1 servant Show mercy to your servant, my queen! Queen The assembly is over, and my servants are gone.Why are you here so late? servant After you've talked to someone else, it's my time. I come to ask what work is left for your last servant to do. Queen What else do you want to do at this late hour? servant Let me be the gardener in your garden. Queen What kind of silly idea is this? servant I'm leaving other work. I throw my sword and spear into the dust.Do not send me to far courts; do not order me new crusades.Just let me be the gardener in the garden. Queen What are your responsibilities?

servant Serve your idle days. I will keep fresh the grassy paths of your morning walks, and flowers willing to die will greet your feet with praise at every step. I will push your swing between the boughs of the buckeye; the late moon will struggle to kiss your dress through the leaves. I will fill the lamp by your bed with scented oils, and I will anoint your foot-mats with ointments of sandalwood and saffron. Queen What do you want in return? servant As long as you allow me to hold your small fist like a tender hanju, and put the flower strings on your slender wrists; allow me to dye the soles of your feet with the red juice of the saffron flower, and kiss them to kiss you. To the dust that was left there by chance.

Queen Your prayer is accepted, my servant, you will be the gardener in my garden.