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안녕하세요. '느린 밤 잠드는 이야기' 이대봉전 두 번째 이야기입니다.

🎙️ [오프닝 멘트]

안녕하세요. 느린 밤, 잠드는 이야기입니다. 오늘 밤에는 지난 시간에 이어 고전 소설 '이대봉전'의 두 번째 이야기를 들려드립니다. 운명처럼 맺어진 대봉과 애황 두 사람에게 닥쳐오는 거친 풍랑의 이야기 속으로 천천히 들어가 보겠습니다. 오늘도 편안한 밤, 깊은 잠에 드시기를 바랍니다.

📖 [본문 낭독 시작]

세월이 여류하여 대봉의 나이 십삼 세에 이르매, 기골이 장대하고 늠름한 풍채와 활달한 거동이 차시에 무쌍이요, 영풍호걸은 진세간 기남자라. 시서백가어를 무불통지하며, 육도삼략과 손오의 병서를 잠심하니 총명지혜 관중 아기에게 지내는지라.

일일은 시랑이 대봉의 조달함을 근심하사 대책 왈,

"성현의 글도 무수하거늘, 네 어찌 태평성대에 귀신도 칭찬치 못하는 병서를 힘쓰느냐."

대봉이 고왈,

"석일에 황제 헌원씨는 만고 영웅이로되 치우의 난을 만나시고, 제 요도 당씨는 만고 성현이로되 사흉의 변을 당하였사오니 태평을 어찌 장구히 믿사오리이까. 대장부 세상에 처하올진대 시서백가어와 육도삼략을 심중에 통달하와, 용문에 올라 요순 같은 임금을 섬기다가, 국운이 불행하와 난세를 당할진대, 요하에 대장절월을 띠고 황금인수를 비껴 차고, 머리에 백금투구를 쓰고 몸에는 엄신갑을 입고, 우수에 보검을 잡아 좌수에 홀기를 들고, 용정봉기 백모황월이며 장창검극을 나열하여 대병을 몰아 전장에 나아가서 반적을 쇄멸하고 사해를 평정하여, 공을 죽백에 올려 기린각에 제명하고 나라에 충신이 되어 만종록을 누릴진대 선군의 덕택과 부모의 은덕을 알아 종신 부귀를 할 것이어늘, 서책만 상고하와 유정한 세월 무정히 보내리이까."

하니, 시랑이 대희하여 칭찬 왈,

"네 말이 족히 고인을 본받음이로다. 나 같은 인생은 조정에 몸이 들어 시위조찬뿐이로다."

하시고 사랑하심을 칭찬치 못할레라.

각설. 이때 황제 유약하사 법령이 해이한 중에 우승상 왕희 국권을 잡아 국사를 처결하니, 조정 백관이며 각도 방백수령이 다 왕희 당이 되매 일국 권세는 장중에 매여 있고 만인 생사는 손끝에 달렸으니, 권세 지중함이 한국의 왕맹과 진국 왕돈에게 지내더라. 군자는 참소로써 멀리하고 소인은 아첨으로써 성당하매 국사 점점 산란케 되더라. 국사 이러하되 황제는 알지 못하고 다만 소인 왕희로써 천하 대사를 모두 다 처결하니, 슬프다, 대명 국사직이 조석에 위태한지라.

이때 시랑 이익이 국사 산란함을 보고 상소 왈,

"조정 사세를 살피오니 어찌 한심치 아니하오리이까. 군자를 쓰실진대 소인은 스스로 멀어질 것이오니, 친군자원소인은 나라가 흥할 근본이요, 원군자친소인은 나라가 망할 근본이오. 이제 폐하는 궁궐에 깊이 처하시매 국사 산란함을 알지 못하시고, 승상 왕희는 국가에 간악한 소인이라 폐하의 성덕을 가리옵고 아첨으로 폐하의 총명을 가리웠으되, 폐하 지금까지 깨닫지 못하시니 애달아 하나이다. 당금에 조정이 거의 다 왕희로 더불어 모반하기 적명하오니, 폐하는 살피사 먼저 신을 베시옵고 다못 왕희를 급히 베어 반적의 흉계를 파하소서. 진국 조고와 송국 진희는 소인으로 만종록을 받아도 국은을 알지 못하고 국사를 산란케 하였사오니, 자고로 소인의 계국록이 부당하오니다."

하였거늘, 이날 황제 상소를 보신 후에 승상 왕희를 돌아보신대, 병부상서 진태열이 황제께 여짜오되,

"이부시랑 이익이 일개 녹녹지신으로 조정을 비방하고 대신을 모함하오니 죄사무석이로소이다. 한국 막광은 권세 자중하였사오나 선제의 충신이요, 진국 왕준은 강동 인물로서 지혜가 높았사오니, 복원 폐하는 살피사 무망한 죄를 다스려 시랑 이익을 베어 소인을 경계하옵소서."

황제 말을 들으시고 옳게 여겨 이익을 삭탈관직하여 삼만리 무인절도에 위리안치하라 하시고, 그 제족은 면위서인하고 그 아들 대봉은 오천리 백설도로 정배하라 하시다.

이때 이시랑 부자 배소로 가려 할 제 어찌 아니 통분하랴. 승상부에 들어가 눈을 부릅뜨고 크게 소리하여 왈,

"국운이 불행하여 소인이 만조로다. 한실이 미약하매 동탁이 작난하고 왕맹이 협정하매 충신이 죽는도다. 승상 왕희는 한국 역신 왕맹지손이라. 간악을 세전하여 위로 황상을 속이고 아래로 충신을 물리치고, 밖으로 소인을 작당하여 국사를 산란케 하기로 내 직언으로써 직간하였더니, 간괴한 소인의 참소를 만나 사지에 가거니와 내 아들 대봉은 무슨 죄요. 부인은 무슨 죄로 서인 되어 가군과 자식을 이별하고, 친척은 무슨 죄로 일조에 서인 되었구나."

하고 방성대곡하니, 그 부인의 정곡은 일필로는 난기로다. 서로 붙들고 통곡하며,

"우리 대봉은 아비 죄로 말미암아 오천리 백설도에 안치하니, 천지도 무심하고 귀신도 불명하다. 광대한 천지간에 야속하고 불쌍한 팔자 이익 같은 사람 또 있으랴. 대봉아, 만리 적소에 분거하니 다시 보기 바랄쏘냐. 만리 변방 무인처에 어린 네가 어찌 살며 삼만리 절도 중에 난들 어찌 찾을쏘냐. 죽은 혼백이나 둥둥 떠서 부자 상봉하리로다."

대봉이 눈물을 흘리면서 모친을 위로하되,

"모친 신세를 생각하면 천지가 아득하고 일월이 무광이라. 가련코 원통함을 어찌 다 성언하오리이까마는, 사지에 가시는 부친 정곡과 같으리이까. 우리 부자 적소로 떠나가니 천행으로 살아오면 모친 얼굴 다시 보려니와, 죽사오면 어느 때에 다시 만나 보오리이까. 역적 왕희, 소인 진태열을 죽이지 못하고 도리어 해를 입어 적소로 가거니와, 국가 사직이 조석에 있는 지라. 천행으로 살아나면 칼을 잡아 우리 원수 왕희 진태열 두 놈을 사로잡아 전후 죄목을 물은 후에 배를 갈라 간을 내어 폐하께 주달하고 우리 부친 충혼당에 석전제를 지내리라."

이렇듯 분연하며 통곡하니 초목금수도 다 눈물을 흘리는 듯하더라. 연연이 악수 상별할 제 그 가련하고 슬픈 거동은 차마 보지 못할레라.

이때 영거사신이 길을 재촉하니 사공이 배를 대이거늘, 시랑과 대봉이 부인을 인연히 이별하고 시랑 부자 배에 오르니, 백설도는 절도로 가는 역로라 하더라. 백운은 흩어지고 순풍이 일어나매 배 빠르기 살 같은지라. 이때 승상 왕희 사공을 불러 중상하고 시랑 부자를 결박하여 풍랑에 넣으라 약속하였더라.

시랑 부자야 이런 흉계를 알 수 있느냐. 만경창파 깊은 물 풍랑이 도도하고 적막한 가을밤에 강심도 적막한데, 심리 사장 노던 백구 동남으로 날아다니고 고향 소식 묻고 지고, 강수는 잔잔하고 월색은 삼경인데 선중에 앉은 마음 고향 생각 적상되어 잠 올 길이 망연이라. 청천에 뜬 기러기 촉백성 아울러서 손의 수심 도와 내니, 객창한등 깊은 밤에 들리는 저 원성이 구천에 낭자로다.

이러구러 여러 날 만에 한 곳을 당도하니 사고무인 적막한데 망망한 창해라. 어느 땅인 줄을 모를레라. 중류에 이르러 사공 십여 명이 달려들어 시랑 부자를 결박하여 해중에 던지려 하거늘, 시랑이 대로하여 사공을 꾸짖어 왈,

"내 황명을 받아 배소로 가거늘, 너희 등이 무슨 연고로 이렇듯 핍박하느냐."

사공 등이 답왈,

"우리 곡절은 너희 부자 알 바 아니라."

하고 시랑과 대봉을 창해 중에 던지려 하거늘, 시랑 왈,

"우리 부자 적소로 가기도 애매하거든, 너희 등이 우리 부자를 해코자 할진대 결박은 무슨 일인고. 죽기도 원통하거든 사지를 결박하면 혼백인들 어찌 용납하랴. 굴삼려 오자서 충혼을 어찌 찾아가랴."

하시니, 그중에 한 늙은 사공이 여러 사공을 달래어 왈,

"옛말에 이르기를 국사에도 사정이요 난중에도 체면이 있다 하였으니, 시랑 부자 애매하심을 아는지라."

하며 결박한 것을 끄르고,

"수중에 넣은들 몸에 날개가 없었으니 어찌 살기를 바라리오."

하며 결박한 것을 끌러 시랑을 먼저 풍랑 중에 밀치니, 일월이 무광하고 강산하백이 다 슬퍼하고 초목금수도 함루하니, 하물며 사람이야 일러 무엇하랴마는 무지한 선인 등은 금수만도 못한지라.

이때 대봉이 부친 물에 빠짐을 보고 천지 아득하여 정신이 혼미한지라. 겨우 진정하여 사공을 크게 꾸짖어 왈,

"성은 인야요 사는 귀야라. 삼강수 깊은 물은 굴삼려의 충혼이요, 삼강수 냉조는 오자서의 정영이라. 자고로 충신열사 수중 고혼 많은지라. 하물며 나 같은 잔명이야 죽기를 아끼랴마는 국중이 깊고 깊어 간신이 만조하여 국사를 전권하니 충신은 원찬하고 소인은 화시로다. 백옥무죄 우리 부자 창해 중에 고혼 되어 굴삼려의 충혼 만나 오자서를 반겨 보고, 우리 임금 만세 후에 충혼 모아 위엄 삼아 내의 부친 백옥무죄, 대봉의 어린 혼백 신원 징인 삼으리라. 우리 부자 무죄함은 청천도 알련이와 귀신들도 알으리라. 대봉 부자 귀한 몸이 어복 중에 장사하니 굴삼려와 같을지라. 대명 천지 대봉의 명이 하늘에 있을지언정 네에게 있을리요. 내 스스로 죽을지라도 너희에게 다 살기를 빌을쏘냐."

대호 일성에 목으로서 피를 토하여 해수를 모태더니,

"부친이 이 무수중 고혼 되었으니 나도 또한 죽으리라."

하고 만경창파 깊은 물에 풍랑이 요란한데 십삼 세 어린 대봉이 수중 고혼 가련하다. 하늘을 우러러 부친을 부르면서 풍덩실 뛰어드니, 이때에 사공들은 배를 돌려 황성에 올라가 사연을 왕희에게 주달하니 왕희 대희하더라.

🌙 [클로징 멘트]

오늘의 이야기는 여기까지입니다. 모함과 위기 속에서 거친 바다로 몸을 던져야 했던 대봉 부자의 슬픈 운명이 차가운 파도처럼 밀려오는 밤이었습니다. 이야기의 파도는 잦아들었으니, 이제 당신의 마음도 고요한 물결처럼 평온을 찾으시기를 바랍니다. 따뜻하고 아늑한 밤 보내세요. 잘 자요.

The Tale of Lee Dae-bong, Volume 2.

🎙️ [Opening Remarks]

Hello. This is Slow Night, Ancient Tales. Tonight, following our last session, we bring you the second part of the classic novel, The Tale of Yi Dae-bong. Let us slowly step into the story of the rough storms approaching Dae-bong and Ae-hwang, two souls bound by destiny. I hope you fall into a deep sleep and have a peaceful night today as well.

📖 [Beginning of the Main Text Reading]

As time flowed like water, Dae-bong reached the age of thirteen. His spirit was magnificent, his imposing presence and broad-minded demeanor were unmatched in those times, and he was a true hero and an outstanding man in the mortal world. There was no poetry, history, or philosophy he did not master, and he deeply studied the Six Secret Teachings, the Three Strategies, and the military tactics of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi, making his brilliant wisdom surpass even that of the great ancient strategists Guan Zhong and Yue Yi.

One day, the Vice Minister, worrying about Dae-bong's early maturity, asked him,

"The writings of the sages are endless, so why do you strive to study military texts in this era of peace, which even spirits cannot praise?"

Dae-bong replied,

"In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor was a hero of all ages, yet he faced the rebellion of Chiyou. Emperor Yao of Tang was a sage of all ages, yet he suffered the disaster of the Four Perils. How can we trust this peace to last forever? If a great man is to live in this world, he should master poetry, history, philosophy, and military strategies in his heart. When ascending to the royal court, he should serve a king like Yao and Shun. But if the nation's fate is unfortunate and he faces turbulent times, he should wear the commander's seal at his waist and carry the golden tally. Wearing a white-gold helmet on his head and sturdy armor on his body, holding a precious sword in his right hand and a baton in his left, with flags of dragons and phoenixes flying high, he should deploy spears and swords, lead a great army to the battlefield, annihilate the traitors, and pacify the world. If he records his merits in history, becomes a loyal subject to the country, and enjoys enduring prosperity, honoring the virtues of the late kings and the grace of his parents, he will achieve lifelong wealth and honor. How could I merely study books and let this precious time pass by meaninglessly?"

Hearing this, the Vice Minister rejoiced greatly and praised him, saying,

"Your words are truly worthy of emulating the ancients. A life like mine is merely entering the royal court to eat the king's food and stand guard."

He could not praise and love him enough.

Meanwhile, Emperor You was weak, and the laws had grown lax. Taking advantage of this, the Right Chancellor Wang Hui seized national power and handled state affairs. Since all the officials of the court and the governors of each province became Wang Hui's partisans, the power of the entire nation was held in his palm, and the life and death of all people depended on his fingertips. The weight of his power surpassed that of the greatest tyrants of the past. As noble men were distanced by false accusations and petty men formed factions through flattery, state affairs gradually fell into chaos. Although the state of affairs was like this, the Emperor did not know, and handled all great affairs of the world only through the petty man Wang Hui. Alas, the fate of the Great Ming dynasty was in imminent peril.

At this time, Vice Minister Yi Ik, seeing the chaos of the state affairs, presented a memorial to the throne, saying:

"Looking at the situation of the royal court, how can we not feel deplorable? If you employ noble men, petty men will naturally distance themselves. Bringing noble men close and distancing petty men is the root of a nation's rise, while distancing noble men and bringing petty men close is the root of a nation's ruin. Now, Your Majesty stays deep in the palace, unaware of the chaos in state affairs. Chancellor Wang Hui is a wicked and petty man to the nation, who obscures Your Majesty's holy virtues and blinds Your Majesty's brilliant wisdom with flattery, yet it is heartbreaking that Your Majesty has not realized this until now. Currently, it is evident that almost the entire court is plotting treason along with Wang Hui. May Your Majesty look closely and first behead me, and then urgently behead Wang Hui to destroy the traitor's wicked plot. The treacherous subjects of the past were petty men who, despite receiving enduring prosperity, did not know the nation's grace and threw the state affairs into chaos. Since ancient times, the lasting prosperity of petty men has been unjust."

On this day, after the Emperor read the memorial, he looked back at Chancellor Wang Hui. Then, Jin Tae-yeol, the Minister of War, said to the Emperor,

"Vice Minister Yi Ik, as a mere insignificant subject, is slandering the royal court and framing a great minister, so his crime is unpardonable. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to look closely, punish the crime of false accusation, and behead Vice Minister Yi Ik to serve as a warning to petty men."

Hearing these words, the Emperor considered them right. He stripped Yi Ik of his official titles and ordered him to be banished and confined within a thorny hedge on a deserted island thirty thousand li away. He reduced his relatives to commoners, and ordered his son Dae-bong to be exiled to the Snow Island, five thousand li away.

At this time, as Vice Minister Yi and his son were about to leave for their place of exile, how could they not be deeply aggrieved? He entered the Chancellor's office, glared fiercely, and shouted loudly,

"The nation's fate is unfortunate, and the court is full of petty men. As the dynasty weakens, traitors wreak havoc, and as they meddle in politics, loyal subjects die. Chancellor Wang Hui is a traitor. Inheriting wickedness through generations, he deceives the Emperor above, drives away loyal subjects below, and forms factions with petty men outside to throw the state affairs into chaos. I offered forthright admonition, but met with the false accusations of wicked men and am now heading to a place of death. But what is the crime of my son Dae-bong? What is the crime of my wife, that she is reduced to a commoner and separated from her husband and child? And what crime did my relatives commit to be stripped of their status in a single morning?"

As he wailed loudly, the deep sorrow of his wife was difficult to describe with a single brush. Holding each other and weeping bitterly, they said,

"Our Dae-bong is being exiled to the Snow Island five thousand li away because of his father's supposed crime. Heaven and Earth are indifferent, and the spirits are blind. In this vast world, is there any destiny as cruel and pitiful as that of Yi Ik? Dae-bong, you are exiled ten thousand li away, so how can we hope to see you again? How will you, a child, survive in a deserted place ten thousand li away, and how can I find you on a remote island thirty thousand li away? Only as floating spirits in death will father and son be reunited."

Shedding tears, Dae-bong comforted his mother, saying,

"Thinking of your plight, mother, the heavens seem distant and the sun and moon lose their light. How can I fully express my pity and resentment? But could it compare to the sorrow of my father going to a place of death? We, father and son, are leaving for exile. If by heaven's grace we return alive, we will see your face again, mother. But if we die, when will we ever meet again? I am going to exile after being harmed instead of killing the traitor Wang Hui and the petty man Jin Tae-yeol, and the nation's fate hangs by a thread. If I survive by heaven's grace, I will grasp a sword, capture our enemies Wang Hui and Jin Tae-yeol alive, question them on their past and present crimes, and perform a memorial service at my father's shrine of loyal spirits."

As he spoke with such righteous indignation and wept bitterly, even the plants, trees, birds, and beasts seemed to shed tears. When they held hands and parted with lingering attachment, their pitiful and sorrowful demeanor was unbearable to watch.

At this time, the escort official hurried their journey, and the boatman brought the ship. Vice Minister Yi and Dae-bong sorrowfully parted with his wife and boarded the ship. The Snow Island was said to be on the transit route to the remote island. The white clouds scattered and a favorable wind rose, making the ship as fast as an arrow. Meanwhile, Chancellor Wang Hui had summoned the boatman, rewarded him heavily, and conspired with him to bind Vice Minister Yi and his son and throw them into the stormy waves.

How could Vice Minister Yi and his son know of such a wicked plot? The deep waters of the boundless ocean had turbulent waves. On a quiet autumn night, the heart of the river was also quiet. The white gulls playing on the sandy beach flew towards the southeast, making them want to ask for news of their hometown. The river water was calm and the moonlight was in the third watch of the night. Sitting in the boat, thoughts of their hometown piled up, and sleep was far away. The wild geese floating in the clear sky, along with the calls of the cuckoo, added to the traveler's sorrow. The resentful cries heard deep in the night under the cold light of the guest window scattered into the nine heavens.

After many days had passed like this, they arrived at a certain place. It was desolate with no one in sight, surrounded by a vast sea. They did not know what land it was. Reaching the middle of the current, about ten boatmen rushed in, bound Vice Minister Yi and his son, and tried to throw them into the sea. The Vice Minister was furious and scolded the boatmen, saying,

"I am heading to my place of exile under the Emperor's order. For what reason do you persecute us like this?"

The boatmen replied,

"Our reasons are not for you to know."

And they tried to throw Vice Minister Yi and Dae-bong into the sea. The Vice Minister said,

"Our journey to exile is already unjust. If you intend to harm us, what is the meaning of binding us? Dying is already resentful, but if our limbs are bound, how will our spirits find rest? How could we seek out the loyal souls of the ancients?"

Among them, an old boatman appeased the other boatmen, saying,

"As an old saying goes, there are personal feelings even in state affairs, and decency even amidst chaos. We know that the Vice Minister and his son are wrongfully accused."

He untied their bindings and said,

"Even if they are thrown into the water, they do not have wings on their bodies, so how can they hope to live?"

Untying the bindings, they pushed the Vice Minister into the stormy waves first. The sun and moon lost their light, the rivers, mountains, and the River God all grieved, and even plants and animals shed tears. Not to mention humans, but these ignorant boatmen were worse than beasts.

At this time, seeing his father fall into the water, the heavens seemed distant to Dae-bong, and his mind grew faint. Barely calming himself, he fiercely scolded the boatmen, saying,

"A voice is what makes a person, and death is returning. The deep waters hold the loyal souls of the past. Since ancient times, there have been many lonely spirits of loyal subjects and righteous martyrs in the waters. Let alone my frail life, why would I spare it from death? But the palace is deep, and treacherous subjects fill the court, monopolizing state affairs. Loyal subjects are banished far away, and petty men cause disasters. We, an innocent father and son, become lonely spirits in the vast sea. After ten thousand generations of our Emperor, I will gather loyal spirits, turn them into dignity, and make them the vindicating witness for my innocent father and my young spirit. Not only the blue sky but also the spirits will know the innocence of our father and son. Our precious bodies are being buried in the bellies of fish. Under the Great Ming sky, Dae-bong's life rests with Heaven, how could it rest with you? Even if I die by my own accord, how could I beg you for my life?"

With a great cry, he spat blood from his throat, staining the sea water, and said,

"Since my father has become a lonely spirit in the deep water, I will die too."

And he plunged into the turbulent waves of the boundless ocean. The lonely spirit of thirteen-year-old Dae-bong in the water was truly pitiful. Looking up at the sky, calling for his father, he jumped in with a splash. At this time, the boatmen turned the ship around, went up to the imperial capital, and reported the events to Wang Hui, at which Wang Hui rejoiced greatly.

🌙 [Closing Remarks]

That is all for today's story. It was a night where the sad fate of Dae-bong and his father, who had to throw themselves into the rough sea amidst framing and crisis, washed over us like cold waves. The waves of the story have now subsided, so I hope your heart, too, will find peace like tranquil ripples. Have a warm and cozy night. Good night.