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Servant

HAVE mercy upon your servant, my queen!

Queen

The assembly is over and my servants are all gone. Why do you come at this late hour?

Servant

When you have finished with others, that is my time.

I come to ask what remains for your last servant to do.

Queen

What can you expect when it is too late?

Servant

Make me the gardener of your flower garden.

Queen

What folly is this?

Servant

I will give up my other work.

I throw my swords and lances down in the dust. Do not send me to distant courts; do not bid me undertake new conquests. But make me the gardener of your flower garden.

Queen

What will your duties be?

Servant

The service of your idle days.

I will keep fresh the grassy path where you walk in the morning, where your feet will be greeted with praise at every step by the flowers eager for death.

I will swing you in a swing among the branches of the saptaparna, where the early evening moon will struggle to kiss your skirt through the leaves.

I will replenish with scented oil the lamp that burns by your bedside, and decorate your footstool with sandal and saffron paste in wondrous designs.

Queen

What will you have for your reward?

Servant

To be allowed to hold your little fists like tender lotus-buds and slip flower chains over your wrists; to tinge the soles of your feet with the red juice of ashoka petals and kiss away the speck of dust that may chance to linger there.

Queen

Your prayers are granted, my servant, you will be the gardener of my flower garden.

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仆人

请对您的仆人开恩吧，我的女王！

女王

集会已经开过，我的仆人们都走了。

你为什么来得这么晚呢？

仆人

您同别人谈过以后，就是我的时间了。

我来问有什么剩余的工作，

好让您的最末一个仆人去做。

女王

在这么晚的时间你还想做什么呢？

仆人

让我做您花园里的园丁吧。

女王

这是什么傻想头呢？

仆人

我要搁下别的工作。

我把我的剑矛扔在尘土里。

不要差遣我去遥远的宫廷；

不要命令我做新的征讨。

只求您让我做花园里的园丁。

女王

你的职责是什么呢？

仆人

为您闲散的日子服务。

我要保持您晨兴散步的草径清爽新鲜，

您每一移步将有甘于就死的繁花以赞颂来欢迎您的双足。

我将在七叶树的枝间推送您的秋千；

向晚的月亮将挣扎着从叶隙里吻您的衣裙。

我将在您床边的灯盏里添满香油，

我将用檀香和番红花膏在您脚垫上涂画上美妙的花样。

女王

你要什么酬报呢？

仆人

只要您允许我像握着嫩柔的菡萏一般地握住您的小拳，

把花串套上您的纤腕；

允许我用无忧花的红汁来染您的脚底，

以亲吻来拂去那偶然留在那里的尘埃。

女王

你的祈求被接受了，

我的仆人，

你将是我花园里的园丁。