翻刻
曰嗚呼児不知耶乃祖多年研精於
孔子学所著述若非朱詰物疑藤洙
泗微響四書指斥三家疵瘕等或卒
業或未脱草不幸即世余欲嗣其志
然少己委質就官公務鞅掌加之以
多病故未果也如此書其成也昔者
乃祖療疾於温泉逆旅主人意知乃
祖之博学多識叩以温泉事乃祖因
援古証今語之徹夜於是主人大説
于時吾在傍而聊録之耳乃祖豈有
意於行諸世乎然今鏤之版則恐非
乃祖之志也雖然済世利人乃祖之
所欲也与深蔵于麓中而飽蠧魚之
腹孰上木以益于世於是乎将謀剞
現代語訳
（前頁からの続き）
先人、言いていわく、「ああ、汝は知らざるか。乃祖（なんじのそ）は多年、孔子の学に研精し、著述するところは、『朱詰物疑（しゅきつぶつぎ）』・『藤洙泗微響（とうしゅしびきょう）』・『四書指斥三家疵瘕（ししょしせきさんかしか）』等のごとく、或いは卒業し、或いは未だ草稿を脱せずして、不幸にも即世（そくせい）す。余、その志を嗣（つ）がんと欲するも、少（わか）くして已に質（しつ）を委ねて官に就き、公務に鞅掌（おうしょう）し、これに加えるに多病をもってするがゆえに、未だ果たさざるなり。この書のごとき、その成るや、昔、乃祖、温泉の逆旅（げきりょ）にて疾を療ずるに、主人、乃祖の博学多識を意知して、温泉の事をもって叩（たた）く。乃祖、因りて古を援き今を証して、これを語ること徹夜す。ここにおいて主人、大いに説（よろこ）ぶ。その時、吾、傍（かたわ）らに在りて、いささかこれを録したるのみ。乃祖、あに世に行なわんとする意あらんや。しかるに今、これを版に鏤（ちりば）めば、則ち恐らくは乃祖の志にあらざるなり。しかりといえども、世を済（すく）い人を利するは乃祖の欲するところなり。深く麓中に蔵して蠹魚（とぎょ）の腹を飽かすと、いずれが上（まさ）れるか、木に上せて世に益するに。ここにおいて将に剞劂（きけつ）を謀らんとす……」
（次頁へ続く）
英語訳
(Continuing from the previous page)
The elder spoke, saying: "Alas, do you not know? Our ancestor [Master Sōkei] devoted many years to the rigorous study of Confucian learning. Among his writings were works such as *Shukitsu Butsugi* ('Queries on the Investigations of Zhu [Xi]'), *Tō Shushi Bikyō* ('Faint Echoes from the Streams of Zhu [Xi] and Si [River],' i.e., of Confucius), and *Shisho Shiseki Sanka Shika* ('Pointing Out the Flaws of the Three Schools in the Four Books')—some completed, others still unfinished drafts—when he unhappily passed from this world. I wished to carry on his aspirations, but from a young age I had already committed my person to official service, was consumed by public duties, and moreover suffered from frequent illness; thus I have yet to accomplish this. As for this particular book: long ago, our ancestor was taking a cure at the hot spring inn (*gekiyo*), when the proprietor, perceiving our ancestor's great learning and wide knowledge, pressed him with questions about hot springs. Our ancestor thereupon drew upon ancient sources and adduced contemporary evidence, speaking through the entire night. The proprietor was greatly delighted. At the time, I was present nearby and merely jotted down some notes. Could our ancestor have ever intended this to be circulated in the world? To engrave it on woodblocks now, I fear, would not be in accordance with our ancestor's wishes. Nevertheless, to relieve the world and benefit people was what our ancestor desired. Between storing it away deep in the mountain retreat, filling the bellies of bookworms, and setting it to the woodblock to bring benefit to the world—which is the better course?" And so it was resolved to commission the woodblock carvers...
(Continues on the next page)