李密《陈情表》英文版

Your majesty permit me to state: Born with misfortune, I lived a miserable and disastrous life in my early childhood. My father passed away when I was an infant of only six months and my mother was forced by her brother to remarry against her will when I was four years old. Feeling deep sympathy for my loneliness and poor health, Grandmother Liu brought me up on her own. Being susceptible to illness in my childhood, I could hardly walk even at the age of nine. I suffered a lot until I reached adulthood. Having neither uncles nor brothers, I grew up lonely and helpless. Our family was in decline, destined not to have the joy of a big family, I only got a male descendent late in life. I have neither close relatives, nor a servant for dealing with household affairs. I lived with only my body and shadow comforting each other. Grandmother has been bedridden for a long time, and I have to serve and wait upon her without negligence.


逮奉圣朝，沐浴清化。前太守臣逵察臣孝廉；后刺史臣荣举臣秀才。臣以供养无主，辞不赴命。诏书特下，拜臣郎中，寻蒙国恩，除臣洗马。猥以微贱，当侍东宫，非臣陨首所能上报。臣具以表闻，辞不就职。诏书切峻，责臣逋慢；郡县逼迫，催臣上道；州司临门，急于星火。臣欲奉诏奔驰，则刘病日笃，欲苟顺私情，则告诉不许。臣之进退，实为狼狈。


Immersed in the enlightenment of Your Majesty's political socialization, I was first recommended as Xiaolian by Kwei, and then recommended as Xiucai by Rong. I declined both offers that I had to look after my grandmother. Then your imperial edict came, offering me the position of Langzhong, and later further granting me the imperial favor that I was appointed as Xianma to serve crown prince his highness. Even if I should have my head cut off, I could hardly express my gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor. I wrote to Your Majesty a letter declining this offer. Another edict came, which in severe terms, criticized me for neglecting the imperial order. The magistrates urged me to set off immediately. Then the prefect of the Zhou came to my house, commanding me to start without delay. I should have obeyed Your Majesty's imperial edicts, but my grandmother's health get worse day by day. I appealed to them, begging for their sympathy, but they were adamant. I was in a


Now Your Majesty is ruling the country on the principle of filial piety. Old people of high virtue are being taken care of and well provided for. It is apparent that I am more distressed than others. Besides, out of vainglory to secure a high position in the government regardless of my personal integrity, I served in the last dynasty during my youth as langguan, and now, I, a captive, am too humble to get undeserved favor from Your Majesty. How dare I hesitate and cherish any aspirations? But my grandmother is at her last breath, and she is like the setting sun