Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 38, Text 2
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
賀友人升官函
某某仁兄大人青鑒。久疏竿牘。時切思念。比雅足下興居安燕。潭第吉羊。爲頌。昨閱政府公報。欣稔吾兄榮膺簡命。足徵上峯器重。閣下
鴻才碩學。茹古含今[a]。從此得意
青雲[b]。
展布大才。益爲國家宣力[c]。是所至脫肅。函布悃。籍申賀忱。此上。敬請升安。
弟某某鞠躬月日
Notes
[a] 鴻才碩學。茹古含今
[b] 青雲
"blue clouds"
This expression is taken from the following line of the famous poet Wang-Po(王勃):
窮且益堅。不墜青雲之志
"In poverty one should (且) become firmer and not allow his ambition for the blue clouds (for advancement in official life) to droop". (vid. Ch. Q., p. 247,-1).