Volume 59 Biographies 49: Jiang Yan, Ren Fang, Wang Sengru

列傳第四十九

Biography Forty-Nine

江淹任昉王僧孺

Jiang Yan, Ren Fang, and Wang Sengru

江淹字文通，濟陽考城人也。父康之，南沙令，雅有才思。淹少孤貧，常慕司馬長卿、梁伯鸞之為人，不事章句之學，留情于文章。早為高平檀超所知，常升以上席，甚加禮焉。

Jiang Yan, styled Wentong, came from Kaocheng in Jiyang commandery. His father Kangzhi had served as magistrate of Nansha and possessed refined literary gifts. Yan lost his father early and grew up in poverty. He admired the lives of Sima Xiangru and Liang Bozhuan, shunned pedantic textual study, and devoted himself to literature. The Gaoping scholar Tan Chao noticed him early and regularly honored him with a place at the head of the table.

起家南徐州從事，轉奉朝請。宋建平王景素好士，淹隨景素在南兗州。廣陵令郭彥文得罪，辭連淹，言受金，淹被系獄。自獄中上書曰：

He entered service as a staff aide in South Xuzhou and was later appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary. Prince Jingsu of Jianping under the Song dynasty was a patron of talent, and Yan accompanied him to South Yanzhou. When Guangling magistrate Guo Yanwen fell afoul of the authorities, Yan was implicated in the indictment on a charge of taking bribes and thrown into prison. From his cell he addressed a memorial to the prince:

昔者，賤臣叩心，飛霜擊于燕地；庶女告天，振風襲于齊台。下官每讀其書，未嘗不廢卷流涕。何者？士有一定之論，女有不易之行。信而見疑，貞而為戮，是以壯夫義士伏死而不顧者以此也。下官聞仁不可恃，善不可依，謂徒虛語，乃今知之。伏願大王暫停左右，少加矜察。

Long ago a lowly subject, heart-stricken with grief, moved heaven until frost fell on the land of Yan; and a common girl's cry to heaven brought raging winds upon the Qi terrace. Whenever I read those stories, I cannot help but lay down the book and weep. Why is that? A gentleman holds to a fixed standard of judgment, and a woman to conduct that does not waver. To be trusted yet suspected, loyal yet put to death—this is why brave and righteous men will face death without a backward glance. I had heard that benevolence cannot be relied upon and goodness cannot be depended on, and I took those words for empty talk—but now I know them to be true. I beg Your Highness to pause a moment and grant me a little compassionate scrutiny.

下官本蓬戶桑樞之人，布衣韋帶之士，退不飾詩書以驚愚，進不買聲名於天下。日者，謬得升降承明之闕，出入金華之殿，何嘗不局影凝嚴，側身扃禁者乎。竊慕大王之義，復為門下之賓，備鳴盜淺術之餘，豫三五賤伎之末。大王惠以恩光，顧以顏色，實佩荊卿黃金之賜，竊感豫讓國士之分矣。常欲結纓伏劍，少謝萬一，剖心摩踵，以報所天。不圖小人固陋，坐貽謗缺，跡墜昭憲，身限幽圄，履影吊心，酸鼻痛骨。下官聞虧名為辱，虧形次之，是以每一念來，忽若有遺；加以涉旬月，迫季秋，天光沈陰，左右無色，身非木石，與獄吏為伍。此少卿所以仰天捶心，泣盡而繼之以血者也。下官雖乏鄉曲之譽，然嘗聞君子之行矣：其上則隱於簾肆之間，臥於岩石之下；次則結綬金馬之庭，高議雲台之上；退則虜南越之君，系單于之頸。俱啟丹冊，並圖青史。寧爭分寸之末，競錐刀之利哉！下官聞積毀銷金，積讒摩骨，遠則直生取疑于盜金，近則伯魚被名於不義。彼之二才，猶或如是，況在下官，焉能自免？昔上將之恥，絳侯幽獄，名臣之羞，史遷下室，至如下官，當何言哉。夫以魯連之智，辭祿而不反，接輿之賢，行歌而忘歸，子陵閉關於東越，仲蔚杜門于西秦，亦良可知也。若使下官事非其虛，罪得其實，亦當鉗口吞舌，伏匕首以殞身，何以見齊魯奇節之人，燕趙悲歌之士乎。

I was born to a humble household, a man of plain dress and simple belt. In seclusion I did not polish the Classics to dazzle the ignorant; in public life I did not buy a name in the world. Not long ago, by some mistake, I was admitted to the Chenming gate-tower and the Jinhua hall. Did I ever fail to shrink my shadow, hold myself rigid, and walk sideways within those barred precincts? Admiring Your Highness's sense of honor, I became a guest at your gate again, offering what little skill I had among the humblest of petty talents. Your Highness favored me with grace and a kind face; I truly felt the gift of Jing Ke's gold and privately sensed the bond of Yu Rang with his lord. I always wished to tie my cap-strings and lay down my life with my sword, to repay even the smallest fraction of your kindness, to split my heart and wear down my heels in service to the lord to whom I owed my life. I never imagined that petty and narrow men would bring slander upon me. My name has fallen from the bright law; my body is shut in a dark prison. I tread my shadow and mourn in my heart; my nose stings and my bones ache. I have heard that to lose one's good name is disgrace, and to lose one's person comes next. Whenever such a thought comes, I feel as if something vital has slipped away; and now ten days and more have passed, late autumn is upon us, the sky is sunk in gloom, and those around me are ashen. I am not wood or stone—I am herded with the jailers. This is why the Junior Grand Historian raised his face to heaven and beat his breast, weeping until his tears were spent and then weeping blood. Though I lack local renown, I have heard how a gentleman conducts himself: at the highest he may hide between shop and curtain or lie beneath the cliffs; next he may tie his girdle in the court of golden horses and debate loftily upon the Cloud Terrace; in retirement he may capture the lord of Nanyue or bind the Xiongnu chanyu by the neck. All alike enter the red registers and are inscribed in the green histories. Would they wrangle over the tip of an inch or fight for the profit of an awl's edge! I have heard that accumulated slander can melt gold and accumulated calumny can wear away bone. Long ago Zhi Sheng was suspected of stealing gold; not long ago Boyu was stained with the name of unrighteousness. If such men as those could not escape, how could someone like me hope to be spared? In former days the supreme general knew shame when the Marquis of Jiang was cast into prison; a famed minister knew disgrace when Sima Qian was thrown into the lower chamber. As for someone like me, what words are left? When a man as wise as Lu Lian declines office and does not return, when Jieyu walks singing and forgets to come home, when Ziling shuts his gate in Eastern Yue and Zhongwei bars his door in Western Qin—the reasons are not hard to understand. If my case were not false and my guilt were real, I too should clamp my mouth, swallow my tongue, and fall on a dagger to end my life. How could I face the men of strange integrity in Qi and Lu or the men of mournful song in Yan and Zhao?

方今聖曆欽明，天下樂業，青雲浮洛，榮光塞河，西洎臨洮、狄道，北距飛狐、陽原，莫不寖仁沐義，照景飲醴，而下官抱痛圜門，含憤獄戶，一物之微，有足悲者。仰惟大王少垂明白，則梧丘之魂不愧于沈首，鵠亭之鬼無恨於灰骨。景素覽書，即日出之。尋舉南徐州秀才，對策上第，再遷府主簿。

Now the sacred reign is bright and all under heaven rejoice in their labors. Azure clouds float over Luoyang and glory fills the Yellow River. From Lintao and Didao in the west to Flying Fox and Yangyuan in the north, none fail to steep in benevolence and bathe in righteousness—yet I embrace pain at the prison gate and hold wrath within the jail. Even the smallest thing here is cause for grief. I beg Your Highness to grant a little clear understanding, so that the soul at Wuzhi Mound need not be ashamed before the drowned head, and the ghost at Swan Pavilion need not regret its ashen bones. Jingsu read the memorial and had him released that same day. Shortly afterward he was nominated as a provincial graduate of South Xuzhou, placed at the top of the policy examination, and twice promoted to chief clerk of the princely establishment.

景素為荊州，淹從之鎮。少帝即位，多失德，景素專據上流，咸勸因此舉事。淹每從容進諫，景素不納。及鎮京口，淹為鎮軍參軍，領南東海郡丞。景素與腹心日夜謀議，淹知禍機將發，乃贈詩十五首以諷焉。會東海太守陸澄丁艱，淹自謂郡丞應行郡事，景素用司馬柳世隆。淹固求之，景素大怒，言於選部，黜為建安吳興令。

When Jingsu was posted to Jingzhou, Yan accompanied him to his headquarters. When the Young Emperor came to the throne, his conduct was often improper. Jingsu held the upper Yangzi region in his grip, and many urged him to raise arms on that account. Yan repeatedly offered calm remonstrance, but Jingsu would not heed him. When Jingsu took up his post at Jingkou, Yan served as aide to the Pacification Army and concurrently as assistant magistrate of South Donghai commandery. Jingsu plotted day and night with his closest confidants. Yan saw that disaster was about to break forth and presented fifteen poems as admonition. When Donghai grand administrator Lu Cheng entered mourning for a parent, Yan assumed that as assistant magistrate he should act in the commandery's affairs, but Jingsu appointed the marshal Liu Shilong instead. Yan pressed his claim firmly. Jingsu was furious and spoke to the selection office, demoting him to magistrate of Jian'an in Wuxing.

及齊高帝輔政，聞其才，召為尚書駕部郎、驃騎參軍事。俄而荊州刺史沈攸之作亂，高帝謂淹曰：「天下紛紛若是，君謂何如？」淹曰：「昔項強而劉弱，袁眾而曹寡，羽卒受一劍之辱，紹終為奔北之虜，此所謂'在德不在鼎'，公何疑哉。」帝曰：「試為我言之。」淹曰：「公雄武有奇略，一勝也；寬容而仁恕，二勝也；賢能畢力，三勝也；人望所歸，四勝也；奉天子而伐叛逆，五勝也。彼志銳而器小，一敗也；有威無恩，二敗也；士卒解體，三敗也；搢紳不懷，四敗也；懸兵數千里、而無同惡相濟，五敗也。雖豺狼十萬，而終為我獲焉。」帝笑曰：「君談過矣。」

When Emperor Gao of Qi served as regent, he heard of Yan's talent and summoned him as Director of the Imperial Carriage Office in the Secretariat and as aide in the Rapid Cavalry command. Before long Jingzhou inspector Shen Youzhi rose in rebellion. Emperor Gao asked Yan, "The realm is in turmoil like this—what is your view? Yan replied, "Long ago Xiang Yu was strong and Liu Bang weak, Yuan Shao had many men and Cao Cao few. Yu ended by suffering the humiliation of a single sword-stroke, and Shao in the end became a captive fleeing north. As the saying goes, 'virtue lies not in the tripod.' Why should you doubt?" The Emperor said, "Explain it for me." Yan said, "Your Lordship is heroically martial with a singular strategy—that is one victory; you are tolerant, generous, and forgiving—that is two; the worthy and able exert all their strength—that is three; the people's hopes turn to you—that is four; you uphold the Son of Heaven while attacking rebels—that is five. On their side, their will is sharp but their capacity small—that is one defeat; they have authority but no grace—that is two; their soldiers are falling apart—that is three; the gentry do not embrace them—that is four; they hang their army thousands of li away without allies to aid one another—that is five. Though they field a hundred thousand wolves and jackals, in the end they will be ours. The Emperor laughed and said, "You go too far."

桂陽之役，朝廷周章，詔檄久之未就。齊高帝引淹入中書省，先賜酒食，淹素能飲啖，食鵝炙垂盡，進酒數升訖，文誥亦辦。相府建，補記室參軍。高帝讓九錫及諸章表，皆淹制也。齊受禪，復為驃騎豫章王嶷記室參軍。

During the Guiyang campaign the court was in disarray, and the proclamation and call to arms long remained unfinished. Emperor Gao of Qi brought Yan into the Secretariat, first offering wine and food. Yan had always been a hearty drinker and eater. He nearly finished a plate of roast goose, drank several sheng of wine, and by the time he was done the documents were finished as well. When the Chancellor's office was established, he was appointed recorder-aide. Emperor Gao's declination of the Nine Bestowals and all the memorials and tables were composed by Yan. When Qi received the abdication, he again served as recorder-aide to Prince Yao of Yuzhang in the Rapid Cavalry command.

建元二年，始置史官，淹與司徒左長史檀超共掌其任，所為條例，並為王儉所駁，其言不行。淹任性文雅，不以著述在懷，所撰十三篇竟無次序。又領東武令，參掌詔策。後拜中書侍郎，王儉嘗謂曰：「卿年三十五，已為中書侍郎，才學如此，何憂不至尚書金紫。所謂富貴卿自取之，但問年壽何如爾。」淹曰：「不悟明公見眷之重。」

In the second year of Jianyuan the historiographical office was first established. Yan and Tan Chao, Left Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education, jointly held that charge. The regulations they drafted were all rejected by Wang Jian, and their proposals were not implemented. Yan was by nature free-spirited and refined in letters and did not take composition to heart. The thirteen chapters he wrote in the end had no order. He also served as magistrate of Dongwu and participated in drafting edicts and policies. Later he was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat. Wang Jian once told him, "You are thirty-five and already Vice Director of the Secretariat. With talent and learning such as yours, why worry that you will not reach Minister and the golden seal and purple cord? Wealth and honor you will take for yourself—only ask how long you will live. Yan said, "I did not realize how heavily you favored me."

永明三年，兼尚書左丞。時襄陽人開古塚，得玉鏡及竹簡古書，字不可識。王僧虔善識字體，亦不能諳，直云似是科斗書。淹以科斗字推之，則周宣王之前也。簡殆如新。

In the third year of Yongming he concurrently served as Left Assistant Director of the Secretariat. At that time a man of Xiangyang opened an ancient tomb and obtained a jade mirror and bamboo slips of ancient writing whose characters could not be read. Wang Sengqian was skilled at recognizing script forms yet could not decipher them either; he simply said they seemed to be tadpole script. Yan deduced from the tadpole characters that they dated from before King Xuan of Zhou. The slips were nearly as fresh as new.

少帝初，兼御史中丞。明帝作相，謂淹曰：「君昔在尚書中，非公事不妄行，在官寬猛能折衷。今為南司，足以振肅百僚也。」淹曰：「今日之事，可謂當官而行，更恐不足仰稱明旨爾。」於是彈中書令謝朏、司徒左長史王繢、護軍長史庾弘遠，並以托疾不預山陵公事。又奏收前益州刺史劉悛、梁州刺史陰智伯，並贓貨巨萬，輒收付廷尉。臨海太守沈昭略、永嘉太守庾曇隆及諸郡二千石並大縣官長，多被劾，內外肅然。明帝謂曰：「自宋以來，不復有嚴明中丞，君今日可謂近世獨步。」累遷秘書監，侍中，衛尉卿。初，淹年十三時，孤貧，常采薪以養母，曾于樵所得貂蟬一具，將鬻以供養。其母曰：「此故汝之休征也，汝才行若此，豈長貧賤也，可留待得侍中著之。」至是果如母言。

At the beginning of the Young Emperor's reign he concurrently served as Censor-in-Chief. When Emperor Ming served as Chancellor he told Yan, "In former days in the Secretariat you did not act rashly except on public business. In office you could balance leniency and severity. Now as head of the southern bureau you are fit to rouse and sober the hundred officials. Yan said, "Today's affairs may be called acting as the office requires. I fear rather that I am not sufficient to live up to your enlightened intent." Thereupon he impeached Director of the Secretariat Xie Tiao, Left Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education Wang Hui, and Chief Clerk of the Guards General Yu Hongyuan, all for feigning illness and failing to take part in the imperial tomb ceremonies. He also memorialized for the arrest of former Yizhou inspector Liu Xiao and Liangzhou inspector Yin Zhibo, both of whom had taken bribes in the tens of thousands, and had them immediately delivered to the Court of Justice. Linhai grand administrator Shen Zhaolue, Yongjia grand administrator Yu Tanlong, and the two-thousand-dan officials of the various commanderies and chiefs of great counties were mostly impeached. Within and without, the court was sobered. Emperor Ming told him, "Since the Song there has not again been a stern and clear censor-in-chief. Today you may be called without peer in recent times. He was repeatedly promoted to Director of the Secretariat Library, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Commandant of the Guards. Earlier, when Yan was thirteen, orphaned and poor, he often gathered firewood to support his mother. Once while cutting wood he found a set of cicada ornaments and was about to sell them for their upkeep. His mother said, "This is surely your auspicious sign. With talent and conduct such as yours, how could you long remain poor and base? Keep it and wait until you become Attendant-in-Ordinary to wear it. When he reached this point it indeed came about as his mother had said.

永元中，崔慧景舉兵圍都，衣冠悉投名刺，淹稱疾不往。及事平，時人服其先見。

In the Yongyuan era Cui Huijing raised troops and besieged the capital. The gentry all submitted calling cards, but Yan claimed illness and did not go. When the affair was settled, men of the time admired his foresight.

淹少以文章顯，晚節才思微退，云為宣城太守時罷歸，始泊禪靈寺渚，夜夢一人自稱張景陽，謂曰：「前以一匹錦相寄，今可見還。」淹探懷中得數尺與之，此人大恚曰：「那得割截都盡。」顧見丘遲謂曰：「餘此數尺既無所用，以遺君。」自爾淹文章躓矣。又嘗宿於冶亭，夢一丈夫自稱郭璞，謂淹曰：「吾有筆在卿處多年，可以見還。」淹乃探懷中得五色筆一以授之。爾後為詩絕無美句，時人謂之才盡。凡所著述，自撰為前後集，並齊史十志，並行於世。嘗欲為赤縣經以補山海之闕，竟不成。子蒍嗣。

Yan won early fame through his writings, but in his later years his talent and inspiration declined slightly. It is said that when he was dismissed and returned after serving as grand administrator of Xuancheng, he first moored at the Chanling Temple ford. At night he dreamed of a man who called himself Zhang Jingyang, who said, "I once entrusted a bolt of brocade to you. You may return it now. Yan reached into his bosom, took out several feet, and gave them to him. The man was furious and said, "How could you cut it all away!" Turning, he saw Qiu Chi and said to him, "These few feet that remain are of no use to me. I give them to you." From then on Yan's literary writings stumbled. He also once lodged at Yeting and dreamed of a man who called himself Guo Pu, who said to Yan, "I have had a brush at your place for many years. You may return it now. Yan then reached into his bosom, took out one five-colored brush, and handed it over. After that his poetry had no fine lines at all, and men of the time said his talent was spent. Everything he wrote he compiled into earlier and later collections, together with the Ten Monographs of Qi history, all of which circulated in his day. He once wished to compose a Classic of the Red Counties to fill the gaps in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, but never finished it. His son Wei succeeded him.

任昉字彥升，樂安博昌人也。父遙，齊中散大夫。遙兄遐字景遠，少敦學業，家行甚謹，位御史中丞、金紫光祿大夫。永明中，遐以罪將徙荒裔，遙懷名請訴，言淚交下，齊武帝聞而哀之，竟得免。

Ren Fang, styled Yansheng, came from Bochang in Le'an commandery. His father Yao served as Palace Attendant under Qi. Yao's elder brother Xia, styled Jingyuan, devoted himself to learning from youth. His household conduct was very strict. He rose to Censor-in-Chief and Grand Master of the Golden Seal and Purple Cord. In the Yongming era Xia was about to be banished to the remote borderlands for a crime. Yao pleaded in appeal on his behalf, words and tears mingling. Emperor Wu of Qi heard and pitied him, and in the end Xia was spared.

遙妻河東裴氏，高明有德行，嘗晝臥，夢有五色采旗蓋四角懸鈴，自天而墜，其一鈴落入懷中，心悸因而有娠。占者曰：「必生才子。」及生昉，身長七尺五寸，幼而聰敏，早稱神悟。四歲誦詩數十篇，八歲能屬文，自製月儀，辭義甚美。褚彥回嘗謂遙曰：「聞卿有令子，相為喜之。所謂百不為多，一不為少。」由是聞聲藉甚。年十二，從叔晷有知人之量，見而稱其小名曰：「阿堆，吾家千里駒也。」昉孝友純至，每侍親疾，衣不解帶，言與淚並，湯藥飲食必先經口。

Yao's wife, of the Pei clan of Hedong, was a woman of lofty virtue. Once while sleeping by day she dreamed of a five-colored banner-canopy with bells at the four corners falling from heaven. One bell fell into her bosom. Her heart palpitated and she became pregnant. The diviner said, "She will surely bear a talented son. When Fang was born, he stood seven feet five inches tall. Even as a child he was clever and keen, and early on was called divinely perceptive. At four he could recite dozens of poems. At eight he could compose prose and wrote a Monthly Ritual of his own, its language and meaning very fine. Chu Yanhui once told Yao, "I hear you have an excellent son. I rejoice with you. As the saying goes, a hundred is not too many, and one is not too few. From this his fame spread far and wide. At twelve his cousin Gao, who had the measure to know men, saw him and praised his childhood name, saying, "A-Dui, our family's thousand-li colt! Fang was pure and utmost in filial piety and brotherly love. Whenever he attended a parent's illness he did not undo his belt, and words and tears came together. Broth, medicine, drink, and food he always tasted first.

初為奉朝請，舉兗州秀才，拜太學博士。永明初，衛將軍王儉領丹陽尹，復引為主簿。儉每見其文，必三復殷勤，以為當時無輩，曰：「自傅季友以來，始復見於任子。若孔門是用，其入室升堂。」於是令昉作一文，及見，曰：「正得吾腹中之欲。」乃出自作文，令昉點正，昉因定數位。儉拊幾歎曰：「後世誰知子定吾文！」其見知如此。

He first served as Attendant-in-Ordinary, was nominated as a provincial graduate of Yanzhou, and was appointed Erudite of the Imperial Academy. At the beginning of Yongming, Guards General Wang Jian served concurrently as Administrator of Danyang and again brought him in as chief clerk. Whenever Jian saw his writings he would read them three times with earnest care, considering that in the present age there was no equal. He said, "Since Fu Jiyou, one sees this again in Master Ren. If the gate of Confucius were to employ him, he would enter the inner chamber and ascend the hall. Thereupon he had Fang compose a piece of writing, and when he saw it said, "This is exactly what I wanted." He then brought out a composition of his own and had Fang mark and correct it. Fang fixed several places. Jian struck the table and sighed, "Who in later ages will know that you fixed my writing! Thus was he known and appreciated.

後為司徒竟陵王記室參軍。時琅邪王融有才俊，自謂無對當時，見昉之文，怳然自失。以父喪去官，泣血三年，杖而後起。齊武帝謂昉伯遐曰：「聞昉哀瘠過禮，使人憂之，非直亡卿之寶，亦時才可惜。宜深相全譬。」遐使進飲食，當時勉勵，回即歐出。昉父遙本性重檳榔，以為常餌，臨終嘗求之，剖百許口，不得好者，昉亦所嗜好，深以為恨，遂終身不嚐檳榔。遭繼母憂，昉先以毀瘠，每一慟絕，良久乃蘇，因廬於墓側，以終喪禮。哭泣之地，草為不生。昉素強壯，腰帶甚充，服闋後不復可識。

Later he served as recorder-aide to the Minister of Education, Prince Jingling. At that time Wang Rong of Langya had literary talent and brilliance and considered himself without rival in the age. When he saw Fang's writings he was suddenly lost to himself. On his father's death he left office. He wept blood for three years and only rose with a staff. Emperor Wu of Qi told Fang's elder uncle Xia, "I hear Fang's mourning emaciation exceeds the rites and causes worry. It is not only the loss of your treasure but also a pity for the talent of the age. You should deeply comfort and instruct him. Xia had food and drink brought in and urged him on, but as soon as he returned Fang vomited it out. Fang's father Yao prized betel nut as a regular food. On his deathbed he once asked for it, but of a hundred or so split open none was good. Fang too was fond of it and deeply regretted this, and never tasted betel nut for the rest of his life. When he met with mourning for his stepmother, Fang had already been emaciated by grief. Each time he wailed he fainted and only after a long while revived. He built a hut by the tomb and completed the mourning rites there. At the place of his weeping the grass would not grow. Fang had always been robust and his waist belt very full. After the mourning period ended he could no longer be recognized.

齊明帝深加器異，欲大相擢引，為愛憎所白，乃除太子步兵校尉，掌東宮書記。齊明帝廢郁林王，始為侍中、中書監、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、揚州刺史、錄尚書事，封宣城郡公，使昉具草。帝惡其辭斥，甚慍，昉亦由是終建武中位不過列校。

Emperor Ming of Qi greatly valued and distinguished him and wished to promote him to high office, but enemies spoke against him. He was therefore appointed Colonel of Footsoldiers for the Heir Apparent and managed the Eastern Palace records. When Emperor Ming of Qi deposed Prince Yulin, he first became Attendant-in-Ordinary, Director of the Secretariat, Grand General of the Rapid Cavalry, Commissioner Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies with an open office, Inspector of Yangzhou, and Recorder of Affairs of the Secretariat. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Xuancheng commandery and had Fang draft the documents. The Emperor hated the reproach in the wording and was greatly angered. Fang also for this reason never rose above the rank of colonel through the end of Jianwu.

昉尤長為筆，頗慕傅亮才思無窮，當時王公表奏無不請焉。昉起草即成，不加點竄。沈約一代辭宗，深所推挹。永元中，紆意于梅蟲兒，東昏中旨用為中書郎。謝尚書令王亮，亮曰：「卿宜謝梅，那忽謝我。」昉慚而退。末為司徒右長史。

Fang was especially skilled at wielding the brush and greatly admired Fu Liang's inexhaustible talent. At the time there was no prince or duke memorial or report for which he was not asked. Fang's drafts were finished as soon as written, without a dot or stroke of correction. Shen Yue, patriarch of letters for a generation, deeply esteemed him. In the Yongyuan era he curried favor with Mei Chong'er. By the secret wish of the Depraved Emperor he was appointed Director of the Secretariat. He thanked Director of the Secretariat Wang Liang. Liang said, "You ought to thank Mei—why suddenly thank me? Fang withdrew in shame. At the end he served as Right Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education.

梁武帝克建鄴，霸府初開，以為驃騎記室參軍，專主文翰。每制書草，沈約輒求同署。嘗被急召，昉出而約在，是後文筆，約參制焉。

When Emperor Wu of Liang took Jiankang, as the hegemon's office was first opened he was appointed recorder-aide in the Rapid Cavalry command and exclusively managed literary documents. Whenever imperial documents were drafted, Shen Yue always asked to sign jointly. Once when urgently summoned, Fang went out while Yue remained. From then on Yue participated in drafting literary documents.

始梁武與昉遇竟陵王西邸，從容謂昉曰：「我登三府，當以卿為記室。」昉亦戲帝曰：「我若登三事，當以卿為騎兵。」以帝善騎也。至是引昉符昔言焉。昉奉箋云：「昔承清宴，屬有緒言，提挈之旨，形乎善謔。豈謂多幸，斯言不渝。」蓋為此也。梁台建，禪讓文誥，多昉所具。

At the beginning, when Emperor Wu of Liang and Fang met at Prince Jingling's Western Lodge, he said at ease to Fang, "When I ascend the Three Offices, I shall make you recorder. Fang also jested with the Emperor, "If I ascend the Three Affairs, I shall make you cavalry officer." This was because the Emperor was skilled at riding. At this point he cited Fang in fulfillment of their former words. Fang submitted a letter saying, "In former days I received a clear banquet and there was a thread of words. The intent to lift and draw one up took form in good jest. Who would have said such great fortune—that these words would not change! This was probably on that account. When the Liang regime was established, the abdication documents were mostly drafted by Fang.

奉世叔父母不異嚴親，事兄嫂恭謹。外氏貧闕，恒營奉供養。祿奉所收，四方餉遺，皆班之親戚，即日便盡。性通脫，不事儀形，喜慍未嘗形于色，車服亦不鮮明。

He served his uncles and aunts of the generation as if they were stern parents, and attended elder brother and sister-in-law with reverent care. His mother's clan was poor and lacking, and he constantly provided for their support. The salary and stipends he received, and gifts sent from the four directions, he distributed among his kin and on the same day they were spent. By nature he was free and unbound and did not attend to ceremonial form. Joy and anger never showed on his face, and his carriage and garments were not bright.

武帝踐阼，曆給事黃門侍郎，吏部郎。出為義興太守。歲荒民散，以私奉米豆為粥，活三千餘人。時產子者不舉，昉嚴其制，罪同殺人。孕者供其資費，濟者千室。在郡所得公田奉秩八百餘石，昉五分督一，余者悉原，兒妾食麥而已。友人彭城到溉、溉弟洽從昉共為山澤遊。及被代登舟，止有絹七匹，米五石。至都無衣，鎮軍將軍沈約遣裙衫迎之。

When the Emperor took the throne, he successively served as Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and Director of the Ministry of Personnel. He went out as grand administrator of Yixing. The year was famine and the people scattered. With his private stipend of rice and beans he made gruel and kept alive more than three thousand people. At the time those who bore children did not raise them. Fang made the regulation strict, the crime equal to murder. For pregnant women he supplied their expenses. Those he aided numbered a thousand households. In the commandery the public-field stipend he received was more than eight hundred piculs. Fang took one part in five for supervision, remitted all the rest, and his sons, concubines, and servants ate only wheat. His friends Dao Gai of Pengcheng and Gai's younger brother Qia followed Fang on excursions to mountains and marshes. When he was replaced and boarded his boat, he had only seven bolts of silk and five piculs of rice. When he reached the capital he had no clothes. Pacification Army General Shen Yue sent skirts and shirts to meet him.

重除吏部郎，參掌大選，居職不稱。尋轉御史中丞、秘書監。自齊永元以來，秘閣四部，篇卷紛雜，昉手自讎校，由是篇目定焉。

He was again appointed Director of the Ministry of Personnel and participated in managing the great selection, but in office did not measure up. Soon he was transferred to Censor-in-Chief and Director of the Secretariat Library. Since Yongyuan of Qi the four sections of the secret archive had volumes in disorder. Fang personally collated them, and thereby the catalogue was fixed.

出為新安太守，在郡不事邊幅，率然曳杖，徒行邑郭。人通辭訟者，就路決焉。為政清省，吏人便之。卒于官，唯有桃花米二十石，無以為斂。遺言不許以新安一物還都，雜木為棺，浣衣為斂。闔境痛惜，百姓共立祠堂于城南，歲時祠之。武帝聞問，方食西苑綠沈瓜，投之於盤，悲不自勝。因屈指曰：「昉少時常恐不滿五十，今四十九，可謂知命。」即日舉哀，哭之甚慟。追贈太常，諡曰敬子。

He went out as grand administrator of Xin'an. In the commandery he did not attend to the borders of his robe, casually dragging his staff and walking on foot through the town. When people came with petitions and lawsuits, he decided them on the road. His government was clear and sparing, and officials and people found it convenient. He died in office. He had only twenty piculs of peach-blossom rice and nothing with which to bury him. His testamentary words forbade taking a single thing from Xin'an back to the capital. Miscellaneous wood served for the coffin and washed garments for the shroud. The whole territory grieved. The common people jointly erected a shrine south of the city and sacrificed to him at the seasons. When the Emperor heard the news, he was just eating green-soaked melons from the Western Park. He threw them onto the platter and could not overcome his grief. Thereupon counting on his fingers he said, "Fang in youth often feared he would not reach fifty. Now he is forty-nine—one may call this knowing fate. That same day he raised mourning and wept for him with extreme grief. Posthumously he was given the office of Minister of Ceremonies. His posthumous title was Respectful Son.

昉好交結，獎進士友，不附之者亦不稱述，得其延譽者多見升擢，故衣冠貴遊莫不多與交好，坐上客恒有數十。時人慕之，號曰任君，言如漢之三君也。在郡尤以清潔著名，百姓年八十以上者，遣戶曹掾訪其寒溫。嘗欲營佛齋，調楓香二石，始入三斗，便出教長斷，曰：「與奪自己，不欲貽之後人。」郡有蜜嶺及楊梅，舊為太守所采，昉以冒險多物故，即時停絕，吏人咸以百餘年未之有也。為家誡，殷勤甚有條貫。陳郡殷芸與建安太守到溉書曰：「哲人云亡，儀錶長謝。元龜何寄，指南何托？」其為士友所推如此。

Fang loved to form connections and encouraged and advanced scholar-friends. Those who did not attach to him he also did not praise. Many who received his extended reputation were promoted. Therefore the gentry and noble wanderers mostly formed friendship with him, and guests at his seat constantly numbered several tens. Men of the time admired him and called him Lord Ren, meaning like the Three Lords of Han. In the commandery he was especially famed for purity and integrity. For commoners eighty years and above he sent the household registrar aide to inquire after their welfare. He once wished to hold a Buddhist fast and levied two piculs of maple incense. When only three dou had been brought in he issued an order to stop it, saying, "Granting and taking is for oneself. I do not wish to burden later men. The commandery had Honey Ridge and bayberry groves that in old times the grand administrator harvested. Fang because of the danger and many accidents immediately stopped it. Officials and people all considered that in more than a hundred years there had been nothing like it. He wrote a Family Admonition, earnest and very well ordered. Yin Yun of Chen commandery wrote to Jian'an grand administrator Dao Gai, saying, "The wise man has passed away. His bearing and measure have long taken leave. To what shall the divine tortoise be entrusted? To what shall the south-pointing needle be committed? Thus was he esteemed by scholar-friends.

昉不事生產，至乃居無室宅。時或譏其多乞貸，亦隨復散之親故，常自歎曰：「知我者亦以叔則，不知我者亦以叔則。」既以文才見知，時人云：「任筆沈詩」。昉聞甚以為病。晚節轉好著詩，欲以傾沈，用事過多，屬辭不得流便，自爾都下士子慕之，轉為穿鑿，於是有才盡之談矣。博學，於書無所不見，家雖貧，聚書至萬餘卷，率多異本。及卒後，武帝使學士賀縱共沈約勘其書目，官無者就其家取之。所著文章數十萬言，盛行于時。東海王僧孺嘗論之，以為「過於董生、揚子。昉樂人之樂，憂人之憂，虛往實歸，忘貧去吝，行可以厲風俗，義可以厚人倫，能使貪夫不取，懦夫有立」。其見重如此。

Fang did not attend to production and even had no dwelling house. At times men mocked him for much begging and borrowing, but he also immediately distributed it again among kin and friends. He often sighed to himself, "Those who know me also take me for Shuzi. Those who do not know me also take me for Shuzi. Since he was known for literary talent, men of the time said, "Ren's brush, Shen's poetry." When Fang heard this he took it very much as an affliction. In his later years he turned to composing poetry, wishing to overturn Shen. He used allusions too heavily and his phrasing could not flow smoothly. From then the gentlemen of the capital admired this and turned to forced elaboration, and thereby arose talk that talent was exhausted. He was broadly learned. In books there was nothing he had not seen. Though his family was poor, he collected books to more than ten thousand scrolls, mostly variant editions. After his death the Emperor sent the academicians He Zong and Shen Yue jointly to collate his book catalogue. What the office lacked they took from his household. The writings he composed numbered several hundred thousand words and flourished in his time. Wang Sengru of Donghai once discussed him, considering that he "surpassed Master Dong and Master Yang. Fang rejoiced in others' joy and grieved in others' grief. He went empty-handed and returned enriched, forgot poverty and cast off stinginess. His conduct could sharpen custom, his righteousness could thicken human bonds. He could make the greedy refrain from taking and the timid stand firm." Thus was he esteemed.

有子東裏、西華、南容、北叟，並無術業，墜其家聲。兄弟流離不能自振，生平舊交莫有收恤。西華冬月著葛帔綀裙，道逢平原劉孝標，泫然矜之，謂曰：「我當為卿作計。」乃著廣絕交論以譏其舊交曰：

He had sons Dongli, Xihua, Nanrong, and Beisou, all without learning or accomplishment, who brought down the family's reputation. The brothers wandered destitute and could not revive themselves. None of his old friends of a lifetime came to their aid. In winter Xihua wore a hemp cape and silk-lined skirt. On the road he met Liu Xiaobiao of Pingyuan, who wept and pitied him, saying, "I shall make a plan for you. He thereupon composed the Treatise on Severing Friendships Broadly to satirize his old friends, saying:

客問主人曰：「朱公叔絕交論，為是乎，為非乎？」主人曰：「客奚此之問？」客曰：「夫草蟲鳴則阜螽躍，雕虎嘯而清風起，故氛氳相感，霧湧雲蒸，嚶鳴相召，星流電激。是以王陽登則貢公喜，罕生逝而國子悲。且心同琴瑟，言鬱鬱于蘭茞，道協膠漆，志婉孌於塤篪。聖賢以此鏤金板而鐫盤盂，書玉牒而刻鍾鼎。若乃匠石輟成風之妙巧，伯牙息流波之雅引，范、張款款於下泉，尹、班陶陶於永夕。駱驛從橫，煙霏雨散，巧曆所不知，心計莫能測。而朱益州汨彝敘，粵謨訓，捶直切，絕交遊，視黔首以鷹鸇，媲人靈於豺虎。蒙有猜焉，請辯其惑。」主人聽然曰：「客所謂撫弦徽音，未達燥濕變響，張羅沮澤，不睹鴻雁高飛。蓋聖人握金鏡，闡風烈，龍驤蠖屈，從道汙隆。日月連璧，贊亹亹之弘致，雲飛雷薄，顯棣華之微旨。若五音之變化，濟九成之妙曲，此朱生得玄珠於赤水，謨神睿以為言。至夫組織仁義，琢磨道德，歡其愉樂，恤其陵夷，寄通靈台之下，遺跡江湖之上，風雨急而不輟其音，霜雪零而不渝其色，斯賢達之素交，曆萬古而一遇。逮叔世人訛，狙詐飆起，溪穀不能踰其險，鬼神無以究其變，競毛羽之輕，趨錐刀之末。於是素交盡，利交興，天下蚩蚩，鳥驚雷駭。然利交同源，派流則異，較言其略，有五術焉：

The guest asked the host, "Zhu Gongshu's Treatise on Severing Friendships—is it right or wrong? The host said, "Guest, why this question?" The guest said, "When the grass insects cry, the locusts leap. When the carved tiger roars, the clear wind rises. Thus vapors respond to one another, mist wells up and clouds steam. Chirping calls to chirping, stars stream and lightning flashes. Therefore when Wang Yang ascended, Duke Gong rejoiced. When Hansheng passed away, Guozi grieved. Moreover hearts are like zither and lute. Words flourish richly as orchid and angelica. The Way agrees like glue and lacquer. Wills twine tenderly as xun and chi flutes. Sages and worthies for this carved gold boards and engraved platters and bowls, wrote jade tablets and cut bell and tripod inscriptions. As for Craftsman Shi ceasing his marvelous skill of the completed wind, Boya laying aside the elegant melody of Flowing Waves, Fan and Zhang earnest in the lower spring, Yin and Ban at ease through the long night. They come and go in file, mist scatters like rain. What clever reckoners do not know, what the mind's plans cannot measure. Yet Administrator Zhu of Yizhou muddies the Yi narrative, admonishes in Yue mode, beats straight and cuts off, severs friendly intercourse, views the common people as hawks and falcons, and compares human spirits to jackals and tigers. I have doubts about this. Please resolve my confusion. The host listened and said, "What you call stroking the strings for clear tone has not reached the changing sound of dry and wet. Spreading nets in marshy ground does not see the wild geese flying high. The sage holds the golden mirror and unfolds wind and blazing merit. The dragon rears, the silkworm curls, following the Way in rise and fall. Sun and moon join as paired jades, praising the vast reach of tireless effort. Clouds fly and thunder presses near, displaying the subtle intent of flowering pearwood. Like the transformations of the five tones completing the marvelous tune of the Ninefold Completion—this is Master Zhu obtaining the dark pearl from Red Water and taking divine wisdom as his words. As for weaving together benevolence and righteousness, polishing moral power, rejoicing in their pleasure, pitying their decline, lodging beneath the Spirit Terrace, leaving traces upon rivers and lakes—through urgent wind and rain they do not cease their tone, through falling frost and snow they do not change their color—such is the plain friendship of the worthy and eminent, met once in ten thousand ages. When the age of decline came, the world erred and cunning and fraud rose like a whirlwind. Streams and valleys could not cross their peril, ghosts and spirits could not trace their changes. Men raced after the lightness of feathers and hurried to the tip of awl and knife. Thereupon plain friendship was exhausted and profit friendship arose. All under heaven was restless, birds startled and thunder-struck. Yet profit friendship shares one source but its branches flow differently. Comparing them in outline, there are five kinds:

「若其寵均董、石，權壓梁、竇，雕刻百工，爐錘萬物，吐嗽興雲雨，呼吸下霜露，九域聳其風塵，四海疊其熏灼。靡不望影星奔，藉響川鶩。雞人始唱，鶴蓋成陰，高門旦開，流水接軫，皆願摩頂至踵，隳膽抽腸。約同要離焚妻子，誓殉荊卿湛七族。是曰勢交，其流一也。

If favor equals Dong and Shi, power presses down Liang and Dou, carving the hundred crafts, smelting the ten thousand things, spitting and coughing raise cloud and rain, breathing in and out sends down frost and dew—the nine regions start at their wind and dust, the four seas are layered with their scorching heat. None fail to gaze at their star and run, borrow their echo and flock like ducks on a stream. When the cock-man first sings, crane-canopies form shade. When the high gate opens at dawn, flowing carriages link wheel hubs. All wish to rub crown to heel, smash gall and draw out entrails. They covenant like Yaoli burning wife and children, vow to die with Jing Ke and drown seven clans. This is called power friendship. Its stream is the first.

「富埒陶、白，貲巨程、羅，山擅銅陵，家藏金穴，出平原而聯騎，居里閈而鳴鍾。則有窮巷之賓，繩樞之士，冀宵燭之末光，邀潤屋之微澤。魚貫鳧踴，颯遝鱗萃，分雁鶩之稻粱，沾玉斝之餘瀝。銜恩遇，進款誠，援青松以示心，指白水而旌信。是曰賄交，其流二也。

Wealth rivals Tao and Bai, assets exceed Cheng and Luo. Mountains hold copper mines, households hide golden caves. Leaving the plain they ride in linked files, dwelling in lanes they ring bells. Then there are guests of poor lanes, men of wicker pivots, hoping for the last light of a night candle, seeking the slight moisture that moistens a house. They file like fish, leap like ducks, gather in scales and clusters, share the grain of wild geese and ducks, wet themselves with the lees of jade goblets. They hold gratitude for favor, advance sincere regard, grasp green pines to show the heart, point to white water to display faith. This is called bribery friendship. Its stream is the second.

「陸大夫宴喜西都，郭有道人倫東國，公卿貴其籍甚，搢紳羨其登仙。加以顩頤蹙頞，涕唾流沫，騁黃馬之劇談，縱碧雞之雄辯。敘溫燠則寒谷成暄，論嚴苦則春叢零葉，飛沈出其顧指，榮辱定其一言。於是有弱冠王孫，綺紈公子，道不掛於通人，聲未遒於雲閣，攀其鱗翼，丐其餘論，附騏驥之旄端，軼歸鴻于碣石。是曰談交，其流三也。

Grandee Lu feasted and rejoiced in the Western Capital. Guo the Worthy was the human measure of the Eastern State. Dukes and ministers prized his great fame, gentry envied his ascent to immortality. Added to this, chin drawn and brow furrowed, tears and spittle flowing in foam, they unleash fierce talk and give free rein to heroic eloquence. Narrating warmth makes cold valleys turn balmy. Discussing severity makes spring thickets drop their leaves. Rise and fall come from a glance and gesture, honor and disgrace are fixed by a single word. Thereupon there are capping princelings, silk-clad young lords, whose Way does not hang on the accomplished, whose fame has not reached the Cloud Pavilion. They climb their scales and wings, beg their leftover discourse, attach to the mane-tip of the qiji steed, and outpace the returning goose at Jieshi. This is called talk friendship. Its stream is the third.

「陽舒陰慘，生靈大情，憂合歡離，品物恒性。故魚以泉涸而呴沫，鳥因將死而鳴哀。同病相憐，綴河上之悲曲，恐懼置懷，昭穀風之盛典，斯則斷金由於湫隘，刎頸起于苫蓋。是以伍員濯溉於宰嚭，張王撫翼于陳相。是曰窮交，其流四也。

Yang expands, yin constricts—the great feeling of living beings. Sorrow joins, joy parts—the constant nature of things. Therefore fish, when the spring dries, bubble foam at one another. Birds, because they are about to die, cry in grief. Those with the same illness pity one another, stringing the mournful tune of the River. Fear placed in the breast displays the great ceremony of Valley Wind. Thus severed gold comes from narrow straits, and neck-cutting friendship rises from thatch and cover. Therefore Wu Yuan was washed and irrigated by Steward Pi. Zhang and Wang stroked wings at the Chancellor of Chen. This is called destitute friendship. Its stream is the fourth.

「馳鶩之俗，澆薄之倫，無不操權衡，執纖纊，衡所以揣其輕重，纊所以屬其鼻息。若衡不能舉，纊不能飛，雖顏、冉龍翰鳳鶵，曾、史蘭熏雪白，舒、向金玉泉海，卿、雲黼黻河漢，視若遊塵，遇同土梗，莫肯費其半菽，罕有落其一毛。若衡重錙銖，纊微彯撇，雖共工之搜慝，驩兜之掩義，南荊之跋扈，東陵之巨猾，皆為匍匐委蛇，折枝舐痔。金膏翠羽將其意，脂韋便辟導其誠。故輪蓋所遊，必非夷、惠之室，包苴所入，實行張、霍之家。謀而後動，芒豪寡忒。是曰量交，其流五也。

In the custom of rushing ducks, in the code of thin and shallow men, none fail to wield scales and hold silken threads. The scale is to gauge their weight, the thread is to tie their breath. If the scale cannot lift, the thread cannot fly—though Yan and Ran were dragon pinions and phoenix chicks, Zeng and Shi orchid-scented and snow-white, Shu and Xiang gold-jade springs and seas, Qing and Yun brocade patterns of river and Milky Way—they are viewed as wandering dust, met like clay puppets. None will spend half a bean, rarely will one drop a single hair. If the scale weighs a hundredth and the thread is fine as floating fluff—even Gong Gong's search for evil, Huan Dou's concealment of righteousness, the overbearing of southern Jing, the great rogue of eastern tombs—all become crawling and winding, breaking branches and licking hemorrhoids. Golden ointment and kingfisher feathers carry their intent. Grease, leather, and obsequiousness guide their sincerity. Therefore where carriage wheels and canopies travel is surely not the house of Bo Yi or Hui. Where wrapped bundles enter in fact goes to the homes of Zhang and Huo. They plot before they act. The awn-haired and powerful rarely err. This is called measured friendship. Its stream is the fifth.

「凡斯五交，義同賈鬻，故桓譚譬之於闤闠，林回諭之于甘醴。夫寒暑遞進，盛衰相襲，或前榮而後悴，或始富而終貧，或初存而末亡，或古約而今泰。回圈翻覆，迅若波瀾，此則徇利之情未嘗異，變化之道不得一。由是觀之，張、陳所以凶終，蕭、朱所以隙末，斷焉可知矣。而翟公方規規然勒門以箴客，何所見之晚乎？然因此五交，是生三釁：敗德殄義，禽獸相若，一釁也；難固易攜，讎訟所聚，二釁也；名陷饕餮，貞介所羞，三釁也。古人知三釁之為梗，懼五交之速尤，故王丹威子以榎楚，朱穆昌言而示絕，有旨哉！有旨哉！

All these five friendships are in meaning the same as buying and selling. Therefore Huan Tan compared them to market stalls, Lin Hui likened them to sweet wine. Cold and heat advance in turn, flourishing and decline succeed one another. Some are first honored and later withered, some begin rich and end poor, some at first survive and in the end perish, some anciently constrained and now at ease. Turning and revolving, overturning and reversing, swift as waves—here the feeling of pursuing profit has never differed, the Way of change cannot be one. Viewed from this, why Zhang and Chen met violent ends and why Xiao and Zhu found rifts at the end can clearly be known. Yet Duke Zhai was just then sternly barring his gate to admonish guests—how late was what he saw? Yet from these five friendships three offenses arise: destroying virtue and extinguishing righteousness, resembling beasts—the first offense; hard to solidify, easy to carry off, where enmity and litigation gather—the second offense; name falling into gluttony, what the upright and firm are ashamed of—the third offense. The ancients knew the three offenses as obstruction and feared the five friendships' swift blame. Therefore Wang Dan awed his son with the pagoda tree staff, Zhu Mu spoke plainly and displayed severance—how pointed! How pointed!

「近世有樂安任昉，海內髦傑，早綰銀黃，夙昭人譽。遒文麗藻，方駕曹、王，英跱俊邁，聯衡許、郭。類田文之愛客，同鄭莊之好賢。見一善則盱衡扼腕，遇一才則揚眉抵掌。雌黃出其唇吻，朱紫由其月旦。於是冠蓋輻湊，衣裳雲合，輜軿擊轊，坐客恒滿。蹈其閫閾，若升闕里之堂，入其隩隅，謂登龍門之阪。至於顧眄增其倍價，翦拂使其長鳴，彯組雲台者摩肩，趨走丹墀者疊跡。莫不締恩狎，結綢繆。想惠、莊之清塵，庶羊、左之徽烈。及瞑目東粵，歸骸洛浦，繐帳猶懸，門罕漬酒之彥，墳未宿草，野絕動輪之賓。藐爾諸孤，朝不謀夕，流離大海之南，寄命瘴癘之地。自昔把臂之英，金蘭之友，曾無羊舌下泣之仁，甯慕郈成分宅之德。嗚呼！世路嶮歧，一至於此！太行孟門，豈云鏩絕。是以耿介之士，疾其若斯，裂裳裹足，棄之長鶩。獨立高山之頂，歡與麋鹿同群，曒曒然絕其雰濁，誠恥之也，誠畏之也。」到溉見其論，抵幾於地，終身恨之。昉撰雜傳二百四十七卷，地記二百五十二卷，文章三十三卷。東裏位尚書外兵郎。

In recent times there was Ren Fang of Le'an, a leading figure within the seas, early girded with silver and yellow, long renowned in human praise. Forceful writings and beautiful ornament, driving abreast of Cao and Wang. Heroic stride and eminent stride, yoked in balance with Xu and Guo. Like Tian Wen in loving guests, like Zheng Zhuang in delighting in the worthy. Seeing one good he raised his brow and clenched his wrist. Meeting one talent he lifted his eyebrows and struck his palms. Orpiment and realgar came from his lips. Vermilion and purple from his monthly dawn judgment. Thereupon caps and canopies converged like wheel spokes, robes and garments gathered like clouds, carriage shafts struck wheel hubs, seated guests were constantly full. Treading his threshold was like ascending the hall of Que Li. Entering his inner corner was called climbing the slope of Dragon Gate. As for a glance doubling their price, trimming and brushing making them cry long—those with floating ribbons at Cloud Terrace rubbed shoulders, those hurrying on the cinnabar court layered footprints. None failed to bind favor intimately and knot close friendship. They thought of the clear dust of Hui and Zhuang, hoped for the fine blaze of Yang and Zuo. When he closed his eyes in Eastern Yue and returned his bones to Luopu, the tent curtains still hung but the gate rarely saw the worthy who sprinkled wine. The tomb had not yet overnight grass, the wilds utterly lacked guests whose wheels moved. Contemptibly small, the orphans did not plan from morning to evening, wandered destitute south of the great sea, entrusted their lives to miasmic lands. From former days the heroes who grasped arms, the friends of golden orchid—never had the benevolence of Yangshe's weeping below, never emulated the virtue of Zou's dividing houses. Alas! The world's road is perilous and forked—to reach this point! Taihang and Meng Gate—can one say they are cut off? Therefore upright and firm gentlemen hated it thus, tore their robes to wrap their feet, and cast it off to long flight. Standing alone on the high mountain's peak, they rejoiced to flock with deer, brightly cutting off its murky vapors—truly they were ashamed of it, truly they feared it. When Dao Gai saw this treatise he struck the table to the ground and hated it for life. Fang compiled Miscellaneous Biographies in 247 scrolls, Gazetteers in 252 scrolls, and Literary Writings in 33 scrolls. Dongli held the post of Director of External Troops in the Secretariat.

王僧孺

Wang Sengru

王僧孺字僧孺，東海郯人也。魏衛將軍肅八世孫也。曾祖雅，晉左光祿大夫、儀同三司。祖准之，宋司徒左長史。父延年，員外常侍，未拜卒。

Wang Sengru, styled Sengru, came from Tan in Donghai commandery. He was the eighth-generation descendant of Su, Guards General of Wei. His great-grandfather Ya was Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Commissioner Equal in Honor to the Three Excellencies of Jin. His grandfather Zhunzhi was Left Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education under Song. His father Yannian was Attendant Gentleman Outside the Regular Establishment and died before assuming the post.

僧孺幼聰慧，年五歲便機警，初讀孝經，問授者曰：「此書何所述？」曰：「論忠孝二事。」僧孺曰：「若爾，願常讀之。」又有饋其父冬李，先以一與之，僧孺不受，曰：「大人未見，不容先嘗。」七歲能讀十萬言，及長篤愛墳籍。家貧，常傭書以養母，寫畢諷誦亦了。

Sengru in youth was clever and keen. At five he was already alert. When he first read the Classic of Filial Piety he asked his instructor, "What does this book describe? He said, "It discusses the two matters of loyalty and filial piety." Sengru said, "If so, I wish to read it always." Someone also presented winter plums to his father. They first gave one to him, but Sengru would not accept it, saying, "Father has not yet seen them—I cannot taste them first." At seven he could read a hundred thousand words. When grown he deeply loved the classics. His family was poor. He often copied books to support his mother, and when the copying was done he could also recite them through.

仕齊為太學博士，尚書僕射王晏深相賞好。晏為丹陽尹，召補功曹，使撰東宮新記。司徒竟陵王子良開西邸，招文學，僧孺與太學生虞羲、丘國賓、蕭文琰、丘令楷、江洪、劉孝孫並以善辭藻遊焉。而僧孺與高平徐夤俱為學林。文惠太子欲以為宮僚，乃召入直崇明殿。會薨，出為晉安郡丞，仍除候官令。建武初舉士，為始安王遙光所薦，除儀曹郎，遷書侍御史，出為錢唐令。初僧孺與樂安任昉遇于竟陵王西邸，以文學會友，及將之縣，昉贈詩曰：「唯子見知，唯餘知子，觀行視言，要終猶始。敬之重之，如蘭如芷，形應影隨，曩行今止。百行之首，立人斯著，子之有之，誰毀誰譽。修名既立，老至何遽，誰其執鞭，吾為子禦。劉略班藝，虞志荀錄，伊昔有懷，交相欣勖。下帷無倦，升高有屬，嘉爾晨登，惜餘夜燭。」其為士友推重如此。

He served Qi as Erudite of the Imperial Academy. Wang Yan, Vice Director of the Secretariat, deeply appreciated and favored him. When Yan was Administrator of Danyang he summoned him to fill the post of merit officer and had him compile a New Record of the Eastern Palace. The Minister of Education, Prince Jingling, opened the Western Lodge and recruited men of letters. Sengru together with the academy students Yu Xi, Qiu Guobin, Xiao Wenyan, Qiu Lingkai, Jiang Hong, and Liu Xiaosun all gathered there for skill in literary ornament. Sengru together with Xu Yin of Gaoping were both pillars of the scholarly grove. Crown Prince Wenhui wished to make him a palace aide and therefore summoned him to attend directly at Chongming Hall. It happened that the prince died. He went out as assistant magistrate of Jin'an commandery and was then appointed magistrate of Houguan. At the beginning of Jianwu he was nominated as a scholar. Recommended by Prince Yao'guang of Shi'an, he was appointed Gentleman of the Ceremonial Office, transferred to Attending Censor of Documents, and went out as magistrate of Qiantang. Earlier Sengru and Ren Fang of Le'an met at Prince Jingling's Western Lodge and formed friendship through literature. When he was about to go to the county, Fang presented a poem saying, "Only you know me, only I know you. Observing conduct and viewing words, the essential end is still like the beginning. I revere and value you, like orchid like angelica. Form answers shadow and follows, former conduct now stops. The head of the hundred conducts, in establishing a person thus made manifest. You have it—who will slander, who will praise? Cultivated name already established, old age arrives how swiftly. Who will hold the whip? I will drive for you. Liu's outline and Ban's craft, Yu's will and Xun's record—in former days we had these thoughts, mutually rejoicing and urging one another. Lowering the curtain without weariness, ascending high with what belongs. I praise your morning climb, regret my remaining night candle. Thus was he esteemed and pushed forward by scholar-friends.

梁天監初，除臨川王后軍記室，待詔文德省。出為南海太守。南海俗殺牛，曾無限忌，僧孺至便禁斷。又外國舶物、高涼生口歲數至，皆外國賈人以通貨易。舊時州郡就市，回而即賣，其利數倍，曆政以為常。僧孺歎曰：「昔人為蜀部長史，終身無蜀物，吾欲遺子孫者，不在越裝。」並無所取。視事二歲，聲績有聞。詔征將還，郡中道俗六百人詣闕請留，不許。至，拜中書侍郎，領著作，復直文德省。撰起居注、中表簿，遷尚書左丞，俄兼御史中丞。僧孺幼貧，其母鬻紗布以自業，嘗攜僧孺至市，道遇中丞鹵簿，驅迫墜溝中。及是拜日，引騶清道，悲感不自勝。頃之即真。

At the beginning of Tianjian under Liang he was appointed recorder of the Rear Army for the King of Linchuan and awaited imperial orders at the Wende Secretariat. He went out as grand administrator of Nanhai. The custom of Nanhai was to kill cattle without any restriction or taboo. As soon as Sengru arrived he forbade it. Moreover foreign ships' goods and captives from Gaoliang arrived yearly, all traded by foreign merchants for circulating goods. In former times the province and commandery went to the market, turned and immediately sold, the profit several times over. Successive administrations took this as normal. Sengru sighed and said, "In former days a man served as chief clerk of the Shu commandery and for life had no Shu goods. What I wish to leave descendants is not in Yue baggage. He took nothing from any of it. In two years of administering affairs his reputation and achievements were heard of. An edict summoned him to return. Six hundred lay and clerical people of the commandery went to the gate to request he be kept—this was not granted. When he arrived he was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, concurrently Director of Composition, and again attended directly at the Wende Secretariat. He compiled the Daily Records and the Register of Central and Outer Relations, was promoted to Left Assistant Director of the Secretariat, and soon concurrently served as Censor-in-Chief. Sengru in youth was poor. His mother sold gauze cloth for her livelihood. Once she took Sengru to the market and on the road met the censor's guard retinue. Driven and pressed, they fell into a ditch. On the day of this appointment he had outriders clear the road and could not overcome his grief and emotion. Before long he assumed the full post.

時武帝制春景明志詩五百字，敕沈約以下辭人同作，帝以僧孺為工。曆少府卿，尚書吏部郎，參大選，請謁不行。出為仁威南康王長史、蘭陵太守，行府、州、國事。初，帝問僧孺妾媵之數，對曰：「臣室無傾視。」及在南徐州，友人以妾寓之，行還，妾遂懷孕。為王典簽湯道湣所糾，逮詣南司，坐免官，久之不調。友人廬江何炯猶為王府記室，僧孺乃與炯書以見其意。後為安成王參軍事，鎮右中記室參軍。

At the time the Emperor composed a five-hundred-character poem on spring scenery and clear intent and ordered Shen Yue and the literary men below to compose together. The Emperor considered Sengru's the most skillful. He successively served as Minister of the Palace Storehouses and Director of the Ministry of Personnel in the Secretariat, participated in the great selection, and requests for audience did not succeed. He went out as chief clerk to the King of Nankang, Benevolent and Martial, and grand administrator of Lanling, acting in the princely establishment, commandery, and state affairs. Earlier the Emperor asked Sengru the number of his concubines. He replied, "In my household there is no sidelong glance. When he was in South Xuzhou a friend lodged a concubine with him. When he returned from his journey the concubine was already pregnant. He was impeached by the prince's chief clerk Tang Daomin, was taken to the southern bureau, was punished by dismissal from office, and for a long time was not reassigned. His friend He Jiong of Lujiang still served as recorder of the princely establishment. Sengru thereupon wrote Jiong a letter to show his intent. Later he served as aide to the King of Ancheng and recorder-aide in the Central Office of the Pacification Right.

僧孺工屬文，善楷隸，多識古事。侍郎全元起欲注素問，訪以砭石。僧孺答曰：「古人當以石為針，必不用鐵。說文有此砭字，許慎云：'以石刺病也。 '東山經：'高氏之山多針石。 '郭璞云：'可以為砭針。 '春秋：'美疢不如惡石。 '服子慎注云：'石，砭石也。 '季世無復佳石，故以鐵代之爾。」

Sengru was skilled at composing prose, good at regular and clerical script, and knew many ancient matters. Attendant Gentleman Quan Yuanqi wished to annotate the Plain Questions and consulted him about stone needles. Sengru replied, "The ancients surely used stone for needles and certainly did not use iron. The Explaining Graphs has this character for stone needle. Xu Shen says, 'to pierce illness with stone.' The Classic of Eastern Mountains says, 'Mount Gao has many needle stones.' Guo Pu says, 'They can serve as stone needles.' The Spring and Autumn Annals says, 'A fine abscess is not as good as a harsh stone.' Fu Zishen's commentary says, 'Stone means stone needle.' In later ages there were no more fine stones, so iron was used in their place."

轉北中郎諮議參軍，入直西省，知撰譜事。先是，尚書令沈約以為「晉咸和初，蘇峻作亂，文籍無遺。後起咸和二年以至於宋，所書並皆詳實，並在下省左戶曹前廂，謂之晉籍，有東西二庫。此籍既並精詳，實可寶惜，位宦高卑，皆可依案。宋元嘉二十七年，始以七條徵發，既立此科，人奸互起，偽狀巧籍，歲月滋廣。以至於齊，患其不實，於是東堂校籍，置郎令史以掌之。競行奸貨，以新換故，昨日卑細，今日便成士流。凡此奸巧，並出愚下，不辨年號，不識官階。或注隆安在元興之後，或以義熙在甯康之前。此時無此府，此時無此國。元興唯有三年，而猥稱四、五，詔書甲子，不與長曆相應。校籍諸郎亦所不覺，不才令史固自忘言。臣謂宋、齊二代，士庶不分，雜役減闕，職由於此。竊以晉籍所餘，宜加寶愛」。武帝以是留意譜籍，州郡多離其罪，因詔僧孺改定百家譜。始晉太元中，員外散騎侍郎平陽賈弼篤好簿狀，乃廣集眾家，大搜群族，所撰十八州一百一十六郡，合七百一十二卷。凡諸大品，略無遺闕，藏在秘閣，副在左戶。及弼子太宰參軍匪之、匪之子長水校尉深世傳其業。太保王弘、領軍將軍劉湛並好其書。弘日對千客，不犯一人之諱。湛為選曹，始撰百家以助銓序，而傷於寡略。齊衛將軍王儉復加去取，得繁省之衷。僧孺之撰，通范陽張等九族以代雁門解等九姓。其東南諸族別為一部，不在百家之數焉。普通二年卒。

He was transferred to Advisory Aide of the North Central Commandant, entered direct attendance at the Western Secretariat, and managed compilation of genealogical matters. Earlier, Director of the Secretariat Shen Yue considered that "at the beginning of Xianhe of Jin, Su Jun raised rebellion and literary records were left with nothing surviving. Later, from the second year of Xianhe down to Song, what was written was all detailed and true, all kept in the front wing of the Left Household Office of the Lower Secretariat, called the Jin Register, with eastern and western storehouses. This register being altogether refined and detailed is truly to be treasured. High and low in office and rank can all be traced by the record. In the twenty-seventh year of Yuanjia of Song they first levied by the seven articles. Once this category was established, human deceit arose mutually, false documents and crafty registers grew month by month. Down to Qi they worried that it was not true. Thereupon they collated registers in the Eastern Hall and appointed gentlemen and clerks to manage them. They competed in bribery, exchanging new for old. Yesterday base and petty, today they became gentry stream. All this deceit and craft came from the foolish and lowly, unable to distinguish reign titles, unable to recognize official ranks. Some placed Long'an after Yuanxing, or placed Yixi before Ningkang. At this time there was no such office. At this time there was no such state. Yuanxing had only three years, yet they recklessly called it four or five. Edict dates in sexagenary cycle did not correspond to the long calendar. The gentlemen who collated registers also did not notice. The untalented clerks naturally forgot to speak. Your servant considers that in the two dynasties of Song and Qi, gentry and commoners were not distinguished, miscellaneous corvée was reduced and lacking—office arose from this. Privately I consider what remains of the Jin Register should receive added treasure and care." The Emperor for this reason paid attention to genealogical registers. Provinces and commanderies mostly escaped blame. He therefore ordered Sengru to revise and fix the genealogies of the hundred clans. Beginning in the Taiyuan era of Jin, Attendant Gentleman Outside the Regular Establishment of the Rapid Cavalry, Jia Bi of Pingyang, deeply loved household registers. He broadly gathered all clans and greatly searched all kindreds. What he compiled was eighteen provinces and one hundred sixteen commanderies, altogether seven hundred twelve scrolls. Of all the great categories there was roughly nothing missing. Stored in the secret pavilion, copies in the Left Household. Bi's son Feizhi, aide to the Grand Tutor, and Feizhi's son Shen, Colonel of the Long River, transmitted this work through generations. Grand Tutor Wang Hong and Guards General Liu Zhan both loved his books. Hong daily faced a thousand guests and did not violate a single person's taboo name. Zhan as selection office first compiled the hundred clans to aid ranking and ordering, but suffered from being too sparse and brief. Wang Jian, Guards General of Qi, again added selection and rejection and obtained the mean between elaborate and spare. In Sengru's compilation he used the nine clans including Zhang of Fanyang to replace the nine surnames including Xie of Yanmen. The southeastern clans were separately made one section and were not counted among the hundred clans. He died in the second year of Putong.

僧孺好墳籍，聚書至萬餘卷，率多異本，與沈約、任昉家書埒。少篤志精力，於書無所不睹，其文麗逸，多用新事，人所未見者，時重其富博。集十八州譜七百一十卷；百家譜集抄十五卷；東南譜集抄十卷；文集三十卷，兩台彈事不入集，別為五卷；及東宮新記並行於世。

Sengru loved the classics and gathered books to more than ten thousand scrolls, mostly variant editions, equal to the household libraries of Shen Yue and Ren Fang. In youth he devoted will and energy. In books there was nothing he did not read. His writings were beautiful and unfettered, often using new matters people had not seen. The age valued their richness and breadth. Collected genealogies of eighteen provinces in 710 scrolls; Collected excerpts of the genealogies of the hundred clans in 15 scrolls; Collected excerpts of southeastern genealogies in 10 scrolls; Literary collection in 30 scrolls. Impeachment matters of the two bureaus not entered in the collection, separately made 5 scrolls; and the New Record of the Eastern Palace all circulated in the world.

虞羲字士光，會稽余姚人，盛有才藻，卒于晉安王侍郎。丘國賓，吳興人，以才志不遇，著書以譏揚雄。蕭文琰，蘭陵人。丘令楷，吳興人。江洪，濟陽人。竟陵王子良嘗夜集學士，刻燭為詩，四韻者則刻一寸，以此為率。文琰曰：「頓燒一寸燭，而成四韻詩，何難之有。」乃與令楷、江洪等共打銅缽立韻，響滅則詩成，皆可觀覽。劉孝孫，彭城人，博學通敏，而仕多不遂，常歎曰：「古人或開一說而致卿相，立談間而降白璧，書籍妄耳。」徐夤，高平人，有學行。父榮祖位秘書監，嘗有罪系獄，旦日原之，而發皓白。齊武問其故，曰：「臣思愆於內，而發變於外。」當時稱之。

Yu Xi, styled Shiguang, was a man of Yuyao in Kuaiji, abundant in literary talent, and died as Attendant Gentleman to the King of Jin'an. Qiu Guobin, a man of Wuxing, because his talent and will were unmet, wrote a book to satirize Yang Xiong. Xiao Wenyan was a man of Lanling. Qiu Lingkai was a man of Wuxing. Jiang Hong was a man of Jiyang. Prince Jingling once gathered scholars at night, marking candles for poetry. For four-rhyme poems they marked one inch—this was the standard. Wenyan said, "Burn through one inch of candle and complete a four-rhyme poem—what difficulty is there? He then together with Lingkai, Jiang Hong, and others struck a bronze bowl to set the rhyme. When the sound died the poem was complete—all could be viewed with pleasure. Liu Xiaosun, a man of Pengcheng, was broadly learned and penetratingly keen, yet in office mostly did not succeed. He often sighed, "The ancients might open one discourse and reach minister and chancellor, or in standing talk receive a white jade disc—books are empty things. Xu Yin was a man of Gaoping and had learning and conduct. His father Rongzu held the post of Director of the Secretariat Library. Once he had a crime and was imprisoned. At dawn he was pardoned, but his hair turned pure white. Emperor Wu of Qi asked the reason. He said, "Your servant thought of fault within, and hair changed without. Men of the time praised him.

論曰：二漢求士，率先經術，近代取人，多由文史。觀江、任之所以效用，蓋亦會其時焉。而淹實先覺，加之以沈靜；昉乃舊恩，持之以內行。其所以名位自畢，各其宜乎。僧孺碩學，而中年遭躓，非為不遇，斯乃窮通之數也。

The judgment says: The two Han dynasties sought scholars and put classical learning first. Recent ages take men mostly through literature and history. Observing how Jiang and Ren were effective in service, they probably also met their time. Yet Yan was in fact foreknowing, with calm and stillness added; Fang was old favor, upheld by inner conduct. The reason their fame and position each reached completion was each fitting, was it not? Sengru was a great scholar, yet in mid-life met setback. This was not being unmet—it was the reckoning of poverty and success.

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