and slander, so how could he dare hope that they would promote him with weighty words? Alas, many in the world take no joy in speaking of others' good qualities! If you, sir, do not cast aside the beauty of a single object, but still praise it to the world in literary words, truly your magnanimity exceeds that of ordinary people a hundred or a thousandfold. Were you to attain a position in the imperial court and extend this mind to men, then which of the scholars submerged among the vulgar throughout the world would not be able to exert their talents and careers? And your virtue would be all the more glorious than it is today. I have heard that in ancient times there were Shun and Yanzi, who were most capable of acknowledging goodness in others; therefore later generations have praised their sagely and worthy character without cessation, even for ten thousand generations. If you, sir, truly advance resolutely like this without stopping, I will see the world praise your worthiness and virtue, overflowing across the four seas without end. I have also composed an ancient-style poem on the Solitary Prominence Stone to humbly offer to your lofty intention; its verses are commonplace and inferior, and I feel utterly ashamed. I do not elaborate further. So-and-so respectfully states this.