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列傳第十
Biographies 10
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謝弘微
Xie Hongwei
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谢密，字弘微，晋西中郎万之曾孙、尚书左僕射景仁从子也。 祖韶，车骑司马。 父思，武昌太守。
Xie Mi, courtesy name Hongwei, was great-grandson of Wan, Western General of the Household under Jin, and nephew of Jingren, Vice Director of the Left Masters of Writing. His grandfather Shao served as Cavalry Commandant. His father Si held office as Administrator of Wuchang.
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弘微年十歲，繼從叔峻，名犯所繼內諱，故以字行。 童幼時精神端審，時然後言。 所繼叔父混名知人，見而異之，謂思曰：「此兒深中夙敏，方成佳器，有子如此足矣。」 峻司空琰子也，於弘微本服緦，親戚中表，素不相識，率意承接，皆合禮衷。
At ten, Hongwei was adopted by his father's younger cousin Jun; since his personal name clashed with the taboo name of his adoptive kin, he made himself known by his courtesy name instead. Even as a child he was composed and earnest, and spoke only when the moment called for it. His adoptive uncle Hun, renowned for reading character, saw him and marveled; he told Si, "This child carries deep native wit and early brilliance; he will become a vessel of worth. To have such a son is enough. Jun was the son of Yan, Minister of Works; to Hongwei he had been no more than a distant cousin in the coarsest mourning grade, and among affinal and maternal kin he had never met, yet he received each one as instinct prompted, and every response fell within the heart of ritual.
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義熙初，襲爵建昌縣侯。 弘微家素貧儉，而所繼豐泰，唯受數千卷書，國吏數人而已，遺財祿秩，一不關預。 混聞而驚歎，謂國郎中令漆凱之曰：「建昌國祿本應與北舍共之，國侯既不厝意，今可依常分送。 弘微重違混言，乃少有所受。 北舍，弘微本家也。
In the early Yixi era he inherited the title Marquis of Jianchang County. Hongwei's birth family had always lived plainly, while the estate he inherited was lavish; he took only a few thousand scrolls of books and a handful of estate officers, and would not touch a coin of the inherited income or rank. When Hun heard of this he sighed in astonishment and told the estate's Chief Clerk Qi Kaizhi, "The Jianchang fief income should be shared with the northern house; since the marquis wants none of it, send the usual share as before. Unwilling to defy Hun outright, Hongwei accepted only a modest portion. The northern house was Hongwei's birth family.
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混風格高峻，少所交納，唯與族子靈運、瞻、晦、曜、弘微以文義賞會，常共宴處，居在烏衣巷，故謂之烏衣之遊。 混詩所言：「昔為烏衣游，戚戚皆親姓。」 者也。 其外雖復高流時譽，莫敢造門。 瞻等才辭辯富，弘微每以約言服之，混特所敬貴，號曰微子。 謂瞻等曰：「汝諸人雖才義豐辯，未必皆愜眾心，至於領會機賞，言約理要，故當與我共推微子。 常言：「阿遠剛躁負氣，阿客博而無檢，曜仗才而持操不篤，晦自知而納善不周。 設復功濟三才，終亦以此為恨。 至如微子，吾無間然」。 又言：「微子異不傷物，同不害正，若年造六十，必至公輔」。 嘗因酣燕之余，為韻語以獎勸靈運、瞻等曰：「康樂誕通度，實有名家韻，若加繩染功，剖瑩乃瓊瑾。 宣明體遠識，穎達且沈俊，若能去方執，穆穆三才順。 阿多標獨解，弱冠纂華胤，質勝誡無文，其尚又能峻。 通遠懷清悟，采采摽蘭訊，直轡鮮不躓，抑用解偏吝。 微子基微尚，無倦由慕藺，勿輕一簣少，進往必千仞。 數子勉之哉，風流由爾振。 如不犯所知，此外無所慎。」 靈運、瞻等並有誡厲之言，唯弘微獨盡褒美。 曜，弘微兄，多其小字。 通遠即瞻字。 客兒，靈運小名也。 晉世名家身有國封者，起家多拜員外散騎侍郎，弘微亦拜員外散騎侍郎、琅邪王大司馬參軍。
Hun's bearing was lofty and austere, and he admitted few companions; only with his kinsmen Lingyun, Zhan, Hui, Yao, and Hongwei did he gather for literary conversation, often feasting together in Wuyi Lane—hence the name the Wuyi fellowship. This is what Hun meant in his poem: "Once we roamed Wuyi Lane, kin all close at hand. —so the line goes. However celebrated the eminent men of the day, none ventured to call at his door. Zhan and the others were gifted and eloquent, yet Hongwei always subdued them with spare speech; Hun held him in special esteem and styled him Master Wei. He told Zhan and the others, "You may be rich in talent and fluent in debate, yet not all of you win every heart; when it comes to reading the moment and weighing merit in few words and to the point, you should join me in holding up Master Wei. He often said, "A Yuan is brash and proud, A Ke is learned but undisciplined, Yao has talent yet lacks constancy, and Hui knows himself yet does not fully embrace what is good. Even were their deeds to equal the Three Talents, they would still rue these faults in the end. As for Master Wei, I find no fault in him." He also said, "Master Wei stands apart without wounding others and joins in without compromising principle; should he live to sixty, he will surely reach the highest offices." Once, after wine had loosened the mood, he composed rhymed verses to exhort Lingyun, Zhan, and the rest: "Kangle was born with a patrician air, truly the measure of a great clan; add the polish of the final dye, and split the stone to reveal jade. Xuanming's mind reaches far, keen yet deep and refined; if he can cast off stubbornness, heaven, earth, and man will move in harmony. A Duo stands apart in insight, at twenty inheriting a splendid line; where substance outruns ornament one must guard against roughness, yet his aims can still be stern. Tongyuan holds to lucid insight, gathering orchid tidings again and again; the straight rein seldom avoids a stumble—check it, and petty reluctance will loosen. Master Wei rests on modest aims, untiring because he emulates Lin; do not despise one basket's shortfall, for the climb ahead must reach a thousand fathoms. Strive on, all of you—the age's refinement will be renewed through you. So long as you give no offense to those who know you, nothing else need be feared." Lingyun, Zhan, and the others all received words of warning; Hongwei alone was praised without reserve. Yao was Hongwei's elder brother; Duo was his childhood name. Tongyuan was Zhan's courtesy name. Ke'er was Lingyun's childhood name. Under Jin, scions of great houses with state fiefs usually entered service as Supernumerary Gentleman Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry; Hongwei received the same appointment and became Staff Officer to the Grand Marshal of the Prince of Langye.
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義熙八年，混以劉毅黨見誅，混妻晉陵公主改適琅邪王練。 公主雖執意不行，而詔與謝氏離絕。 公主以混家事委之弘微。 混仍世宰相，一門兩封，田業十餘處，僮役千人，唯有二女，年並數歲。 弘微經紀生業，事若在公，一錢尺帛出入，皆有文簿。 宋武受命，晉陵公主降封東鄉君。 以混得罪前代，東鄉君節義可嘉，聽還謝氏。 自混亡至是九年，而室宇修整，倉廩充盈，門徒不異平日。 田疇墾辟，有加於舊。 東鄉君歎曰：「僕射生平重此子，可謂知人，僕射為不亡矣。」 中外姻親、道俗義舊見東鄉之歸者，入門莫不歎息，或為流涕，感弘微之義也。
In the eighth year of Yixi, Hun was executed as an ally of Liu Yi; Hun's wife, the Princess of Jinling, was ordered to remarry Prince Lian of Langye. Though the princess steadfastly refused, an edict cut her ties to the Xie house. The princess placed the Hun household in Hongwei's hands. The Hun line had produced chancellors for generations; one household held two fiefs, more than ten estates, and a thousand servants and retainers, with only two daughters, each still only a few years old. Hongwei managed the estate as if it were public office; every coin and every foot of cloth that passed in or out went into written ledgers. When Emperor Wu of Song took the throne, the Princess of Jinling was reduced in rank to Lady of Dongxiang. Though Hun had been condemned under the previous dynasty, Lady Dongxiang's constancy was judged worthy, and she was allowed to rejoin the Xie house. Nine years had passed since Hun's death, yet the halls stood in good repair, the granaries were full, and the household staff looked no different from ordinary days. The fields had been cleared and brought under the plow, surpassing what they had been before. Lady Dongxiang sighed and said, "In life the Vice Director prized this boy; he truly knew men—the Vice Director lives on in him. Kinsmen near and far, monks and old friends who had known Lady Dongxiang—everyone who saw her return sighed at the threshold, some in tears, stirred by Hongwei's devotion.
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性嚴正，舉止必循禮度，事繼親之黨，恭謹過常。 伯叔二母，歸宗兩姑，晨夕瞻奉，盡其誠敬。 內外或傳語通訊，輒正其衣冠。 婢僕之前，不妄言笑。 由是尊卑大小，敬之若神。 時有蔡湛之者，及見謝安兄弟，謂人曰：「弘微貌類中郎，而性似文靖。」
He was stern and upright by nature, measured his every move by ritual, and toward his adoptive kin showed a deference beyond ordinary duty. Two paternal aunts by marriage and two aunts returned to their natal house—morning and evening he waited on them with complete devotion. Whether within the household or when messages came from outside, he would set his cap and robes in order. Before maids and servants he never spoke or laughed casually. For this reason everyone in the household, high and low, revered him as though he were sacred. There was a man named Cai Zhizhi; after seeing the Xie An brothers he said to others, "Hongwei's face recalls the Middle Commander, but his character recalls Wenjing."
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居身清約，器服不華，而飲食滋味盡其豐美。 兄曜曆御史中丞，彭城王義康驃騎長史，卒官。 弘微哀戚過禮，服雖除猶不噉魚肉。 沙門釋慧琳嘗與之食，見其猶蔬素，謂曰：「檀越素既多疾，即吉猶未復膳。 若以無益傷生，豈所望於得理。」 弘微曰：「衣冠之變，禮不可踰，在心之哀，實未能已。」 遂廢食歔欷不自勝。
He lived plainly and without display; his utensils and dress were never showy, yet his table held every delicacy. His elder brother Yao rose to Imperial Censor and Chief Clerk to the Cavalry General of Prince Kang of Pengcheng, and died in office. Hongwei mourned beyond what ritual required; even after the mourning period ended he still abstained from fish and meat. The monk Huilin once shared a meal with him; seeing him still on plain fare he said, "Lay patron, you have long been frail; even now that mourning is ended you have not returned to a proper diet. If you injure your health to no good end, that can hardly be what reason demands. Hongwei replied, "The change of cap and robe—ritual cannot be breached; the sorrow in my heart truly cannot yet be stilled." Then he put aside his food and wept until he could not contain himself.
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弘微少孤，事兄如父。 友睦之至，舉世莫及。 口不言人短，見兄曜好臧否人物，每聞之，常亂以他語。 歷位中庶子，加侍中。 志在素宦，畏忌權寵，固讓不拜，乃聽解中庶子。 每獻替及陳事，必手書焚草，人莫之知。 上以弘微能膳羞，每就求食，弘微與親舊經營。 及進之後，親人問上所禦，弘微不答，別以餘語酬之，時人比之漢世孔光。
Orphaned young, Hongwei served his elder brother as he would a father. In brotherly affection he had no equal under heaven. He never spoke of others' faults; when he saw his brother Yao delight in passing judgment on people, he would break in with another subject. He rose through the posts to Palace Companion and was further made Attendant-in-Ordinary. He sought only modest office, feared power and favor, firmly declined appointment, and was allowed to resign as Palace Companion. Whenever he remonstrated or submitted memorials, he wrote in his own hand and burned the draft, so no one ever knew. Knowing Hongwei could prepare fine dishes, the Emperor often came to request a meal; Hongwei would arrange them with kin and old friends. After the Emperor had eaten, when kin asked what dishes had been served, Hongwei would not answer and turned the talk elsewhere; contemporaries compared him to Kong Guang of Han.
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及東鄉君薨，遺財千萬，園宅十餘所，又會稽、吳興、琅邪諸處太傅安、司空琰時事業，奴僮猶數百人，公私咸謂室內資財宜歸二女，田宅僮僕應屬弘微，弘微一不取。 自以私祿營葬。 混女夫殷叡素好摴蒱，聞弘微不取財物，乃濫奪其妻妹及伯母兩姑之分以還戲責，內人皆化弘微之讓，一無所爭。 弘微舅子領軍將軍劉湛謂弘微曰：「天下事宜有裁衷，卿此不問，何以居官？」 弘微笑而不答。 或有譏以「謝氏累世財產，充殷君一朝戲責，譬棄物江海以為廉耳」。 弘微曰：「親戚爭財，為鄙之甚，今內人尚能無言，豈可導之使爭。 今分多共少，不至有乏，身死之後，豈復見關。」
When Lady Dongxiang died, the estate held ten million in wealth, more than ten gardens and mansions, and the enterprises Grand Tutor An and Minister of Works Yan had held in Kuaiji, Wuxing, and Langye, with several hundred slaves and servants still on the rolls; everyone agreed movable property should go to the two daughters and land, houses, and retainers to Hongwei—Hongwei took nothing. He covered the burial costs from his own salary. Hun's son-in-law Yin Rui was devoted to dice; learning Hongwei would accept no property, he seized his wife's younger sister's portion and the shares of the two paternal aunts to settle gambling debts; the women of the household, following Hongwei's example of yielding, raised no dispute. Hongwei's nephew by marriage, General of the Guards Liu Zhan, said to him, "Public affairs need measured judgment; if you refuse to intervene here, how can you hold office? Hongwei smiled and made no reply. Some mocked him: "Wealth the Xie clan had built over generations was lost in a day to Lord Yin's gambling debts—as if throwing property into river and sea were the same as integrity." Hongwei said, "For kin to wrangle over wealth is the depth of vulgarity; the women of the house remain silent—how could I teach them to quarrel? Whether the shares are large or small, none will go wanting; once I am dead, what further concern can there be?"
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東鄉君葬，混墓開，弘微牽疾臨赴，病遂甚。 元嘉十年卒，年四十二。 文帝嘆惜甚至，謂謝景仁曰：「謝弘微、王曇首年踰四十，名位未盡其才，此朕之責也。」
At Lady Dongxiang's burial Hun's tomb was opened; Hongwei dragged himself there despite illness, and his condition worsened sharply. In the tenth year of Yuanjia he died at forty-two. Emperor Wen mourned him deeply and told Xie Jingren, "Xie Hongwei and Wang Tanshou were past forty, yet rank and title never matched their gifts—that fault is mine."
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弘微性寬博，無喜慍。 末年嘗與友人棋，友人西南棋有死勢，復一客曰：「西南風急，或有覆舟者。」 友悟乃救之。 弘微大怒，投局於地。 識者知其暮年之事，果以此歲終。 時有一長鬼寄司馬文宣家，言被遣殺弘微。 弘微疾每劇，輒豫告文宣。 及弘微死，與文宣分別而去。
Hongwei was broad-minded and even-tempered, showing neither joy nor anger. Late in life he once played weiqi with a friend; the friend's southwest cluster was doomed, and another guest said, "The southwest wind is rising—someone may capsize. The friend caught the hint and saved the position. Hongwei flared in anger and hurled the board to the floor. Those who knew him saw that his end was near; he did die that same year. At the time a tall ghost possessed the house of Sima Wenxuan, claiming it had been dispatched to kill Hongwei. Whenever Hongwei's illness worsened, the ghost warned Wenxuan beforehand. When Hongwei died, it bade Wenxuan farewell and left.
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弘微臨終語左右曰：「有二摎書，須劉領軍至，可於前燒之，慎勿開也。」 書是文帝手敕，上甚痛惜之。 使二衛千人營畢葬事，追贈太常。
On his deathbed Hongwei told his attendants, "There are two sealed letters; when General Liu comes, burn them in his presence—do not open them. The letters bore Emperor Wen's own hand; the Emperor mourned them bitterly. He dispatched a thousand men of the Two Guards to finish the burial and posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Master of Ceremonies.
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弘微與琅邪王惠、王球並以簡淡稱，人謂沈約曰：「王惠何如？」 約曰：「令明簡。」 次問王球，約曰：「蒨玉淡。」 又次問弘微，約曰：「簡而不失，淡而不流，古之所謂名臣，弘微當之。」 其見美如此。 子莊。
Hongwei, with Wang Hui and Wang Qiu of Langye, was famed for plain detachment; when people asked Shen Yue, "What of Wang Hui? Yue said, "Lingming is spare." Asked next about Wang Qiu, Yue said, "Qianyu is coolly detached." Asked about Hongwei, Yue said, "Spare without losing substance, detached without losing hold—the sort of minister the ancients praised; Hongwei is that man." Such was the esteem in which he was held. His son was Zhuang.
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莊字希逸，七歲能屬文，及長，韶令美容儀，宋文帝見而異之，謂尚書僕射殷景仁、領軍將軍劉湛曰：「藍田生玉，豈虛也哉。」 為隨王誕後軍諮議，領記室。 分左氏經傳，隨國立篇。 制木方丈，圖山川土地，各有分理。 離之則州郡殊別，合之則宇內為一。
Zhuang, courtesy name Xiyi, could compose prose at seven; grown, he was handsome in bearing; Emperor Wen of Song saw him and marveled, telling Vice Director Yin Jingren and General of the Guards Liu Zhan, "Jade born in Lantian—is the praise empty? He served as Rear Army Adviser to Prince Dan of Sui and headed the secretariat. He divided the Zuo Commentary into sections and established chapters for the Sui principality. He fashioned a wooden square one zhang on a side, charting mountains, rivers, and lands, each in its proper place. Taken apart they showed each province and commandery; joined together they formed the realm within the Four Seas.
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元嘉二十七年，魏攻彭城，遣尚書李孝伯與鎮軍長史張暢語，孝伯訪問莊及王微，其名聲遠布如此。 二十九年，除太子中庶子。 時南平王鑠獻赤鸚鵡，普詔群臣為賦。 太子左衛率袁淑文冠當時，作賦畢示莊。 及見莊賦，歎曰：「江東無我，卿當獨秀，我若無卿，亦一時之傑。」 遂隱其賦。
In Yuanjia twenty-seven, when Wei attacked Pengcheng, the court sent Minister of Writing Li Xiaobo to parley with Chief Clerk Zhang Chang of the Army of the General Who Guards the Army; Xiaobo asked after Zhuang and Wang Wei—their reputations had spread that widely. In the twenty-ninth year he was made Palace Companion. Then Prince Shuo of Nanping presented a scarlet parrot, and an edict ordered the ministers to compose fu. Left Guard Leader of the Heir Apparent Yuan Shu led the age in letters; when he finished his fu he showed it to Zhuang. Reading Zhuang's fu he sighed, "East of the Yangtze, without me you would stand alone; without you I would still be a champion of the age. Then he kept his own fu hidden.
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元凶弑立，轉司徒左長史。 孝武入討，密送檄書與莊，令加改正宣佈之。 莊遣腹心門生具慶奉啟事密詣孝武陳誠。 及帝踐阼，除侍中。 時魏求通互市，上詔群臣博議。 莊議以為拒而觀釁，有足表強。 驃騎竟陵王誕當為荊州，征丞相荊州刺史南郡王義宣入輔，義宣固辭不入，而誕便克日下船。 莊以丞相既無入志，而驃騎發便有期，如似欲相逼切。 帝乃申誕發日，義宣竟亦不下。
When the Crown Prince murdered his father and seized the throne, Zhuang was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Left of the Minister of Works. When Emperor Xiaowu marched to suppress the usurper, he secretly sent a proclamation draft to Zhuang with orders to revise and publish it. Zhuang sent his trusted student Ju Qing with a secret memorial to Xiaowu pledging loyalty. When the Emperor ascended the throne, Zhuang was made Attendant-in-Ordinary. Then Wei requested border markets; the Emperor ordered a broad debate among the ministers. Zhuang argued that refusal while watching for provocation would itself show strength. Cavalry General Prince Dan of Jingling was to take Jing province; the Emperor summoned Chancellor and Jing Inspector Prince Yixuan of Nanjun to enter the capital as aide, but Yixuan firmly refused, while Dan at once fixed a day to embark. Zhuang held that since the Chancellor showed no wish to come in while the Cavalry General's departure was already dated, it looked like deliberate pressure. The Emperor then postponed Dan's departure, and Yixuan in the end never came downriver.
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于時搜才路狹，莊表陳求賢之義曰：
Talent was hard to find then; Zhuang submitted a memorial on seeking the worthy, saying:
20
臣聞功傾魏後，非特照車之珍，德柔秦客，豈徒秘璧之貴。 隆陂所漸，成敗之由，何嘗不興資得才，替因失士。 故楚書以善人為寶，虞典以則哲為難。 而進選之舉既隳中代，登造之律，未聞當今，必欲豐本康務，庇人濟俗，匪更惉懘，奚取九成。 夫才生於時，古今豈貳，士出於世，屯泰焉殊。 升曆中陽，英賢起于徐沛，受籙白水，茂異出於荊宛。 甯二都智之所產，七隩愚之所育，實遇與不遇、用與不用耳。 今大道光亨，萬務俟德，而九服之曠，九流之艱，提鈞懸衡，委之選部。 一人之鑒易限，天下之才難源，以易限之鑒，鏡難源之才，使國罔遺賢，野無滯器，其可得乎？ 昔公叔登臣，管仲升盜，趙文非私親疏嗣，祁奚豈諂讎比子。 茹茅以匯，作範前經，舉爾所知，式昭往牒。 且自古任薦，弘明賞罰，成子舉三哲而身致魏輔，應侯任二士而已捐秦相，臼季稱冀缺而疇以田采，張勃進陳湯而坐之褫爵。 此則先事之盛准，亦後王之彝鑒。 臣謂宜普命大臣，各舉所知，以付尚書依分銓用。 若任得其才，舉主延賞，有不稱職，宜及其坐。 重者免黜，輕者左遷。 被舉之身，加以禁錮，年數多少，隨愆議制。 若犯大辟，則任者刑論。
I have heard that the merit that overturned Wei was not merely the gem that lit the carriage, and the virtue that won over Qin's guest was not merely the jade kept in the vault. What the long slope gradually waters becomes the spring of rise and fall—when has a state not flourished by winning talent and declined by losing worthy men? Thus the Book of Chu calls good men treasure, and the Canon of Yu finds discerning the wise the hard part. Yet the promotion and selection of the middle age lies in ruins, and no law of appointment is heard today; if we truly mean to strengthen the root, secure affairs, shelter people, and aid custom, without changing confused practice, how shall we reach the Nine Cheng? Talent is born of its age—how can ancient and modern be two? Men of worth arise from their times—prosperity and adversity are not alike. When the calendar rose at Zhongyang, heroes sprang from Xu and Pei; when the tally was received at White Water, eminent men came from Jing and Wan. Were the Two Capitals products of wisdom alone and the Seven Gorges nurseries of folly alone? It was truly a matter of being met or passed over, used or left unused. Now the Great Way is bright and every task awaits virtue, yet the vast reaches of the Nine Domains and the straits of the Nine Streams—the balance and steelyard of selection—rest with the Selection Bureau alone. One man's judgment is easily bounded, yet the talent of the realm is hard to tap; to mirror boundless talent with a bounded mirror—can the state miss no worthy man and the wilds hold no unused gift? Gongshu once elevated his minister, Guan Zhong raised a robber; Zhao Wen did not favor a private kinsman for succession, and Qi Xi did not recommend an enemy's son from flattery. Gathering mugwort for the assembly became a model in the classics; recommend those you know—the pattern shines in the annals. From antiquity recommendation made reward and punishment plain: Chengzi recommended three wise men and rose to aide of Wei; Lord Ying entrusted two scholars and at once gave up the Qin chancellorship; Jiu Ji praised Ji Que and received a field fief; Zhang Bo advanced Chen Tang and for it lost his rank. These are the great precedents of earlier ages and mirrors for later rulers alike. I hold that each great minister should be ordered to recommend those he knows, with the lists sent to the Masters of Writing for graded appointment. If the appointee proves worthy, the recommender should be rewarded; if unfit, the recommender should share the blame. Serious cases warrant dismissal; lighter ones demotion. The recommended man should also be barred from office for a term fixed according to the fault. If the crime reaches capital offense, the recommender faces penal judgment.
21
又政平訟理，莫先親人，親人之要，實歸守宰。 故黃霸蒞潁川累稔，杜畿居河東曆載。 或就加恩秩，或入崇暉寵。 今蒞人之職，宜遵六年之限，進得章明庸惰，退得人不勤勞，如此，則上靡棄能，下無浮謬，考績之風載泰，薪槱之歌克昌。 初，文帝世，限年三十而仕郡縣，六周乃選代，刺史或十年餘。 至是皆易之，仕者不拘長少，蒞人以三周為滿，宋之善政於是乎衰。
Moreover, in securing peace and settling lawsuits, nothing comes before kinship rightly handled; and that essence truly rests with prefect and magistrate. Huang Ba governed Yingchuan for many years; Du Ji held Hedong year after year. Some then received added rank and favor; some were summoned to imperial grace. The office of local governor should follow a six-year term: promotion would reveal merit or sloth, retirement would show who had been diligent—then above no talent is wasted, below no hollow appointment stands; the wind of assessing achievement would flourish and the song of gathering kindling rise. Under Emperor Wen at first, one had to reach thirty to enter commandery or county office, served six cycles before transfer, and governors sometimes held post ten years or more. By now all this was changed: office no longer waited on age, and governors served three cycles as a full term—Song's good governance waned from that point.
22
是年，拜吏部尚書，莊素多疾，不願居選部，與大司馬江夏王義恭箋，自陳「兩脅癖疢，殆與生俱，一月發動，不減兩三。 每痛來逼心，氣餘如綖，利患數年，遂成痼疾。 岋岋惙惙，常如行屍。 眼患五月來便不復得夜坐，恒閉帷避風。 晝夜惛懵，為此不復得朝謁諸王，慶吊親舊。 今之所止，唯在小合。 下官微命，於天下至輕，在己不能不重。 家世無年，亡高祖四十，曾祖三十三，亡祖四十七，下官新歲便三十五。 加以疾患如此，當復幾時？ 入年當申前請，以死自固。 願侍坐言次，賜垂接助「。 三年，坐疾多免官。
That year he was made Minister of the Masters of Writing; Zhuang was often ill and did not wish to head selection; he wrote to Grand Marshal Prince Yigong of Jiangxia, saying, "A pain in both flanks has been with me nearly from birth—it flares once a month, no fewer than two or three times. When it comes it crushes the heart and breath hangs by a thread; this sharp pain has lasted years and become chronic. I falter and flag, always like a walking corpse. Since the fifth month my eyes will not let me sit at night; I keep the curtains drawn against the wind. Day and night I am dazed and dim; for this I can no longer attend princes at court or go to congratulations and mourning for kin and friends. Where I now live is only a small side room. The office to which I am summoned is among the lightest under heaven, yet to me it cannot but weigh heavily. No man in my line has lived long: my great-grandfather died at forty, my grandfather at thirty-three, my father at forty-seven; I myself turn thirty-five this year. Add illness such as this—how much time remains? Entering the new year I should renew my earlier plea and hold fast even unto death. I beg that when you are seated in conversation you grant me your help." In the third year he was removed from office for chronic illness.
23
五年，又為侍中，領前軍將軍。 時孝武出行夜還，敕開門。 莊居守，以棨信或虛，須墨詔乃開。 上後因宴，從容曰：「卿欲效郅君章邪？」 對曰：「臣聞搜巡有度，郊祀有節，盤于游田，著之前誡。 陛下今蒙犯塵露，晨往宵還，容致不逞之徒，妄生矯詐，臣是以伏須神筆。」
In the fifth year he again became Attendant-in-Ordinary and headed the Forward Army. Then Emperor Xiaowu went out and returned at night and ordered the gate opened. Zhuang was holding the capital; fearing the tally might be forged, he insisted on an ink edict before opening the gate. Later at a banquet the Emperor said lightly, "Do you mean to imitate Lord Zhi of Ye? He replied, "I have heard that patrols have their limits and suburban rites their seasons; lingering at the hunting park is warned against in earlier admonitions. Your Majesty now braves dust and dew, leaving at dawn and returning at night—reckless men might forge an order; I therefore waited for the imperial brush."
24
六年，又為吏部尚書，領國子博士。 坐選公車令張奇免官，事在顏師伯傳。 後除吳郡太守。
In the sixth year he again became Minister of the Masters of Writing and headed the National University. He lost office over the selection of Public Carriage Commandant Zhang Qi; the affair is in the biography of Yan Shibo. Later he was made Administrator of Wu Commandery.
25
前廢帝即位，以為金紫光祿大夫。 初，孝武寵姬殷貴妃薨，莊為誄，言：「贊軌堯門」，引漢昭帝母趙婕妤堯母門事，廢帝在東宮銜之。 至是遣人詰莊曰：「卿昔作殷貴妃誄，知有東宮不？」 將誅之。 孫奉伯說帝曰：「死是人之所同，政復一往之苦，不足為困。 莊少長富貴，且系之尚方，使知天下苦劇，然後殺之未晚。」 帝曰：「卿言有理。」 系于左尚方。 明帝定亂得出，使為赦詔。 莊夜出署門方坐，命酒酌之，已微醉，傳詔停待詔成，其文甚工。 後為尋陽王師，加中書令、散騎常侍。 尋加金紫光祿大夫，給親信二十人。 卒，贈右光祿大夫，諡憲子。 所著文章四百餘首行於世。
When the Former Deposed Emperor took the throne, Zhuang was made Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon. Earlier, when Emperor Xiaowu's favored Lady Yin died, Zhuang wrote a dirge praising "the track of the Yao Gate," alluding to Zhao Lady, mother of Emperor Zhao of Han, and the Yao Mother Gate; the Deposed Emperor in the Eastern Palace took offense. Now he sent men to question Zhuang: "When you wrote Lady Yin's dirge, did you know there was an Eastern Palace? He was about to have him killed. Sun Fengbo persuaded the Emperor: "Death is common to all; a single turn of suffering is not enough to break a man. Zhuang has lived in wealth and honor from youth; bind him in the Palace Workshop and let him taste the world's bitterness—then kill him and it will not be too late. The Emperor said, "Your words make sense." Zhuang was bound in the Left Palace Workshop. When Emperor Ming quelled the turmoil and freed him, he had Zhuang draft the amnesty edict. That night Zhuang left the office gate and sat down, ordered wine, and was already slightly drunk; when the edict arrived he waited until the draft was done—its wording was superb. Later he became Tutor to the Prince of Xunyang, with additional posts as Director of the Masters of Writing and Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry. Soon he was further made Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, with twenty trusted attendants. At his death he was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Right of the Purple Ribbon, with posthumous title Xianzi. More than four hundred pieces of his writing circulate in the world.
26
五子：揚、朏、顥、嵷、瀹，世謂莊名子以風月景山水。 揚位晉平太守，女為順帝皇后，追贈金紫光祿大夫。
He had five sons—Yang, Fei, Hao, Song, and Yue—men of the age said Zhuang had named his sons for wind, moon, scenery, mountains, and water. Yang rose to Administrator of Jinping; his daughter became Emperor Shun's empress, and he was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon.
27
朏字敬沖，幼聰慧。 莊器之，常置左右。 十歲能屬文。 莊游土山，使朏命篇，攬筆便就。 琅邪王景文謂莊曰：「賢子足稱神童，復為後來特達。」 莊撫朏背曰：「真吾家千金。」 宋孝武帝游姑孰，敕莊攜朏從駕。 詔為洞井贊，於坐奏之。 帝曰：「雖小重也。」
Fei, courtesy name Jingchong, was clever from childhood. Zhuang prized him and always kept him close. At ten he could compose prose. When Zhuang visited Tushan he set Fei a theme; Fei took brush and finished at once. Wang Jingwen of Langye told Zhuang, "Your worthy son fully earns the name divine youth; among later men he stands apart. Zhuang stroked Fei's back and said, "Truly the thousand gold of my house." When Emperor Xiaowu toured Guni, he ordered Zhuang to bring Fei in the imperial train. An edict called for a hymn to the cave well; Fei presented it at the banquet. The Emperor said, "Small in years, yet weighty in talent."
28
仕宋為衛將軍袁粲長史。 粲性簡峻，時人方之李膺。 朏謁退，粲曰：「謝令不死矣。」 宋明帝嘗敕朏與謝鳳子超宗從鳳莊門入。 二人俱至，超宗曰：「君命不可以不往。」 乃趨而入。 朏曰：「君處臣以禮。」 遂退不入。 時人兩稱之，以比王尊、王陽。 後為臨川內史，以賄見劾，袁粲寢其事。
Under Song he served as Chief Clerk to Guard General Yuan Can. Can was plain and stern by nature; contemporaries compared him to Li Ying. When Fei withdrew after an audience, Can said, "Commander Xie is not dead after all. Emperor Ming of Song once ordered Fei and Xie Feng's son Chao Zong to enter with Feng through Zhuang's gate. Both arrived; Chao Zong said, "The sovereign's command cannot be refused. Then he hurried in. Fei said, "The lord treats his minister with ritual. Then he withdrew and would not enter. Contemporaries praised both, comparing them to Wang Zun and Wang Yang. Later he was Administrator of Linchuan; impeached for bribery, he was shielded by Yuan Can.
29
齊高帝為驃騎將軍輔政，選朏為長史。 高帝方圖禪代，欲以朏佐命，遷左長史。 每夕置酒，獨與朏論魏、晉故事，言石苞不早勸晉文，死方慟哭，方之馮異，非知機也。 朏曰：「昔魏臣有勸魏武即帝位，魏武曰：'有用我者，其周文王乎。 '晉文世事魏氏，將必終身北面。 假使魏早依唐、虞故事，亦當三讓彌高。」 帝不悅，更引王儉為左長史，以朏為侍中，領秘書監。
When Emperor Gao of Qi was Cavalry General and regent, he chose Fei as Chief Clerk. Gao was plotting abdication and wanted Fei to help establish the mandate; he moved him to Chief Clerk of the Left. Each evening he set out wine and alone with Fei discussed Wei and Jin history, saying Shi Bao had not urged Jin Wen early and only wailed after death—compared with Feng Yi, that was failing to read the moment. Fei said, "Once a Wei minister urged Cao Cao to take the throne; Cao Cao replied, 'If anyone is to use me, will it not be as King Wen of Zhou? Sima Yi served the Wei house all his days and would surely remain a subject to the end. Even had Wei followed the Tang and Yu precedent early, there would still have been three lofty refusals. The Emperor was displeased; he brought in Wang Jian as Chief Clerk of the Left and made Fei Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Secretariat.
30
及齊受禪，朏當日在直，百僚陪位。 侍中當解璽，朏佯不知，曰：「有何公事？」 傳詔雲，「解璽授齊王」。 朏曰：「齊自應有侍中。」 乃引枕臥。 傳詔懼，乃使稱疾，欲取兼人。 朏曰：「我無疾，何所道。」 遂朝服出東掖門，乃得車，仍還宅。 是日，遂以王儉為侍中解璽。 既而武帝請誅朏，高帝曰：「殺之則成其名，正應容之度外。」 又以家貧乞郡，辭旨抑揚，詔免官禁錮五年。 永明中，為義興太守，在郡不省雜事，悉付綱紀，曰：「吾不能作主者吏，但能作太守耳。」 曆都官尚書，中書令，侍中，領新安王師。 求出，仍為吳興太守。
When Qi received the abdication, Fei was on duty that day and the hundred officials stood in place. The Attendant-in-Ordinary was to unseal the imperial seal; Fei feigned ignorance and said, "What public business is there? The transmitted edict said, "Unseal the seal and transfer it to the King of Qi." Fei said, "Qi should have its own Attendant-in-Ordinary. Then he pulled up a pillow and lay down. The messenger panicked and had him reported ill, intending to fetch a substitute. Fei said, "I am not ill—what is there to report? Then he went out the East Side Gate in court dress, found a carriage, and returned home. That day Wang Jian was made Attendant-in-Ordinary to unseal the seal. Later Emperor Wu asked to execute Fei; Gao said, "Killing him would make his fame; better leave him outside the pale. Again, pleading poverty he begged a commandery post; his memorial was measured yet proud; an edict stripped him of office and barred him for five years. In the Yongming era he was Administrator of Yixing; in the commandery he ignored routine business and left everything to the clerks, saying, "I cannot be the clerk who runs affairs—I can only be the Administrator. He rose through Minister of Revenue, Director of the Masters of Writing, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Tutor to Prince Xin'an. He asked to leave office and again became Administrator of Wuxing.
31
明帝謀入嗣位，引朝廷舊臣，朏內圖止足，且實避事。 弟瀹時為吏部尚書，朏至郡，致瀹數斛酒，遺書曰：「可力飲此，勿豫人事。」 朏居郡，每不理，常務聚斂，眾頗譏之，亦不屑也。
When Emperor Ming plotted succession he summoned old court ministers; Fei inwardly sought sufficiency and truly wished to avoid public business. His brother Yue was then Minister of the Masters of Writing; reaching the commandery Fei sent Yue several hu of wine with a note: "Drink hard and stay out of affairs. In the commandery Fei often neglected governance and constantly pursued gain; many mocked him, yet he cared nothing.
32
建武四年，徵為侍中、中書令，不應。 遣諸子還都，獨與母留，築室郡之西郭。 明帝詔加優禮，旌其素概，賜床帳褥席，奉以卿祿。 時國子祭酒廬江何胤亦抗表還會稽。 永元中，詔征朏、胤，並不屈。 時東昏皆命迫遣，會梁武帝起兵。 及建鄴平，征朏、胤，並補軍諮祭酒，皆不至。 及即位，詔征朏為侍中、左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，胤散騎常侍、特進、右光祿大夫，又並不屈。 仍遣領軍司馬王果敦譬朏，朏謀于何胤，胤欲獨高其節，紿曰：「興王之世，安可久處？」
In Jianwu four he was summoned as Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Masters of Writing; he refused. He sent his sons back to the capital and stayed alone with his mother, building a house in the commandery's western suburb. Emperor Ming added special honors, praising his plain integrity, and granted bedding and a minister's stipend. Then National University Chancellor He Yin of Lujiang also memorialized to return to Kuaiji. In the Yongyuan era edicts summoned Fei and Yin; both refused. Then Emperor Donghun ordered forced summons; soon Emperor Wu of Liang raised troops. When Jiankang was pacified, Fei and Yin were summoned as Army Advisers and Sacrificial Officers; neither came. At his accession edicts summoned Fei as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Grand Master of the Left of the Purple Ribbon, and Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies, and Yin as Regular Attendant, Special Advance, and Grand Master of the Right of the Purple Ribbon; again both refused. Then General of the Guards Sima Wang Guo was sent to persuade Fei; Fei consulted He Yin; Yin, wishing to stand alone in integrity, deceived him: "In an age of rising kings, how can one stay apart forever?"
33
明年六月，朏輕舟出，詣闕自陳。 帝笑曰：「子陵遂能屈志。」 詔以為侍中、司徒、尚書令。 朏辭腳疾，不堪拜謁，乃角巾肩輿詣雲龍門謝。 詔見於華林園，乘小車就席。 明旦，乘輿出幸朏宅，宴語盡歡。 朏固陳本志，不許。 又固請自還迎母，許之。 臨發，輿駕臨幸，賦詩餞別，王人送迎相望於道。 到都，敕材官起府於舊宅。 武帝臨軒，遣謁者於府拜授。 詔停諸公事及朔望朝謁。
The next sixth month Fei went out in a light boat and came to court to declare himself. The Emperor smiled and said, "Ziling can indeed bend his will after all. An edict made him Attendant-in-Ordinary, Minister of Works, and Director of the Masters of Writing. Fei pleaded foot ailment and could not perform bowing audiences; he came in kerchief and shoulder carriage to give thanks at the Cloud Dragon Gate. An edict received him in Hualin Garden; he came in a small carriage to his seat. Next morning the imperial carriage visited Fei's house; they feasted and talked with full delight. Fei firmly stated his original intent; the Emperor would not allow it. Again he firmly asked to return and fetch his mother; this was granted. At departure the Emperor came to send him off with poems of farewell; imperial envoys lined the road. Reaching the capital, an edict ordered craftsmen to build a mansion at his old residence. The Emperor came to the hall and sent a Herald to the mansion to confer appointment by bow. An edict exempted him from public business and from new-moon and full-moon audiences.
34
三年元會，詔朏乘小輿升殿。 朏素憚煩，及居台鉉，兼掌內台，職事多不覽，以此頗失眾望。 其年母憂，尋有詔攝職如故。
At the third year's New Year assembly an edict ordered Fei to ascend the hall in a small carriage. Fei by nature shunned bother; holding high office and additionally managing the inner secretariat, he often skipped business, and for this lost much public esteem. That year his mother died; soon an edict ordered him to resume duties as before.
35
建武初，朏為吳興，以雞卵賦人，收雞數千。 及遯節不全，為清談所少。 著書及文章行於世。
Early in Jianwu, while Fei was in Wuxing, he levied an egg tax and collected several thousand chickens. His integrity was also incomplete; men of pure talk thought less of him. His books and essays circulate in the world.
36
子諼，位司徒右長史，坐殺牛廢黜。 為東陽內史，及還，五官送錢一萬，止留一百。 答曰：「數多劉寵，更以為愧。」
His son Xuan rose to Chief Clerk of the Right of the Minister of Works and was dismissed for slaughtering an ox. As Administrator of Dongyang, on returning the Five Offices sent ten thousand coins; he kept only one hundred. He replied, "The sum exceeds Liu Chong—I am all the more ashamed."
37
次子譓，不妄交接，門無雜賓。 有時獨醉，曰：「入吾室者但有清風，對吾飲者唯當明月。」 位右光祿大夫。
The second son Hui kept no casual company; no mixed guests crossed his gate. Sometimes he drank alone and said, "Those who enter my room meet only clear wind; those who drink with me should have only the bright moon. He rose to Grand Master of the Right of the Purple Ribbon.
38
子哲，字穎豫，美風儀，舉止醞藉，襟情豁朗，為士君子所重。 仕梁至廣陵太守，侯景之亂，因寓居焉。 仕陳曆吏部尚書，中書令，侍中，司徒左長史。 卒，諡康子。
His son Zhe, courtesy name Yingyu, had fine bearing and refined, open manner; gentlemen esteemed him. Under Liang he rose to Administrator of Guangling and lodged there during Hou Jing's rebellion. Under Chen he held Minister of the Masters of Writing, Director of the Masters of Writing, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Chief Clerk of the Left of the Minister of Works. At his death his posthumous title was Kangzi.
39
顥字仁悠，朏弟也。 少簡靜。 宋末為豫章太守，至石頭，遂白服登烽火樓，坐免官。 詣齊高帝自占謝，言辭清麗，容儀端雅，左右為之傾目，宥而不問。 齊永明初，高選友學，以顥為竟陵王友。 曆吏部郎，有簡秀之目。 卒于北中郎長史。
Hao, courtesy name Renyou, was Fei's younger brother. From youth he was plain and quiet. At the end of Song he was Administrator of Yuzhang; reaching Shitou he climbed the beacon tower in white dress and was removed from office. He went to Gao to explain himself; his speech was clear and elegant, his bearing upright; those beside him stared; he was pardoned without inquiry. Early in Yongming, in the high selection of companion scholars, Hao was made Companion to Prince Jingling. He rose to Gentleman of the Masters of Writing and was known for plain elegance. He died as Chief Clerk to the General of the North.
40
顥弟瀹字義潔。 年七歲，王景文見而異之，言于宋孝武，召見於人眾中。 瀹舉止閑詳，應對合旨，帝悅，詔尚公主，景和敗，事寢。 僕射褚彥回以女妻之，厚為資送。
Hao's younger brother Yue, courtesy name Yijie. At seven Wang Jingwen saw him and marveled; he spoke to Emperor Xiaowu, who summoned him before the crowd. Yue's bearing was calm and precise, his answers apt; the Emperor was pleased and ordered a princess for him; when Jinghe fell the match was suspended. Vice Director Chu Yanhui gave him his daughter with a rich dowry.
41
性甚敏贍，嘗與劉悛飲，推讓久之，悛曰：「謝莊兒不可雲不能飲。」 瀹曰：「苟得其人，自可流湎千日。」 悛甚慚，無言。 仕齊累遷中書侍郎。 衛軍王儉引為長史，雅相禮遇。 後拜吏部尚書。
He was quick and resourceful; once drinking with Liu Jiao, after long deferral Jiao said, "Xie Zhuang's son cannot be called unable to drink. Yue said, "With the right company one could indeed drink deep for a thousand days." Jiao was deeply ashamed and fell silent. Under Qi he rose to Gentleman of the Secretariat. Guard General Wang Jian took him as Chief Clerk and honored him with ritual courtesy. Later he was made Minister of the Masters of Writing.
42
明帝廢郁林，領兵入殿，左右驚走報瀹。 瀹與客圍棋，每下子，輒云：「其當有意」，竟局乃還齋臥，竟不問外事。 明帝即位，瀹又屬疾，不知公事。 蕭諶以兵臨起之，瀹曰：「天下事，公卿處之足矣； 且死者命也，何足以此懼人。」
When Emperor Ming deposed Prince of Yulin and led troops into the hall, attendants ran in alarm to Yue. Yue was playing weiqi with a guest; with each stone he said, "That must mean something"; when the game ended he returned to his room and slept, never asking about outside affairs. When Emperor Ming took the throne, Yue again claimed illness and ignored public business. Xiao Chen came with troops to rouse him; Yue said, "Affairs under heaven—let the lords and ministers handle them; besides, death is fate—why frighten people with it?"
43
後宴會功臣上酒，尚書令王晏等興席，瀹獨不起，曰：「陛下受命應天，王晏以為己力。」 獻觴遂不見報。 上大笑解之。 座罷，晏呼瀹共載，欲相撫悅，瀹又正色曰：「君巢窟在何處？」 晏初得班劍，瀹謂曰：「身家太傅，裁得六人，若何事頓得二十？」 晏甚憚之，謂江祏曰：「彼上人者，難為酬對。」 加領右軍將軍。
Later at a banquet honoring meritorious ministers with wine, Director Wang Yan and others rose; Yue alone stayed seated and said, "Your Majesty received the Mandate in accord with Heaven—Wang Yan thinks it his own work. He offered the cup and received no reply. The Emperor laughed and smoothed it over. When the banquet ended Yan called Yue to share a carriage, hoping to win him; Yue again said sternly, "Where is your nest and burrow? When Yan first received the gilded sword, Yue told him, "Your house produced a Grand Tutor and got only six guards—why suddenly twenty for one affair?" Yan greatly feared him and told Jiang Shi, "That lofty man is hard to answer." He was additionally made General of the Right.
44
兄朏在吳興，論啟公事稽晚，瀹輒代朏為啟，上知非朏手跡，被問見原。 永泰元年，卒于太子詹事，贈金紫光祿大夫，諡簡子。
When Fei was in Wuxing, memorials on public business were often late; Yue drafted them for him; the Emperor knew the hand was not Fei's and questioned him, but pardoned him on learning the truth. In Yongtai one he died as Supervisor of the Heir Apparent; he was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, with posthumous title Jianzi.
45
初，朏為吳興，瀹於征虜渚送別，朏指瀹口曰：「此中唯宜飲酒。」 瀹建武之朝，專以長酣為事，與劉瑱、沈昭略交，飲各至數斗。 齊武帝問王儉：「當今誰能為五言？」 儉曰：「朏得父膏腴，江淹有意。」 上起禪靈寺，敕瀹撰碑文。 瀹子覽。
When Fei was in Wuxing, Yue saw him off at Zhengliu Isle; Fei pointed at Yue's mouth and said, "Here one should only drink wine. In the Jianwu court Yue devoted himself to long drinking; with Liu Zhen and Shen Zhaolue he each drank several dou. Emperor Wu of Qi asked Wang Jian, "Who today can write five-character verse? Jian said, "Fei inherited his father's richness; Jiang Yan has the intent." The Emperor built Chanling Temple and ordered Yue to compose the stele inscription. Yue's son was Lan.
46
覽字景滌，選尚齊錢唐公主，拜駙馬都尉。 梁武平建鄴，朝士王亮、王瑩等數人揖，自餘皆拜，覽時年二十餘，為太子舍人，亦長揖而已。 意氣閒雅，視瞻聰明，武帝目送良久，謂徐勉曰：「覺此生芳蘭竟體，想謝莊政當如此。」 自此仍被賞味。
Lan, courtesy name Jingdi, was chosen to marry the Princess of Qiantang of Qi and was made Commandant of the Horse Guards. When Liang pacified Jiankang, court gentlemen Wang Liang, Wang Ying, and several others gave the clasped-hand salute while the rest bowed; Lan, just over twenty and Attendant to the Heir Apparent, also gave only the clasped-hand salute. His bearing was easy and elegant, his gaze bright; the Emperor watched him long as he left and told Xu Mian, "This man's body seems all fragrant orchid—I think Xie Zhuang must have been like this. From then on he continued to be prized.
47
天監元年，為中書侍郎，掌吏部事，頃之即真。 嘗侍坐，受敕與侍中王暕為詩答贈，其文甚工，乃使重作，復合旨。 帝賜詩云：「雙文既後進，二少實名家，豈伊爾棟隆，信乃俱國華。」 為侍中，頗樂酒，因宴席與散騎常侍蕭琛辭相詆毀，為有司所奏。 武帝以覽年少不直，出為中權長史。
In Tianjian one he was Gentleman of the Secretariat, managing the Masters of Writing; soon he received full appointment. Once while attending he was ordered with Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Xie to compose answering poems; the wording was superb, and when told to rewrite it he again hit the mark. The Emperor bestowed a poem: "Shuangwen comes after, yet the two young men are truly great houses—is it not you who raise the beam, both flowers of the state? As Attendant-in-Ordinary he greatly enjoyed wine; at a banquet he traded insults with Regular Attendant Xiao Chen and was reported by the relevant office. Emperor Wu, judging Lan young and not upright, sent him out as Chief Clerk to the Central Guard.
48
後拜吏部尚書，出為吳興太守。 中書舍人黃睦之家居烏程，子弟專橫，前太守皆折節事之。 覽未到郡，睦之子弟迎覽，覽逐去其船，杖吏為通者，自是睦之家杜門不出。 郡境多劫，為東道患，覽下車肅然。 初齊明帝及覽父瀹、東海徐孝嗣並為吳興，號為名守，覽皆過之。 覽昔在新安，頗聚斂，至是遂稱廉潔，時人方之王述。 卒于官，贈中書令。
Later he was made Minister of the Masters of Writing and sent out as Administrator of Wuxing. Palace Aide Huang Muzhi's family lived in Wucheng; his sons and brothers were domineering; previous administrators all bowed to them. Before Lan reached the commandery, Muzhi's sons came to meet him; Lan drove off their boat and beat the clerk who had carried messages; from then Muzhi's family shut their gate. The commandery had many bandits, a scourge on the eastern road; when Lan took office order returned. Emperor Ming of Qi, Lan's father Yue, and Xu Xiaosi of Donghai had all governed Wuxing as famed administrators; Lan surpassed them all. Lan had greatly accumulated wealth in Xin'an; now he was called incorrupt; contemporaries compared him to Wang Shu. He died in office and was posthumously enfeoffed as Director of the Masters of Writing.
49
覽弟舉字言揚，幼好學，與覽齊名。 年十四，嘗贈沈約詩，為約所賞。 弱冠丁父憂，幾致毀滅。 服闋，為太常博士，與兄覽俱預元會。 江淹一見並相欽挹，曰：「所謂'馭二龍于長塗'者也。」
Lan's younger brother Ju, courtesy name Yanyang, loved learning from youth and was as famed as Lan. At fourteen he once sent Shen Yue a poem and won Yue's praise. At twenty he entered mourning for his father and nearly wasted away. When mourning ended he was Doctor of the Grand Master of Ceremonies and with his elder brother Lan attended the New Year assembly. Jiang Yan saw them both and admired them, saying, "This is 'driving two dragons on the long road.'"
50
為太子家令，掌管記，深為詔明太子賞接。 秘書監任昉出為新安郡，別舉詩云：「詎念耋嗟人，方深老夫托。」 其屬意如此。 梁武嘗訪舉於覽，覽曰：「識藝過臣甚遠，唯飲酒不及於臣。」 帝大悅。 尋除安成郡守，母往於郡喪，辭不赴。 歷位左戶尚書，遷掌吏部尚書。 舉祖莊、父瀹、兄覽並經此職，前代少比。
He was Household Steward to the Heir Apparent and headed the secretariat; Crown Prince Zhaoming deeply favored and received him. Director Ren Fang went out as Administrator of Xin'an; Ju wrote in parting, "How can one remember the sighing elder—yet you deeply trust this old man's charge. Such was his intent. Emperor Wu once asked about Ju through Lan; Lan said, "His learning and talent far exceed mine; only in drinking he falls short of me. The Emperor was greatly pleased. Soon he was made Administrator of Ancheng; his mother died in the commandery and he declined to take up the post. He rose to Minister of the Left Household and was transferred to head the Masters of Writing. Ju's grandfather Zhuang, father Yue, and elder brother Lan had all held this office—few in former ages could compare.
51
舉尤長玄理及釋氏義，為晉陵郡時，常與義學僧遞講經論，征士何胤自虎丘山出赴之，其盛如此。 先是，北度人盧廣有儒術，為國子博士，于學發講，僕射徐勉以下畢至。 舉造坐屢折廣，辭理遒邁。 廣深嘆服，仍以所執麈尾、斑竹杖、滑石書格薦之，以況重席焉。 加侍中，遷尚書右僕射。
Ju was especially skilled in dark learning and Buddhist doctrine; as Administrator of Jinling he often debated scripture with monks of the faith, and recluse He Yin came from Tiger Hill to attend—such was the splendor. Earlier Lu Guang of the northern crossing had Confucian learning and was Doctor of the National University; he opened lectures in the academy and Vice Director Xu Mian and all below came. Ju took his seat and repeatedly refuted Guang; his reasoning was forceful and far-reaching. Guang sighed and submitted, then presented the fly-whisk, spotted bamboo staff, and smooth-stone writing frame he held, honoring him as one would a master on the mat. He was additionally made Attendant-in-Ordinary and transferred to Vice Director of the Right Masters of Writing.
52
大同三年，出為吳郡太守。 先是，何敬容居郡有美績，世稱為「何吳郡」。 及舉為政，聲跡略相比。 曾要何征君講中論，何難以巾褐入南門，乃從東園進。 致詩往復，為虎丘山賦題於寺。
In Datong three he went out as Administrator of Wu Commandery. Before this He Jingrong had governed the commandery with fine achievement; the world called him "He of Wu Commandery." When Ju governed, reputation and record were roughly comparable. Once he invited Recluse He to lecture on the Middle Treatises; He found it hard to enter the south gate in scholar's dress and came through the east garden. They exchanged poems and set the theme of a fu on Tiger Hill at the temple.
53
入為侍中、太子詹事、翊左將軍。 舉父瀹齊時終此官，累表乞改，敕不許。 後遷尚書僕射，侍中、將軍如故。 舉雖屢居端揆，未嘗肯預時政，保身固寵，不能有所發明。 因疾陳解，敕輒賜假，並敕處方，加給上藥，其恩遇如此。
He entered as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Supervisor of the Heir Apparent, and General Who Assists the Left. Ju's father Yue under Qi had died in this office; Ju repeatedly begged to change it; the edict refused. Later he was transferred to Vice Director of the Masters of Writing; Attendant-in-Ordinary and General unchanged. Though Ju repeatedly held the highest offices, he never intervened in affairs of the time; preserving himself and securing favor, he brought forth no illumination. Ill, he submitted resignation; edicts repeatedly granted leave, ordered prescriptions, and bestowed superior medicines—such was the grace shown him.
54
侯景來降，帝詢訪朝臣，舉及朝士皆請拒之。 帝從朱異言納之，以為景能立功趙、魏。 舉等不敢復言。 太清二年，遷尚書令，卒于內台。 上曰：「舉非止曆官已多，亦人倫儀錶，久著公望，悵恨未授之，可贈侍中、中衛將軍、開府儀同三司。」
When Hou Jing came to surrender, the Emperor consulted the ministers; Ju and the court gentlemen all asked to reject him. The Emperor followed Zhu Yi's counsel and accepted him, thinking Jing could win merit in Zhao and Wei. Ju and the others did not dare speak again. In Taiqing two he was transferred to Director of the Masters of Writing and died in the inner secretariat. The Emperor said, "Ju not only held many offices—he was also a model of human conduct, long famed in public expectation; I regret not having conferred more; posthumously enfeoff him Attendant-in-Ordinary, General of the Central Guard, and Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies."
55
舉宅內山齋舍以為寺，泉石之美，殆若自然。 臨川、始興諸王常所遊踐。 邵陵王綸于婁湖立園，廣燕，酒後好聚眾賓冠，手自裂破，投之唾壺，皆莫敢言。 舉嘗預宴，王欲取舉幘。 舉正色曰：「裂冠毀冕，下官弗敢聞命。」 拂衣而退。 王屢召不返，甚有慚色。 舉托情玄勝，尤長佛理，注淨名經，常自講說。 有文集二十卷。 子嘏。
Ju's house had a mountain study and lodge made into a temple; its springs and stones were nearly natural in beauty. Princes of Linchuan and Shixing often came to roam there. Prince Lun of Shaoling built a garden at Lou Lake with broad banquets; drunk he liked to gather guests' caps, tear them himself, and throw them into the spittoon; none dared speak. Ju once attended a banquet; the Prince wished to seize Ju's headcloth. Ju said sternly, "To tear caps and ruin crowns—your servant dare not hear the command. He brushed his robes and withdrew. The Prince repeatedly summoned him but he did not return; the Prince was deeply ashamed. Ju entrusted his feelings to dark transcendence and was especially skilled in Buddhist principle; he annotated the Vimalakirti Sutra and often lectured on it himself. He left collected works in twenty scrolls. His son was Jia.
56
嘏字含茂，風神清雅，頗善屬文。 仕梁為太子中庶子，建安太守。 侯景之亂，之廣州依蕭勃。 勃敗，在周迪門。 後依陳寶應，寶應平，方詣闕。 曆侍中，中書令，都官尚書。 卒，諡曰光子。 有文集行於世。
Jia, courtesy name Hanmao, had a clear elegant spirit and was skilled at prose. Under Liang he served as Palace Companion to the Heir Apparent and Administrator of Jian'an. During Hou Jing's rebellion he went to Guangzhou and relied on Xiao Bo. When Bo was defeated he was in Zhou Di's camp. Later he relied on Chen Baoying; when Baoying was pacified he finally came to court. He rose to Attendant-in-Ordinary, Director of the Masters of Writing, and Minister of Justice. At his death his posthumous title was Guangzi. His collected works circulate in the world.
57
子儼位侍中、御史中丞、太常卿； 瀹位尚書僕射。
His son Yan held Attendant-in-Ordinary, Imperial Censor, and Grand Master of Ceremonies; Yue held Vice Director of the Masters of Writing.
58
舉兄子僑字國美。 父玄大，仕梁侍中。 僑素貴，嘗一朝無食，其子啟欲以班史質錢，答曰：「寧餓死，豈可以此充食乎？」 太清元年卒，集十卷。 長子褘。
Ju's elder brother's son Qiao, courtesy name Guomei. His father Xuan Da served Liang as Attendant-in-Ordinary. Qiao was noble by nature; once he had no food all morning; his son suggested pawning the Han History for money; he replied, "Better to starve than use this to fill the belly. He died in Taiqing one; his collected works ran ten scrolls. His eldest son was Hui.
59
僑弟劄字世高，亦博涉文史，位湘東王諮議，先僑卒。
Qiao's younger brother Zha, courtesy name Shigao, also broadly mastered literature and history and was Adviser to the Prince of Xiangdong; he died before Qiao.
60
論曰：易雲，「積善之家，必有餘慶。」 弘微立履所蹈，人倫播美，其世濟不隕，蓋有馮焉。 敬沖出入三代，驟經遷革，遁俗之志，無聞貞固之道，居官之方，未免貨財之累。 因傴成敬，偃仰當年。 古人云：處士全盜虛聲，斯之謂矣。
The commentary says: The Changes says, "The house that accumulates good deeds will have surplus blessing. Hongwei in conduct spread beauty through human relations; his line for generations did not fall—surely there was support in this. Jingchong passed through three dynasties and met repeated upheavals; his wish to escape the vulgar was known, but steadfast integrity was not; in holding office he could not avoid the taint of seeking wealth. Bending the body to win respect, bowing and rising through that age. The ancients said: The recluse wholly steals empty fame—this is the man they meant.