翻刻
県ノ巷説ニモ当国中三奸藩有之 御当家其一ニ
加ハリ候由《割書：純｜》聞之毛髪悚立痛憤ニ堪ヘス是レモ亦
一時狂瞽ノ妄言無謂次第ニ候得共一犬虚ヲ吠レ
ハ万犬実ヲ伝フル習ヒ奸人釁ニ乗シ讒訴百方万
一
朝廷ヘ相違候者 御家ノ御泰否ニモ関係可仕
譬ヘ隣藩ヘ相聞ヘ相当而モ 御国辱此上モ無之候
是ヲ要スルニ今以因循荀且御一新之御実蹟相
顕レ不申所以ト奉恐察候然レハ即今ノ御急務
ハ上下協力同心シ 御誓約ノ 御趣旨ニ基キ
御家政向断然御改正旧来之陋習ヲ御看破ナサレ上ハ
朝廷之御偉業ヲ御遵奉下列藩ノ凌悔ヲ受ケサ
ル様御処置有之度ト奉渇望候詩云兄ハ弟閲
墻外禦其侮况ヤ一藩多士共協心努力各其分ヲ
尽シ報効ヲ図リ候者数月ヲ出テスシテ 御国政
御振張各藩ノ模範トモ可相成ハ無論之儀畢竟
今日迄士気怠惰振ハサル所以ハ上下隔絶言路壅塞
之弊醸是ナリ旧習固守因循姑息之議害是ナリ舜
好問而邇言ヲ察シ周公吐握而賢ヲ求ム諺ニ所謂愚
者モ千慮ノ一得ニ候得ハ即今頃ニ議事課目ヲ設ケ
現代語訳
県の巷説においても当国中に三つの奸藩があり、当御家がその一つに
加わっているという話を聞き、毛髪が逆立ち痛憤に堪えられません。これもまた
一時的な狂った盲人の妄言で無意味な次第ですが、一匹の犬が嘘を吠えれば
万匹の犬が真実として伝える習いがあり、奸人が隙に乗じて讒訴を百方手を尽くし、万
一朝廷へ誤解が伝わるようなことがあれば、御家の安泰にも関係することでしょう。
たとえ隣藩へ聞こえ渡っただけでも、これ以上ない国辱であります。
これを要するに、今もって因循姑息で、御一新の実績が
現れない所以であると恐れながら察します。そうであるならば、即今の御急務
は上下が協力同心し、誓約の趣旨に基づいて
家政向きを断然改正され、旧来の陋習をお見破りになり、上は
朝廷の偉業に従い奉り、下は列藩の凌辱を受けない
ような処置をしていただきたいと切望いたします。詩に云う「兄弟は内では争うが
外敵に対しては共に防ぐ」、況んや一藩の多くの士が心を合わせ努力し、各々その分を
尽くし報効を図るならば、数か月を出ずして国政が
振張し、各藩の模範ともなることは無論のこと、畢竟
今日まで士気が怠惰で振るわない所以は、上下が隔絶し言路が壅塞する
弊害によるものです。旧習を固守し因循姑息の議論が害をなしているのです。舜は
問うことを好んで身近な言葉を察し、周公は食事も中断して賢者を求めました。諺にいわゆる愚
者でも千回考えれば一つの得るところがありますので、即今頃に議事課目を設け
英語訳
In the street rumors of the prefecture as well, it is said that there are three treacherous domains in our province, and that our domain is counted among them. Upon hearing this, my hair stands on end and I cannot bear the painful indignation. This too is merely the mad ravings of temporary blind folly, but there is a saying that when one dog barks at nothing, ten thousand dogs spread it as truth. If treacherous people take advantage of opportunities to make slanderous accusations in every possible way, and should misunderstandings reach the Imperial Court, it would affect the security of our domain. Even if such rumors merely spread to neighboring domains, it would be the ultimate national disgrace.
In summary, I humbly observe that the reason why the actual achievements of the imperial renewal have not yet manifested is because we continue to cling to old ways and seek temporary comfort. If this is so, then our immediate urgent task is for high and low to cooperate with one heart, and based on the spirit of our oath, resolutely reform our domestic administration, abandon old corrupt practices, follow the Imperial Court's great undertakings above, and take measures to avoid suffering humiliation from other domains below. This is what I earnestly hope for.
As the poem says, "Brothers may quarrel within the walls, but together they defend against outside insults." How much more so if the many retainers of one domain unite their hearts in effort, each doing their utmost and striving for meritorious service - within a few months our domain government would flourish and could become a model for other domains. This is naturally expected.
Ultimately, the reason why morale has been lax and uninspired until today is due to the harmful effects of separation between high and low ranks and the blocking of channels of communication. The harm comes from rigidly maintaining old customs and pursuing policies of expediency and compromise. Emperor Shun loved to ask questions and paid attention to humble words, and the Duke of Zhou interrupted his meals to seek out worthy men. As the proverb says, even a fool may gain something from a thousand deliberations, so we should establish a council for deliberation right now.