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Servant

仆 人

HAVE mercy upon your servant, my queen!

请对您的仆人开恩吧,我的女王!

Queen

女 王

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

集会已经开过,我的仆人们都走了。你为什么来得这么晚呢?

Servant

仆 人

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

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

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。

Queen

女 王

What can you expect when it is too late?

在这么晚的时间你还想做什么呢?

Servant

仆 人

Make me the gardener of your flower garden.

让我做您花园里的园丁吧

Queen

女 王

What folly is this?

这是什么傻想头呢?

Servant

仆 人

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.

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。

Queen

女 王

What will your duties be?

你的职责是什么呢?

Servant

仆 人

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.

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。

Queen

女 王

What will you have for your reward?

你要什么酬报呢?

Servant

仆 人

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 askoka petals and kiss away the speck of dust that may chance to

linger there.

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你的脚底,以亲吻来拂去那偶然留在那里的尘埃。

Queen

女 王

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

你的祈求被接受了,我的仆人,你将是我花园里的园丁。