Tol Eressëa "The Lonely Isle"

Ch5

Enormous ambition but diffuse talent.：志大才疏

The Soochow district had been law-abiding for quite some time. All of a sudden
your lordship tried to cut and shear iy. Not surprisingly, the district could
not bear it. When rumors wrer circulating, they caused a great deal of fear
and panic. Your humble servant, unworthily occupying a position wuthin the
central administration that permits him to make a few minor suggestions only,
must in this instance say that he is deeply ashamed that he is unable to en-
courage on behalf of His Majesty's court a law-enforcing administrator, or to
check the abusice criticsms against him.
三尺之法不行於吳久矣。公驟而矯以繩墨，宜其不堪也。訛言沸騰，聽者惶惑。僕謬忝鈞
軸，得參與廟堂之末議，而不能為朝廷獎奉法之臣，摧浮淫之議，有深愧焉。

Lesser Funtionary：吏
Grand Monitions：大誥
Incorrigible subject：頑民