The Gardener
园丁集

1

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?

仆人 请对你的仆人开恩吧，我的女王！

女王 集会已经开过并且我的仆人们都走了。为什么你来得这么晚呢？

仆人 你与别人谈过后，就是我的时间了。

我来问问有什么剩余的工作，好让你的最后一个仆人去做。

女王 这么晚了你还期望做什么呢？

仆人 让我做你花园里的园丁吧。

女王 这是什么蠢想法呢？

仆人 我要舍弃别的工作。

我把剑矛扔在尘土里。请不要派遣我去遥远的宫廷；不要命令我从事新的征讨。只求你让我做花园里的园丁吧。

女王 你的职责是什么呢？

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 ask ok a petals and kiss away the speck of dust that may chance to linger there.

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

仆人 为你空闲的日子服务。

我将保持你早晨散步的草径清新舒爽，你每一移步将有甘于就死的繁花来欢迎你的双足以赞颂。

我将在七叶树的枝间摆动你的秋千，傍晚的月亮将挣扎着从叶隙里亲吻你的衣裙。

我将把你床边的灯盏添满香油，我将用檀香和番红花膏为你的脚凳装饰上奇妙的图样。

女王 你要什么作为报酬呢？

仆人 只要你允许我像握着柔嫩的菡萏一般握住你的小拳，把花串套在你的纤腕上；允许我用无忧花的红汁来轻染你的脚底，用亲吻来拂去那偶然间留在那里的尘埃就可以了。

女王 你的祈祷被接受了，我的仆人，你将是我花园里的园丁。