《明史·列传·卷一百九十六》
夏言曾被加封为上柱国，皇上也想给严嵩加封，严嵩便推辞说： 尊隆不能有二人，况且 上 字之称也不是人臣所宜。
言尝加上柱国，帝亦欲加嵩，嵩乃辞曰： 尊无二上，上非人臣所宜称。
Xia Yan had been conferred the title of Shangzhu State and the emperor also wanted to confer the title on Yan Song, but Yan Song declined, saying: "Honor cannot be enjoyed by two people, and besides, the title of Shang(上) is not suitable for a minister."