有句谚语：No herb will cure love （无药能医相思病）

前些天，爸爸妈妈带瑷玛去Kroger，在果蔬柜台瞥见几样装在保鲜盒的新鲜herb（香草），惊奇的是它们竟真是按照一首歌的歌词排列的：parsley、sage、rosemary and thyme！这首歌正是爸爸的最爱之一，惊喜感动之余，也让近旁的妈妈来分享。一个个打开它盒子，闭上眼用鼻子摄取它们的香气，这些熟悉又陌生的香气就像歌声一样温暖了爸爸的记忆……

前些天瑷玛和爸妈去Walnut Creek Park，又路过那个Scarborough。那一刻，爸爸好像又听见瑷玛在Kroger店内问爸爸的声音：


“这是什么？”

——“香草。”

“香草干嘛呢？”

——“唱歌呢。”

“唱歌干嘛呢？”

……

爸爸妈妈了解瑷玛喜欢的所有东西，现在也让瑷玛知道一点爸爸妈妈的喜好吧。上面爸爸提到的那首歌，是美国20世纪60年代的一首老歌，是电影THE GRADUTE里面的歌曲，名字叫SCARBOROUGH FAIR，里面唱到了爸妈看到的那些香草：

BOTH

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley 欧芹, sage 鼠尾草, rosemary 迷迭香 and thyme 百里香
Remember me to one who lives there,
For she/he once was a true love of mine.

MAN

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Without any seam nor needlework,
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Which never sprung water nor rain ever fell,
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born,
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

Ask her to do me this courtesy,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
And ask for a like favour from me,
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

BOTH

Have you been to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Remember me from one who lives there,
For she/he once was a true love of mine.

WOMAN

Ask him to find me an acre of land,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Between the salt water and the sea-strand,
For then he'll be a true love of mine.

Ask him to plough it with a lamb's horn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
And sow it all over with one peppercorn,
For then he'll be a true love of mine.

Ask him to reap it with a sickle of leather,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
And gather it up with a rope made of heather,
For then he'll be a true love of mine.

When he has done and finished his work,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Ask him to come for his cambric shirt,
For then he'll be a true love of mine.

BOTH

If you say that you can't, then I shall reply,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Oh, Let me know that at least you will try,
Or you'll never be a true love of mine.

Love imposes impossible tasks,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
But none more than any heart would ask,
I must know you're a true love of mine.