Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 39, Text 2
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
慰友人喪父函
某某仁兄
禮次[a]。接奉訃音。驚悉令尊大人
考終[b]
之信。武聆之下
憂心如焚[c]。第念尊翁
鄉國達尊。羣倫宗範[d]。年登
上壽[e]。亦足笑含九泉矣。然以先生
純孝性成。自必撫棺號泣[f]。尙乞節哀順變。以慰靈節弟託足異方。不克躬親弔唁。附送祭儀聊申芻敬。尙祈鑒收。專泐馳唁。並侯素履。
弟某某鞠躬月日
Notes
[a] 禮次
[b] 考終
[c] 憂心如焚
[d] 鄉國達尊。羣倫宗範
[e] 上壽
extreme old age.
This expression is taken from the following line of Chuang-tzu (莊子):
百歲曰上壽。八十歲日中壽。六十歲日下壽
"One hundred years is called extreme old age. Eighty years is called medium old age. Sixty years is called longevity of the lowest order (vid. Ch. Q., p. 205,-4).