In the days of King Se-jong students of the Confucian College were
having a picnic to celebrate the Spring Festival. They met in a wood
to the north of the college, near a beautiful spring of water, and were
drinking and feasting the night through. While they were thus enjoying
themselves the rooms of the college were left deserted. One student
from the country, a backwoodsman in his way, who was of no account to
others, thought that while the rest went away to enjoy themselves some
one ought to stay behind to guard the sacred precincts of the temple;
so he decided that he would forgo the pleasures of the picnic, stay
behind and watch.
The King at that time sent a eunuch to the college to see how many of
the students had remained on guard. The eunuch returned, saying that
all had gone off on the picnic, except one man, a raw countryman,
who was in sole charge. The King at once sent for the man, asking
him to come just as he was in his common clothes.
On his arrival his Majesty asked, "When all have gone off for a gay
time, why is it that you remain alone?"
He replied, "I, too, would like to have gone, but to leave the sacred
temple wholly deserted did not seem to me right, so I stayed."
The King was greatly pleased with this reply, and asked again,
"Do you know how to write verses?"