鐔津文集 10.16

10.16

I, [Qisong], holder of official rank, present this letter to Secretary Zhengzhong. Recently a traveler came from a pharmacy bearing the letter you favored me with in the seventh month. Opening and reading it was as if encountering your presence and refinement, which greatly comforted my heart. Yet that you specially exalt me because people who come and go often praise me seems something I have never deserved. As a Buddhist, moreover, my virtue is insufficient to be heard and renowned; remaining silent in the mountains and forests while being disregarded by the times is indeed fitting. What is there worth discussing? Yet your virtue, Zhengzhong, is sufficient to establish yourself greatly, and nonetheless you still laboriously worry over not attaining your aims and being tempered by adversity. If you are like this, why worry that your Dao and virtue will not be perfected? Long ago, when Yuezhengzi took charge of the government, Mencius rejoiced, saying that he was a man who loved goodness, and that those who made light of traveling a thousand li would come to tell him of what is good. Your inclination toward goodness, Zhengzhong, matches that of Yuezhengzi—how could it only be that people would come a thousand li to inform you? It will suffice to draw support from all good men under Heaven. Although you are humbled in that town for now, pray press forward for the present; your Way will surely find expansion. As for the collection of writings: although I recently completed a single book of barely five thousand words, its purpose is to elucidate our Way. Since you are just now devoted exclusively to Confucianism, I feared you would not have leisure for this, so I dared not send it lightly. At the end of autumn, if the Jiayou ji is completed, I shall certainly present it first to your staff. Before we meet, please take double care of yourself. Respectfully submitted.