仆人
請對您的仆人開恩吧，我的女王！
女王
集會已經開過，我的仆人們都走了。你為什麼來得這麼晚呢？
仆人
您同別人談過以後，就是我的時間了。
我來問有什麼剩餘的工作，好讓您的最末一個仆人去做。
女王
在這麼晚的時間你還想做什麼呢？
仆人
讓我做您花園裏的園丁吧。
女王
這是什麼傻想頭呢？
仆人
我要擱下別的工作。
我把我的劍矛扔在塵土裏。不要差遣我去遙遠的宮廷；不要命令我做新的征討。隻求您讓我做花園裏的園丁。
女王
你的職責是什麼呢？
仆人
為您閑散的日子服務。
我要保持您晨興散步的草徑清爽新鮮，您每一移步將有甘於就死的繁花以讚頌來歡迎您的雙足。
我將在七葉樹的枝間推送您的秋千；向晚的月亮將掙紮著從葉隙裏吻您的衣裙。
我將在您床邊的燈盞裏添滿香油，我將用檀香和番紅花膏在您腳墊上塗畫上美妙的花樣。
女王
你要什麼酬報呢？
仆人
隻要您允許我像握著嫩柔的菡萏一般地握住您的小拳，把花串套上您的纖腕；允許我用無憂花的紅汁來染您的腳底，以親吻來拂去那偶然留在那裏的塵埃。
女王
你的祈求被接受了，我的仆人，你將是我花園裏的園丁。
SERVANT
Have mer your servant, my queen!
QUEEN
The assembly is over as are all gone. Why do you e at this late hour?
SERVANT
When you have fihers, that is my time.
I e to ask what remains for your last servant to do.
QUEEN
e it is too late?
SERVANT
Make me the gardener arden.
QUEEN
What folly is this?
SERVANT
I will give up my other work.
I throw my swords and lan i. Do o distant courts; do ake make me the gardener arden.
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 m, where your feet will be greeted with praise at every step by the fler for death.
I will swing you in a swing among the brahe saptaparhe early evening moon will struggle to kiss yh the leaves.
I will replenish with sted oil the lamp that burns by your bedside, ae your footstool with sandal and saffron paste in wns.
QUEEN
What will you have for your reward?
SERVANT
To be allowed to hold your little fists like teusbuds and slip flower-s over your wrists; to tihe soles of your feet with the red juice of ashoka petals and kiss aeck of dust that may ger there.
QUEEN
Yranted, my servant, you will be the gardener of my flarden.