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佛陀的弟子优婆鞠多躺在摩突罗国的城墙外面，在尘土中酣然入梦。
灯火尽灭，门扉尽掩，八月的昏黑天空遮没所有的星星。
脚镯叮当，是谁的双足，突然间触到了他的胸膛？
优婆鞠多万分惊讶地醒了过来，一个女人手里的提灯照进了他慈悲的眼睛。
眼前的是那个舞女，满身的珠宝令她璀璨如星，淡蓝的斗篷令她绰约如云，青春的美酒令她醉意醺醺。
她放下提灯，看到了他素净俊美的年轻面庞。
“年轻的苦行者啊，原谅我，”女人说，“赏光去我家吧，尘埃满布的地面不配做你的床啊。”
苦行者答道：“女人啊，你自己走吧；时机来临的时候，我自然会将你探访。”
突然之间，电光闪现，漆黑的夜晚露出了森森的牙齿。
风暴在天空的角落里大声咆哮，女人在恐惧之中瑟瑟战栗。
……
路边树木的枝条经历着开花的痛楚。
欢快的笛声从远处传来，在春天的温暖空气中荡漾。
城里的人都去了树林，去享受这繁花似锦的良辰。
半空之中，一轮满月凝视着寂静城镇的暗影。
年轻的苦行者走在那条荒凉的街道，头顶的芒果枝桠上，相思成疾的杜鹃尽情倾吐着无眠的哀怨。
优婆鞠多穿过一道道城门，站在了城墙边。
他的脚边，城墙的阴影之中躺着一个女人，一个染有黑色瘟疫、周身溃烂、被人慌忙赶到城外的女人，她是谁呢？
苦行者坐到她的身边，让她的头枕在自己膝上，用清水濡湿她的嘴唇，用香膏涂遍她的全身。
“好心人哪，你是谁呢？”女人问道。
“探访你的时机终于来临，所以我来了。”年轻的苦行者答道。
Upagupta, the disciple of Buddha, lay asleep on the dust by the city wall of Mathura.
Lamps were all out, doors were all shut, and stars were all hidden by the murky sky of August.
Whose feet were those tinkling with anklets, touching his breast of a sudden?
He woke up startled, and the light from a woman's lamp struck his forgiving eyes.
It was the dancing girl, starred with jewels, clouded with a pale-blue mantle, drunk with the wine of her youth.
She lowered her lamp and saw the young face, austerely beautiful.
"Forgive me, young ascetic," said the woman, "graciously come to my house. The dusty earth is not a fit bed for you."
The ascetic answered, "Woman, go on your way; when the time is ripe I will come to you."
Suddenly the black night showed its teeth in a flash of lightning.
The storm growled from the corner of the sky, and the woman trembled in fear.
......
The branches of the wayside trees were aching with blossom.
Gay notes of the flute came floating in the warm spring air from afar.
The citizens had gone to the woods, to the festival of flowers.
From the mid-sky gazed the full moon on the shadows of the silent town.
The young ascetic was walking in the lonely street, while overhead the lovesick koels urged from the mango branches their sleepless plaint.
Upagupta passed through the city gates, and stood at the base of the rampart.
What woman lay in the shadow of the wall at his feet, struck with the black pestilence
, her body spotted with sores, hurriedly driven away from the town?
The ascetic sat by her side, taking her head on his knees, and moistened her lips with water and smeared her body with balm.
"Who are you, merciful one?" asked the woman.
"The time, at last, has come to visit you, and I am here," replied the young ascetic.