SELF-RECOMMENDATION
I lost my parents while still a child, and grew up in my elder brother’s home. At twelve I learn to write, and within three years I was well advanced in history and composition. At fifteen, I learnt sword exercise; at sixteen, to repeat the Odes and the Book of History—220,000 words in all. At nineteen, I studied the tactics of Sun and Wu, the accouterments of battle array, and the use of the gong and drum, also 220,000-words in all, making a grand total of 440,000 words. I also carefully laid to heart the savings of the bold Tzu Lu.
I am now twenty-two years of age. I am nine feet three inches in height. My eyes are like swinging pearls, my teeth like a row of shells. I am as brave as Meng Pen, as prompt as Ch’ing Chi, as pure as Pao Shu, and as devoted as Wei Sheng. I consider myself fit to be a high officer of State; and with my life In my handj. I await your Majesty’s reply.
目 X
東芳朔
(Now Acrobat OCR decides to read vertically. Go figure.)
拜。EE JE 巨5萬教丸。學區
以可忌珠朔圓。學十雲朔
間以。0 年十亦踩六。少
。為膝蓋E 二四諦吳學三失
天若若十萬二兵詩冬艾抖
，子飽線二首十主主建丈母
大放貝。。二。。史。
臣。。長文寫鞍諦足長
矣信為丸常言障二周養
。若若尺膜。之十。兄
巨尾軍三子凡具二十嫂
朔主主食寸餓反。萬五。
睞。。。之朔童正言學年
死若挺自言固鼓。X十
再此若若 。己之十X二