《藍田縣丞廳壁記》是唐代文學家韓愈于元和十年（815年）創作的一篇散文。文章通過描寫吏丞間行文署名和崔斯立任縣丞時所作所為，揭露諷刺了唐代縣丞一官無所事事形同虛設，消磨志士的真相，有一定的認識意義。文章突破傳統廳壁記的成例，用一系列生動具體的細節，對人物進行描寫，生動傳神，發人深省。全文短小精悍，生動潑辣，意味深長。

韓愈·《藍田縣丞廳壁記》

丞之職所以貳令，于一邑無所不當問。其下主薄、尉，主薄、尉乃有分職。丞位高而逼，例以嫌不可否事。文書行，吏抱成案詣丞，卷其前，鉗以左手，右手摘紙尾，雁鶩行以進，平立睨丞曰："當署。"丞涉筆占位，署惟謹，目吏，問："可不可？"吏曰："得"，則退，不敢略省，漫不知何事。官雖尊，力勢反出主薄、尉下。諺數慢，必曰"丞"，至以相訾謷。丞之設，豈端使然哉？

博陵崔斯立，種學績文，以蓄其有，泓涵演迤，日大以肆。貞元初，挾其能戰藝于京師，再進再屈千人。元和初，以前大理評事言得失黜官，再轉而為丞茲邑。始至，喟曰："官無卑，顧材不足塞職。"既噤不得施用，又喟曰："丞哉，丞哉！余不負丞，而丞負余。"則盡枿去牙角，一躡故跡，破崖岸而為之。

丞廳故有記，壞漏污不可讀。斯立易桷與瓦，墁治壁，悉書前任人名氏。庭有老槐四行，南墻巨竹千梃，儼立若相持，水虢虢循除鳴。斯立痛掃溉，對樹二松，日吟哦其間。有問者，輒對曰："余方有公事，子姑去。"

[考功郎中、知制誥韓愈記。]

Written on the Wall of the Assistant Magistrate's

Han Yu

The assistant magistrate's task is to help the magistrate and look into everything that goes on in his county. Under him are secretaries with various functions. But though his status is high, he is too cribbed and encumbered to take any action. When a document has to be issued, the clerk brings it to him—made out. Holding the forepart of the scroll tightly rolled in his left hand, he pulls out its end with his right, swoops down on the assistant magistrate and looks at his askance. "Your signature, please!" he says. The assistant magistrate picks up his brush and signs with care in the allotted place, glancing at the clerk for reassurance. "All in order," says the clerk, and withdraws. The assistant magistrate dares not look into the matter and has no idea what is at issue. Though his position is high, he has less authority than the secretaries. But he is usually the first to be criticized, and is sometimes roundly abused for negligence. Is this why they created such a post?

Tsui Szu-li of Poling cultivated the arts and stored his mind with learning, broadening and deepening his knowledge from day to day. At the beginning of the Chen Yuan era, when he went to prove his worth at a test in the capital, he came first in two examinations. At the beginning of the Yuan Ho era, for a word out of season he was dismissed from the Supreme Court where he was a judge, and transferred to be assistant magistrate of this county. Upon his arrival he sighed and said: "This post is not too low, but I may not prove up to it." When he found his hands tied he sighed again and said: "What an appointment! I am not thankless, but this is a thankless task." Then he took pains not to be sharp or cutting, trod in his forerunners' steps, and stood on no ceremony.

An old wall inscribed with names in the magistrate's office was so dilapidated, cracked and soiled that the writing on it was illegible. Tsui replaced the beams and tiles, repaired and plastered the wall, and recorded all his predecessors' names. In the courtyard were four rows of old ash trees, and a thousand fine bamboos ranged solemnly by the south wall as if in attendance, while water gurgled past the steps. Tsui cleaned the place thoroughly and planted two pines in front of his office, where he chanted poetry every day. When asked any question he made haste to answer: "I am busy with affairs of state. Please go away!"

（楊憲益、戴乃迭 譯）

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