2025-2026学年译林版九年级（2012）九年级英语上册黑布林The Little Prince《小王子》中英文版

《小王子》中英文版 Chapter 1（第2–6页） When I was six years old, I saw a wonderful picture in a book called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. 六岁那年，我在一本讲原始森林的书《大自然的真实故事》里，看到一幅绝妙的画。 It was a picture of a boa constrictor swallowing a wild beast. 画里是一条大蟒蛇，正吞下一头野兽。 Here is a copy of the drawing. 下面是这幅画的复刻版。 In the book it said: “Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion.” 书上写着：“蟒蛇会把猎物整个吞下，不嚼不动。之后动弹不得，要睡六个月来消化。” I thought deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a coloured pencil I made my first drawing, Drawing Number One. 我从此迷上丛林冒险，用彩笔画出了第一号作品。 I showed my masterpiece to grown-ups and asked them whether the drawing frightened them. 我把杰作拿给大人看，问他们怕不怕。 But they answered: “Frighten? Why should anyone be frightened by a hat?” 大人却说：“怕？一顶帽子有什么好怕的？” My drawing was not a hat. It was a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. 我画的根本不是帽子，是蟒蛇在消化大象。 But since the grown-ups could not understand it, I made another drawing, Drawing Number Two: the inside of the boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly. 大人看不懂，我又画了第二号作品：蟒蛇肚子里的大象，好让他们看明白。 The grown-ups advised me to put away my drawings of boa constrictors, outside or inside, and apply myself instead to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar. 大人劝我别画蟒蛇了（不管是吞象的还是肚子里的），改学地理、历史、算术和语法。 That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter. 就这样，六岁那年，我放弃了画家的梦想。 I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two. 第一、二号作品的失败让我心灰意冷。 Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. 大人永远自己看不懂，总要孩子一遍遍解释，真累。 So I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and geography has been very useful to me. 我只好另选职业，学开飞机，飞遍了世界——地理果然很有用。 At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable. 一眼就能分清中国和亚利桑那，夜里迷航时特别管用。 In the course of my life I have met many people of great importance. I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn’t much improved my opinion of them. 我见过很多大人物，长期和大人打交道，近距离观察他们——可我对他们的看法，并没变好。 Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. 遇到一个看起来还算清醒的大人，我就拿出珍藏的第一号作品试探他。 I would try to find out, so, whether this was a person of true understanding. But whoever it was, he, or she, would always say: “That is a hat.” 想知道他是不是真的能看懂。可不管是谁，都只会说：“这是顶帽子。” Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man. 我便不再和他聊蟒蛇、森林、星星，降到他的水平，聊桥牌、高尔夫、政治、领带。大人会很高兴遇到一个“懂事”的人。 Chapter 2（第7–10页） So I lived my life alone, without anyone that I could really talk to, until I had an accident with my plane in the Desert of Sahara, six years ago. 我就这样孤独地活着，没人能真正谈心——直到六年前，飞机在撒哈拉沙漠失事。 Something was broken in my engine. And as I had with me neither a mechanic nor any passengers, I set myself to attempt the difficult repairs all alone. 引擎坏了，身边没机械师、没乘客，只能自己修，很难。 It was a question of life or death for me: I had scarcely enough drinking water to last a week. 生死关头：淡水只够撑一周。 The first night, then, I went to sleep on the sand, a thousand miles from any human habitation. I was more isolated than a shipwrecked sailor on a raft in the middle of the ocean. 第一夜，我睡在沙地上，千里无人烟，比海上遇难的水手还孤独。 You can imagine my amazement, then, at sunrise, when I was awakened by an odd little voice. It said: “If you please – draw me a sheep!” 黎明时，一个奇怪的小声音把我叫醒：“请你——给我画只绵羊！”你能想象我有多惊讶。 I jumped to my feet, completely thunderstruck. I blinked my eyes hard. I looked carefully all around me. And I saw a most extraordinary small person, who stood there examining me with great seriousness. 我猛地站起来，像被雷劈到，使劲眨眼，仔细看——一个特别的小男孩，严肃地盯着我。 Here you may see the best portrait that, later, I was able to make of him. But my drawing is certainly not so charming as its subject. 后来我给他画了肖像（如下），但没他本人可爱。 But it is not my fault. I had been discouraged from becoming a painter by the grown-ups, at the age of six. I had never learned to draw anything, except boas from the outside and boas from the inside. 这不怪我：六岁被大人打击，从没学过画画，只画过两种蟒蛇。 Now I stared at this sudden apparition with my eyes fairly starting out of my head in astonishment. Remember, I was a thousand miles from any human being. And yet this little person didn’t look as if he were lost, nor half dead from fatigue, nor hungry, nor thirsty, nor afraid. 我震惊地盯着这个小身影——千里无人区，他却不像迷路、不累、不饿、不渴、不怕。 He did not have at all the appearance of a child lost in the middle of the desert, a thousand miles from any human habitation. When at last I was able to speak, I said to him: “But – what are you doing here?” 完全不像沙漠里迷路的孩子。我终于开口：“你——在这里干什么？” And he repeated, very slowly, as if he were speaking of a matter of great consequence: “If you please – draw me a sheep...” 他慢慢重复，像说一件大事：“请你——给我画只绵羊……” When something is so overwhelming, you cannot dare to disobey. Strange as it seemed to me, and a thousand miles from all human beings and in danger of death, I took a sheet of paper and a pen out of my pocket. 太不可思议了，可我不敢拒绝——千里无人、生死关头，我还是掏出纸和笔。 But then I remembered that I had only studied geography, history, arithmetic and grammar. So I said to the little person (a little crossly, too) that I did not know how to draw. 但我想起只学过地理、历史、算术、语法，有点不耐烦地说：“我不会画画。” He answered me: “That doesn’t matter. Draw me a sheep...” 他说：“没关系，画只绵羊就好……” I had never drawn a sheep. So I drew for him one of the two pictures I had drawn so often. It was that of the boa constrictor from the outside. 我从没画过绵羊，就画了最熟的蟒蛇（外）。 And I was astounded to hear the little fellow say: “No, no! I do not want an elephant inside a boa constrictor. A boa constrictor is a very dangerous creature, and an elephant is very cumbersome. Where I live, everything is very small. What I need is a sheep. Draw me a sheep.” 他却说：“不要不要！我不要蟒蛇吞大象！蟒蛇危险，大象笨重。我住的地方很小，我要绵羊，画只绵羊。”我惊呆了。 So then I made a drawing. 我只好画了一只。 He looked at it carefully, then he said: “No. This sheep is already very sickly. Make me another.” 他仔细看：“不行，这只病怏怏的，再画一只。” I made another drawing. 我又画了一只。 My friend smiled gently and indulgently. “You see yourself,” he said, “that this is not a sheep. This is a ram. It has horns.” 他温和地笑：“你看，这不是绵羊，是公羊，有角。” So then I did my drawing over once more. 我又重画。 But it was rejected too, just like the others. “This one is too old. I want a sheep that will live a long time.” 又被拒：“这只太老了，我要能活很久的。” By this time my patience was exhausted, because I was in a hurry to start taking my engine apart. So I tossed off this drawing and blurted out: “This is only his box. The sheep you asked for is inside.” 我没耐心了——急着拆引擎，草草画了个箱子，脱口而出：“这是箱子，你要的绵羊在里面。” I was very surprised to see a light break over the face of my young judge: “That is exactly the way I wanted it! Do you think that this sheep will have to have a great deal of grass?” 他立刻笑了，我很意外：“就是这样！你说这只绵羊要吃很多草吗？” “Why?” “怎么啦？” “Because where I live everything is very small...” “因为我住的地方很小……” “There will surely be enough grass for him,” I said. “It is a very small sheep that I have given you.” “草肯定够，我给你的是只很小的绵羊。” He bent his head over the drawing: “Not so small that – Look! He has gone to sleep...” 他低头看画：“也没那么小——你看，他睡着了……” And that is how I made the acquaintance of the little prince. 我就这样认识了小王子。 Chapter 3（第11–13页） It took me a long time to learn where he came from. The little prince, who asked me so many questions, never seemed to hear the ones I asked him. 我花了很久才知道他从哪来。他问我很多问题，却好像听不到我问他的。 It was from words dropped by chance that, little by little, everything was revealed to me. 我从他随口的话里，慢慢拼凑出一切。 The first time he saw my airplane, for instance (I shall not draw my airplane; that would be much too complicated for me), he asked me: “What is that object?” 比如，他第一次看见我的飞机（我不画了，太复杂），问：“那是什么东西？” “That is not an object. It flies. It is an airplane. It is my airplane.” “不是东西，会飞，是飞机，我的飞机。” And I was proud to have him learn that I could fly. He cried out, then: “What! You dropped down from the sky?” 我很得意他知道我会飞。他大叫：“什么！你从天上掉下来的？” “Yes,” I answered, modestly. “嗯。”我谦虚地说。 “Oh! That is funny!” And the little prince broke into a lovely peal of laughter, which irritated me very much. I like my misfortunes to be taken seriously. “真好玩！”小王子笑得很开心，我有点生气——我希望别人认真对待我的倒霉事。 Then he added: “So you, too, come from the sky? Which is your planet?” 他又说：“那你也是从天上来的？你是哪个星球的？” At that moment I caught a gleam of light in the impenetrable mystery of his presence; and I demanded, abruptly: “Do you come from another planet?” 我突然灵光一闪，猜到他的来历，立刻问：“你是从别的星球来的？” He did not answer. He nodded his head slowly, without taking his eyes off my airplane. 他没回答，只慢慢点头，眼睛一直盯着我的飞机。 “And it was because of the airplane that you are here?” “你是因为飞机才到这里的？” He did not answer. Again, he nodded his head slowly. 他又慢慢点头，没说话。 I plunged into a flood of conjectures: “I imagine that, on your planet, everything is very small... Perhaps there is no one else? Are you all alone?” 我开始各种猜想：“我猜你住的星球很小……是不是没人？你一个人吗？” He nodded his head again. 他又点头。 “Ah! You want a sheep, then. That is why you need a friend...” “啊！你要绵羊，是因为你需要朋友……” And I thought: “How strange it is! A little prince, from another planet, all alone, wanting a sheep...” 我心想：“太奇怪了！小王子，来自别的星球，孤零零的，想要一只绵羊……” Chapter 4（第14–17页） I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: his home planet is scarcely bigger than a house. 我知道了第二个重要事实：他的星球只有房子那么大。 This did not surprise me very much. I knew very well that besides the big planets like Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, to which we have given names, there are hundreds of others which are sometimes so small that it is hard to see them with a telescope. 我并不惊讶——除了地球、木星、火星、金星这些大行星，还有几百颗很小的小行星，望远镜都难看见。 When an astronomer discovers one of these, he does not give it a name. He only gives it a number. He calls it “Asteroid 325,” for instance. 天文学家发现了，不会起名，只给编号，比如“325号小行星”。 I have serious reason to believe that the planet from which the little prince came is the asteroid known as B-612. 我有充分理由相信：小王子来自B-612号小行星。 This asteroid has been sighted only once, in 1909, by a Turkish astronomer, who then made a formal report of his discovery to the International Astronomical Congress. 这颗小行星1909年被一位土耳其天文学家首次发现，并在国际天文学大会上正式报告。 But nobody believed him because he was wearing Turkish clothes. Grown-ups are like that. 但没人信他——因为他穿土耳其传统服装。大人就是这样。 Fortunately for the reputation of Asteroid B-612, a Turkish dictator ordered his people, under pain of death, to adopt European clothes. So the astronomer made his report all over again, in European clothes. And this time everybody believed him. 幸好，后来土耳其独裁者下令全国穿欧式服装，违者处死。天文学家穿西装重新报告，这次所有人都信了。 If I have told you these details about Asteroid B-612, and if I have given you its number, it is on account of the grown-ups. 我告诉你B-612的细节和编号，都是因为大人。 Grown-ups love figures. When you tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters. 大人爱数字。你说交了新朋友，他们从不问关键问题。 They never say to you: “What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies?” Instead, they demand: “How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make?” 他们不问：“他声音好听吗？喜欢什么游戏？收集蝴蝶吗？”反而问：“他几岁？有几个兄弟？体重多少？爸爸赚多少钱？” Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him. 他们以为只有数字才能了解一个人。 If you say to the grown-ups: “I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof,” they would not be able to imagine that house at all. 你对大人说：“我看见一栋漂亮的房子，玫瑰红砖，窗台有天竺葵，屋顶有鸽子。”他们完全想象不出来。 **You have to say to them: “I saw a house that cost $20,000.” Then they would exclaim: “Oh, what a pretty house that is!”** Just so, you might say to them: “The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming, that he laughed, and that he was looking for a sheep. If somebody wants a sheep, that is proof that he exists.” 同理，你对大人说：“小王子存在的证据：他很可爱、爱笑、想要绵羊。想要绵羊的人，一定存在。” The grown-ups would shrug their shoulders and treat you like a child. But if you tell them: “He came from the planet B-612,” then they will be convinced and will not bother you with any more questions. 大人会耸肩，把你当小孩。但你说：“他来自B-612号小行星。”他们就信了，不再追问。 They are like that. One must not hold it against them. Children should always be very indulgent towards grown-ups. 大人就是这样，别怪他们。孩子要永远宽容大人。 But of course we, who understand life, laugh at numbers! I should have liked to begin this story in the fashion of the fairy tales. I should have liked to say: “Once upon a time there was a little prince who lived on a planet that was scarcely any bigger than a house, and who needed a friend...” 但我们这些懂生活的人，才不在乎数字！我本该用童话开头：“从前，有个小王子，住在房子大的星球上，他需要一个朋友……” To those who understand life, that would have given a much greater air of truth to my story. 对懂生活的人来说，这样更真实。 For I do not want anyone to read my book carelessly. I have been too much saddened by these memories. It is six years now since my friend left me, with his sheep. 我不希望有人随便读这本书——这些回忆让我太难过。我的朋友带着绵羊离开，已经六年了。 If I describe him here, it is that I may not forget him. It is sad to forget a friend. Not everyone has had a friend. 我写下他，是怕忘记他。忘记朋友是悲伤的，不是每个人都有朋友。 I may become like the grown-ups, who are no longer interested in anything but figures. So I have bought a box of paints and some pencils. I have tried to begin to draw again, at my age. 我怕自己变成大人——只对数字感兴趣。所以我买了颜料和铅笔，一把年纪了，重新学画画。 It is not easy to start drawing again, at my age, when one has never drawn anything except boas from the outside and boas from the inside, at the age of six! 一把年纪重新画画不容易——六岁后就没画过，只画过两种蟒蛇！ But I will do my best. I will make the portraits as much like as possible. I am not certain to succeed. One drawing will be too big, another too small. 但我会尽力，尽量画得像。不一定成功：有的太大，有的太小。 I shall be a little inaccurate also about the colour of his clothes. But you must forgive me. My friend never explained anything to me. Perhaps he thought that I was like him. 衣服颜色也可能不准。但请原谅我——我的朋友从不解释，也许他以为我和他一样。 But, unfortunately, I cannot see the sheep inside the box. Perhaps I am a little like the grown-ups. I have had to grow old. 可惜，我看不见箱子里的绵羊。也许我有点像大人了——我已经变老了。 Chapter 5（第18–21页） Each day I learned something new about his planet, about his departure, about his journey. It came very slowly, in the form of casual remarks, as his thoughts drifted from one thing to another. 每天我都从他随口的话里，慢慢了解他的星球、他的离开、他的旅程。 It was in this way that, on the third day, I learned about the catastrophe of the baobabs. 就这样，第三天，我知道了猴面包树的灾难。 This time, again, I owed it all to the sheep, for the little prince asked me abruptly, as if seized by a grave doubt: “It is true, isn’t it, that sheep eat little bushes?” 这次还是多亏了绵羊——小王子突然严肃地问：“绵羊吃小灌木，是真的吗？” “Yes, that is true.” “是真的。” “Ah! I am glad!” “太好了！” I did not understand why it was so important that sheep should eat little bushes. But the little prince added: “Then it follows that they also eat baobabs?” 我不懂为什么这事这么重要。小王子又说：“那它们也吃猴面包树？” I pointed out to the little prince that baobabs are not little bushes, but trees as big as castles; and that even if he took a whole herd of elephants away with him, the elephants would not finish eating one single baobab. 我告诉他：猴面包树不是灌木，是城堡大的树——就算带一群大象，也吃不完一棵。 The idea of a herd of elephants made the little prince laugh. 他听到“一群大象”，笑了。 “We would have to pile them up on top of one another,” he said. “But the baobabs start by being little.” “得把大象叠起来才行。但猴面包树小时候很小。” “That is right. But why do you want the sheep to eat the little baobabs?” “对。可你为什么要绵羊吃小的猴面包树？” He answered me: “Well, we must get rid of them. They grow so big that they can split a planet into pieces.” 他说：“必须除掉它们！ 长大以后，会把星球撑碎！” I was surprised. “Split a planet into pieces?” 我很惊讶：“撑碎星球？” “Yes. The planet is covered with them. If you do not get rid of them in time, they will grow so big that their roots will pierce the planet all the way through.” “嗯。星球上到处都是，不及时除掉，根会把星球穿透。” “And if you try to pull up a baobab when it is already grown, it is impossible. You can never get rid of it.” “等长大了再拔，就永远除不掉了。” He added: “It is a question of discipline. When you have finished your toilet in the morning, you must take the time to clean your planet carefully. You must pull up all the baobabs as soon as you can tell them apart from the rose bushes, which they resemble very much when they are young.” 他又说：“这是规矩：早上洗漱完，就要仔细清理星球。一认出小的猴面包树（和玫瑰灌木很像），就马上拔掉。” “It is very tedious work,” the little prince added, “but very easy.” “这工作很枯燥，但很简单。” And one day he said to me: “You ought to make a beautiful drawing, so that the children where you live can understand. If they travel some day, it may be useful to them.” 有一天他说：“你该画一张漂亮的图，让你那里的孩子明白。他们以后旅行，会有用的。” “I will make drawings,” I said, “but I am not very good at drawing.” “我会画，但我画得不好。” “That doesn’t matter,” he said. “Just draw the baobabs. They will understand.” “没关系，画猴面包树就行，他们会懂的。” So I made the drawing that you see here. I am not very proud of it. Even a grown-up can understand that drawing, if he tries. 我就画了下面这张图。我不太满意，但大人用心看，也能看懂。 But I must say, I did not take the baobabs seriously enough, before I heard the little prince’s story. I was so busy with my own troubles that I did not think of such great dangers. 说实话，在听小王子讲之前，我没把猴面包树当回事——我只顾自己的麻烦，没想过这么大的危险。 I thought that they were only harmless little bushes. But the little prince taught me better. 我以为只是无害的小灌木，是小王子教会了我。 So it is that, for the love of the little prince, I have changed my attitude towards baobabs. I have become very careful, very alert, in everything that I do. 所以，因为小王子，我改变了对猴面包树的态度——做事变得非常小心、警惕。 For I have learned that there are some dangerous plants on every planet, some bad habits that must be uprooted, just like the baobabs. 我明白了：每个星球都有危险的植物，都有必须根除的坏习惯，就像猴面包树。 Chapter 6（第22–23页） Ah, little prince, I have learned another secret of your life, little by little! You were very sad for a long time, and you found your only pleasure in watching the sunsets. 啊，小王子，我慢慢知道了你生活的另一个秘密：你难过了很久，唯一的乐趣是看日落。 I learned this new detail on the fourth day, at dawn, when you said to me: “I love sunsets very much. Let us go and see a sunset...” 第四天黎明，你对我说：“我很喜欢日落，我们去看日落吧……”我才知道。 “But we have to wait,” I said. “可我们得等。”我说。 “Wait for what?” “等什么？” “Wait for the sun to set.” “等太阳下山。” At first you looked surprised, and then you laughed at yourself. You said: “I always think I am at home...” 你先是惊讶，然后自嘲地笑：“我总以为还在家里……” And that is true. When you are at home, you only have to move your chair a few steps, and you can see the sunset whenever you like. 确实——在你家，只要把椅子挪几步，随时都能看日落。 “One day I saw the sun set forty-four times!” “有一天，我看了四十四次日落！” And a little later you added: “You know, when one is very sad, one loves sunsets...” 过了一会儿，你又说：“你知道吗，人难过的时候，就喜欢看日落……” “Were you very sad, then, on that day of the forty-four sunsets?” “那天你很难过吗？看了四十四次日落。” But the little prince did not answer. 小王子没有回答。 Chapter 7（第24–30页） On the fifth day, again, it was the sheep who was responsible for revealing another secret of the little prince’s life. 第五天，还是因为绵羊，我知道了小王子的另一个秘密。 Suddenly, without preamble, as if the thought had been hidden in his mind for a long time, he asked me: “If a sheep eats bushes, does it eat flowers, too?” 他突然问，没有铺垫，好像藏了很久：“绵羊吃灌木，也吃花吗？” “A sheep eats anything it finds in its path.” “绵羊路上遇到什么吃什么。” “Even flowers that have thorns?” “带刺的花也吃？” “Yes, even flowers that have thorns.” “嗯，带刺的也吃。” “Then what is the use of the thorns?” “那刺有什么用？” I did not know. I was very busy trying to unscrew a bolt that had got stuck in my engine. I was very much worried, for my plane’s engine was getting worse and worse, and my drinking water was running out. 我不知道。我正忙着拧引擎里一颗卡死的螺丝——飞机引擎越来越糟，淡水也快没了，我很焦虑。 “The thorns are of no use at all. The flowers have thorns only out of malice.” “刺根本没用，花长刺就是坏心眼。” “Oh!” “哦！” But after a moment’s silence, he said to me, with a certain bitterness: “I do not believe you. Flowers are weak creatures. They are naïve. They reassure themselves as best they can. They believe that their thorns are terrible weapons...” 他沉默了一会儿，有点生气地说：“我不信。花很弱小、天真，只能尽量保护自己——它们以为刺是厉害的武器……” I did not answer. At that moment I was saying to myself: “If this bolt still won’t turn, I will knock it out with a hammer.” 我没回答，心里想：“这螺丝再拧不动，就用锤子砸了。” The little prince interrupted my thoughts again: “Do you believe that the flowers – ?” 小王子又打断我：“你觉得花——？” “No! No! I don’t believe anything! I am talking to you of a bolt! And you are talking to me of flowers!” “别烦我！我什么都不信！我在说螺丝！你在说花！” He was very hurt. He looked at me, and said: “You talk like the grown-ups!” 他很受伤，看着我说：“你说话像大人一样！” I was a little ashamed. But he went on, relentlessly: “You mix everything up... You confuse everything...” 我有点惭愧。但他继续说：“你把一切都搞混了……” He was really very angry. His golden hair shook in the wind. 他真的生气了，金色的头发在风中飘动。 “I know a planet where there is a certain red-faced gentleman. He has never smelled a flower. He has never looked at a star. He has never loved anyone. He has never done anything but add up figures. And all day he says over and over, just like you: ‘I am a serious man! I am a serious man!’ And that makes him swell with pride. But he is not a man – he is a mushroom!” “我知道一颗星球上，有个红脸先生：从没闻过花、没看过星星、没爱过任何人，只会算数字。整天像你一样说：‘我是正经人！我是正经人！’骄傲得不得了——可他不是人，是蘑菇！” “A what?” “什么？” “A mushroom!” “蘑菇！” The little prince was now white with anger. 小王子气得脸色发白。 “Flowers have been growing thorns for millions of years. For millions of years sheep have been eating them. And is it not serious, to try to understand why flowers go to such trouble to grow thorns that are of no use to them? Is the war between the sheep and the flowers not important? Is this not more serious than the addition of a fat red-faced gentleman? And if I know of one flower in the world, the only one of its kind, which exists nowhere but on my planet, and which a little sheep can destroy in a single bite some morning, without even noticing what it is doing – is that not important?” “几百万年来，花长刺、羊吃花。难道搞懂花为什么长没用的刺，不是正经事？羊和花的战争，难道不重要？难道不比红脸胖子的加法更重要？如果我有一朵全世界独一无二的花，只在我的星球上，小羊一口就能毁掉它——这难道不重要？” His face turned red, and he went on: “If someone loves a flower, of which there is only one example in all the millions and millions of stars, it is enough to make him happy just to look at the stars. He can say to himself: ‘Somewhere, my flower is there...’ But if the sheep eats the flower, in one moment all his stars will be darkened... And you think that is not important!” 他脸红了，继续说：“如果一个人爱上一朵花，亿万颗星星里只有一朵——他只要看着星星，就很幸福。他会说：‘我的花在某个地方……’可如果羊吃了花，一瞬间，所有星星都熄灭了……你觉得这不重要？” He could not say any more. He burst into tears. 他说不下去了，哭了起来。 Night had fallen. I had let my tools drop from my hands. I was no longer concerned about my hammer, nor about my bolt, nor about thirst, nor about death. 夜幕降临，我放下工具——不再关心锤子、螺丝、口渴、死亡。 There was a little prince on a planet, somewhere, who needed to be comforted. 在某个星球上，有个小王子需要安慰。 I took him in my arms. I rocked him gently. I said to him: “The flower that you love is not in danger. I will draw you a muzzle for your sheep. I will draw you a railing to put around your flower. I will – ” 我抱住他，轻轻摇晃：“你爱的花没有危险。我给绵羊画个嘴套，给花画个围栏，我会——” I did not know what to say. I felt very clumsy. I did not know how to reach him, how to find him again... It is such a mysterious place, the land of tears. 我不知道说什么，很笨拙。我不知道怎么靠近他、找回他……眼泪的国度，是如此神秘。 Chapter 8（第31–34页） I soon learned to know this flower better. 我很快就更了解这朵花了。 On the little prince’s planet there had always been very simple flowers, with one row of petals, which took up no room at all, and troubled no one. 小王子的星球上，从前只有很简单的花，单瓣，不占地方，也不打扰人。 They would open one morning in the grass, and fade away at evening. 它们早上在草丛里开放，傍晚就凋谢了。 But one day, from a seed blown from no one knew where, a new flower had come up; and the little prince had watched very closely over this small sprout which was not like any other small sprout. 但有一天，一粒不知哪来的种子发了芽，长出一朵新花。小王子仔细看着这棵和别的嫩芽都不一样的小苗。 It might have been a new kind of baobab. 它差点被当成新的猴面包树。 But the shrub soon stopped growing, and began to get ready to produce a flower. 但这小苗很快就不长了，开始准备开花。 The little prince, who was present at the first appearance of a huge bud, felt at once that some sort of miraculous apparition would spring from it. 小王子看着大大的花苞初现，立刻觉得里面会开出奇迹。 But the flower was not satisfied to complete the preparations for her beauty in the shelter of her green chamber. 但这朵花不愿在绿色的花萼里悄悄准备美丽。 She chose her colours with the greatest care. She dressed herself slowly. She adjusted her petals one by one. 她精心挑选颜色，慢慢打扮，一片片整理花瓣。 She did not wish to go out into the world all rumpled, like the poppies. 她不愿像虞美人那样，皱巴巴地来到世上。 She wanted to appear only in the full radiance of her beauty. Oh, yes! She was very coquettish! 她要以最美的姿态出现。是啊，她非常娇气！ Her mysterious preparations lasted days and days. 她神秘地准备了好多天。 Then one morning, exactly at sunrise, she showed herself. 终于在一个日出的早晨，她绽放了。 And she, who had worked so hard, said, yawning a little: “Ah! I am just waking up... Please forgive me... I am still all disarranged.” 辛苦准备的她，有点慵懒地说：“啊，我刚醒……请原谅我……我还乱糟糟的。” The little prince could not restrain his admiration: “How beautiful you are!” 小王子忍不住赞叹：“你真美！” “Am I not?” the flower answered softly. “And I was born at the same moment as the sun...” “可不是吗？”花温柔地说，“我和太阳一起出生……” The little prince guessed that she was not very modest, but she was so charming! 小王子觉得她不太谦虚，但太迷人了！ “I think it is time for breakfast,” she added a little later. “Would you be so kind as to attend to me?” 过了一会儿，她又说：“该吃早餐了，能麻烦你照顾我吗？” And the little prince, greatly embarrassed, went to fetch a watering can of fresh water, and served the flower. 小王子很不好意思，拿来一壶清水，喂给她。 Thus, too, she began very quickly to torment him with her vanity – which was, if the truth be known, a little difficult to deal with. 很快，她的虚荣就开始折磨他——说实话，有点难应付。 One day, for instance, when she was speaking of her four thorns, she said to the little prince: “Let the tigers come with their claws!” 比如有一天，她说起自己的四根刺：“让老虎带着爪子来吧！” “There are no tigers on my planet,” the little prince objected. “And, anyway, tigers do not eat grass.” “我的星球上没有老虎，”小王子反驳，“而且老虎不吃草。” “I am not a blade of grass,” the flower answered softly. “我不是草。”花温柔地说。 “Forgive me...” “对不起……” “I have no fear of tigers,” she went on, “but I am afraid of drafts. You have no screen?” “我不怕老虎，”她继续说，“但我怕风。你没有屏风吗？” “Afraid of drafts? A plant is absurd,” the little prince said to himself. “This flower is much too complicated.” “怕风？植物真奇怪。”小王子心想，“这花太复杂了。” “At night you must put me under a glass globe. It is very cold where you live. It is not very comfortable. Where I come from...” “晚上你得把我放在玻璃罩里。你这里很冷，不舒服。我来的地方……” But she had stopped speaking. She had come in the form of a seed. She could not have known anything of the other worlds. 但她停住了——她是种子来的，根本不知道别的世界。 It was silly of her to tell such a lie, and she was a little ashamed of it. She coughed two or three times, to make the little prince feel sorry. 说这种谎真傻，她有点羞愧，咳嗽了两三声，想让小王子内疚。 And the little prince, in spite of all the good will that was inseparable from his love, had soon come to feel very unhappy. 小王子虽然满心爱意，却很快变得很不快乐。 He had taken seriously words which were without importance, and it made him very miserable. 他把无关紧要的话当真，弄得自己很痛苦。 “I ought not to have listened to her,” he confided to me one day. “One never ought to listen to the flowers. One should simply look at them and breathe their fragrance. Mine perfumed all my planet. But I did not know how to take pleasure in all her grace. This tale of claws, which disturbed me so much, should only have softened my heart towards her.” “我不该听她的话，”有一天他对我说，“永远别听花说什么，只要看着她们、闻她们的香就好。我的花香气满星球，我却不懂欣赏她的好。那些让我难过的‘爪子’的话，本该让我更心疼她才对。” And he confided further: “I did not understand anything at the time! I should have judged her by her actions and not by her words. She wrapped me in her fragrance and her light. I ought not to have run away! I should have guessed at the tenderness behind her poor little tricks. Flowers are so contradictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.” 他又说：“我当时什么都不懂！我该看她的行动，而不是听她的话。她用香气和光芒包围我，我不该离开！我该看透她小把戏背后的温柔。花就是这么矛盾！可我那时太小，不懂怎么爱她。” Chapter 9（第35–38页） I believe that for his escape he took advantage of the migration of a flock of wild birds. 我想他是借着一群野鸟迁徙的机会离开的。 On the morning of his departure he put his planet in perfect order. He carefully cleaned out his active volcanoes. 离开那天早上，他把星球收拾得整整齐齐，仔细打扫了活火山。 He possessed two active volcanoes; and they were very useful for heating his breakfast in the morning. 他有两座活火山，早上用来热早餐很方便。 He possessed also one extinct volcano. But, as he said: “One never knows!” So he cleaned out the extinct volcano, too. 还有一座死火山。但他说：“世事难料！”所以死火山也打扫了。 If they are well cleaned out, volcanoes burn slowly and steadily, without any eruptions. 火山打扫干净，就会慢慢稳定燃烧，不会喷发。 Volcanic eruptions are like fires in a chimney. 火山喷发就像烟囱着火。 On our earth we are obviously much too small to clean out our volcanoes. That is why they bring no end of trouble upon us. 我们地球人太小，没法打扫火山，所以火山总给我们惹麻烦。 The little prince also pulled up, with a certain touch of sadness, the last little baobabs. 小王子还带着一丝难过，拔掉了最后几棵小猴面包树。 He believed that he would never wish to return. But all these familiar labors seemed very sweet to him that morning. 他觉得自己不会回来了，但这些熟悉的事，那天早上做起来却很甜蜜。 When he watered the flower for the last time, and prepared to place her under the shelter of her glass globe, he realised that he was very close to tears. 最后一次给花浇水、准备把她放进玻璃罩时，他差点哭了。 “Goodbye,” he said to the flower. “再见。”他对花说。 But she did not answer. 花没回答。 “Goodbye,” he repeated. “再见。”他又说。 The flower coughed. But it was not because she had a cold. 花咳嗽了，但不是因为感冒。 “I have been silly,” she said to him, at last. “I ask your forgiveness. Try to be happy.” “我真傻，”她终于说，“原谅我吧。要快乐。” He was surprised by this absence of reproaches. He stood there all bewildered, the glass globe held arrested in mid-air. He did not understand this quiet sweetness. 他很惊讶她没有责备，拿着玻璃罩愣在原地，不懂这份安静的温柔。 “Of course I love you,” the flower said to him. “It is my fault that you have not known it all the while. That is of no importance. But you – you have been just as foolish as I. Try to be happy... let the glass globe be. I don’t want it any more.” “我当然爱你，”花说，“是我的错，让你一直不知道。没关系。但你——你也和我一样傻。要快乐……把玻璃罩拿开吧，我不要了。” “But the wind...” “可是风……” “My cold is not so bad as all that... The cool night air will do me good. I am a flower.” “我没那么怕冷……夜晚的凉风对我好。我是花。” “But the animals...” “可是动物……” “I must put up with the caterpillars if I want to know the butterflies. They seem very beautiful. Who else will visit me? You will be far away. As for the big animals, I am not afraid of them. I have my claws.” “要见蝴蝶，就得忍受毛毛虫，它们很美。还有谁会来看我呢？你要走了。至于大动物，我不怕，我有刺。” And she showed naively her four thorns. 她天真地亮出四根刺。 “Don’t linger like this. You have decided to go away. Now go!” “别磨蹭了。你决定要走，那就走吧！” For she did not want him to see her crying. She was such a proud flower... 她不想让他看见自己哭，她是一朵骄傲的花…… Chapter 10（第39–42页） He made his visit to the neighbouring asteroids. There were six of them. 他开始拜访附近的小行星，一共六颗。 The first one was inhabited by a king. 第一颗星球住着一位国王。 Dressed in purple and ermine, he sat upon a throne which was at the same time both simple and majestic. 他身穿紫袍、白鼬毛镶边，坐在简朴又威严的宝座上。 “Ah! Here is a subject,” exclaimed the king, when he saw the little prince coming. “啊，来了个臣民！”国王看到小王子，大叫。 And the little prince asked himself: “How could he recognize me when he has never seen me before?” 小王子心想：“他从没见过我，怎么认识我？” He did not know that kings look upon the world in a very simple way. All men are subjects to them. 他不知道，国王看世界很简单：所有人都是臣民。 “Come near, that I may see you better,” said the king, who was very proud of being at last a king over someone. “走近点，让我好好看看你。”国王说，他终于有臣民了，很得意。 The little prince looked about for a place to sit down, but the whole planet was covered by the king’s magnificent ermine robe. 小王子想找地方坐，但整个星球都被国王华丽的白鼬毛袍子盖住了。 So he remained standing, and since he was tired, he yawned. 他只好站着，累了，打了个哈欠。 “It is contrary to etiquette to yawn in the presence of a king,” the monarch said to him. “I forbid you to yawn.” “在国王面前打哈欠失礼，”国王说，“我禁止你打哈欠。” “I can’t help it,” the little prince answered, greatly embarrassed. “I have traveled far, and I have not slept at all.” “我忍不住，”小王子很不好意思，“我走了很远的路，没睡觉。” “Then,” the king said, “I order you to yawn. It is years since I have seen anyone yawning. Yawns amuse me. Come! Yawn again. It is an order.” “那我命令你打哈欠，”国王说，“我好多年没见人打哈欠了，真有趣。来，再打一个，这是命令。” “You frighten me... I cannot,” the little prince said, now completely flustered. “你吓到我了……我打不出来。”小王子慌了。 “Hum! Hum!” replied the king. “Then I – I order you sometimes to yawn and sometimes to – ” “嗯！嗯！”国王说，“那我——我命令你有时打哈欠，有时——” He sputtered a little, and seemed vexed. 他有点语无伦次，好像生气了。 For what the king fundamentally insisted upon was that his authority should be respected. He tolerated no disobedience. He was an absolute monarch. 国王最在意的是权威被尊重，不容反抗，是个专制君主。 But, because he was very kind, he gave only reasonable orders. 但他人很好，只下合理的命令。 “If I ordered a general to fly from flower to flower like a butterfly,” he would say, “or to write a tragedy, or to change himself into a sea bird, and if the general did not obey, who would be wrong? The general, or myself?” 他会说：“如果我命令将军像蝴蝶一样在花间飞，或写悲剧，或变成海鸟，将军不听，是谁错？将军，还是我？” “You,” the little prince would answer without hesitation. “是您。”小王子毫不犹豫地说。 “Exactly. One must require from each one the duty which each one can perform,” the king went on. “Authority rests first of all upon reason. If you command your people to go and throw themselves into the sea, there will be a revolution. I have the right to require obedience because my orders are reasonable.” “没错，”国王说，“权力建立在理性之上。命令人们跳海，就会革命。我有权让人服从，因为我的命令合理。” “Then my sunset?” the little prince reminded him, for he never forgot a question once he had asked it. “那我的日落呢？”小王子提醒他，他问过的问题从不忘记。 “Your sunset?” “你的日落？” “I should like to see a sunset. Do me the favour to order the sun to set...” “我想看日落，麻烦您命令太阳下山……” “If I ordered a general to do what he cannot do,” the king said, “that would not be reasonable. I must wait for the right conditions.” “命令将军做他做不到的事，不合理，”国王说，“我得等合适的条件。” “And when will that be?” the little prince asked. “那要等到什么时候？”小王子问。 “Hum! Hum!” replied the king, as he consulted a large almanac. “It will be... it will be about seven forty in the evening. And you will see how well my orders are obeyed.” 国王翻着大历书：“嗯……大概晚上七点四十，你会看到我的命令多管用。” The little prince yawned. He was regretting his sunset. And then he was a little bored. 小王子打了个哈欠，有点失望，也有点无聊。 “I have no longer any reason to stay here,” he said to the king. “I will go on my way.” “我没必要留在这里了，”他对国王说，“我要走了。” “Do not go,” the king answered, who was very proud of having a subject. “I will make you a Minister!” “别走，”国王说，他很得意有个臣民，“我封你当大臣！” “Minister of what?” “什么大臣？” “Minister of – of Justice!” “司法大臣！” “But there is no one here to judge!” “这里没人可审判啊！” “We do not know that,” the king said. “I have not yet made the tour of my kingdom. I am very old. There is no room for a carriage. And walking tires me.” “说不定有呢，”国王说，“我还没巡视过我的王国。我老了，没地方放马车，走路又累。” “Oh! But I have already looked,” the little prince said, turning to glance at the other side of the planet. “There is no one else...” “我看过了，”小王子转头看看星球另一边，“没人了……” “Then you shall judge yourself,” the king answered. “That is the most difficult thing of all. It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom.” “那你就审判自己，”国王说，“这最难。审判自己比审判别人难多了。能公正审判自己，才是真正的智者。” “I,” the little prince said, “can judge myself anywhere. I do not need to live here.” “我在哪都能审判自己，”小王子说，“不用住这里。” “Hum! Hum!” said the king. “I believe that somewhere on my planet there is an old rat. I hear him at night. You can judge this old rat. From time to time you will condemn him to death. Thus his life will depend on your justice. But you will pardon him each time, to keep him alive. For we have only one rat.” 国王说：“我星球上有只老老鼠，晚上能听到。你可以审判他，时不时判他死刑，他的命就看你了。但每次都要赦免他，不然就没老鼠了。” “I,” the little prince replied, “do not like to condemn anyone to death. And I think I will go on my way.” “我不想判任何人死刑，”小王子说，“我要走了。” “No,” the king said. “别走。”国王说。 But the little prince, having now completed his preparations for departure, had no wish to linger. He said to the king: “If Your Majesty wishes to be strictly obeyed, you should give me a reasonable order. You could, for example, order me to leave within one minute. I think that the conditions are favourable...” 小王子准备好要走了，不想停留。他对国王说：“陛下要我听话，就给我个合理的命令。比如，命令我一分钟内离开。条件很合适……” The king could not answer. The little prince hesitated a moment, then took his leave and went away. 国王答不上来。小王子犹豫了一下，告辞离开。 “I have made a good job of him,” the king shouted after him. “我把他治理得很好！”国王在后面大喊。 Chapter 11（第43–46页） The second planet was inhabited by a conceited man. 第二颗星球住着一个自大的人。 “Ah! Ah! A new admirer!” he shouted, as soon as he caught sight of the little prince. “啊！新的崇拜者！”他一看到小王子就大叫。 For conceited men look upon all other men as their admirers. 自大的人觉得所有人都是自己的崇拜者。 “Good morning,” said the little prince. “What a funny hat you have!” “早上好，”小王子说，“你的帽子真好玩！” “It is a hat for salutes,” the conceited man replied. “It is to raise in salute when people acclaim me. Unfortunately, nobody at all ever passes this way.” “这是敬礼帽，”自大的人说，“别人欢呼时，我就举帽回礼。可惜没人来。” “Oh?” said the little prince, who did not understand what he was talking about. “哦？”小王子听不懂。 “Clap your hands, one against the other,” the conceited man now directed him. “拍手！”自大的人指挥他。 The little prince clapped his hands. The conceited man raised his hat in a modest salute. 小王子拍手，自大的人举帽谦虚地回礼。 “This is more amusing than the visit to the king,” the little prince said to himself. And he began again to clap his hands, one against the other. The conceited man again raised his hat in salute. “这比国王好玩。”小王子心想，又拍手。自大的人又举帽回礼。 After five minutes of this exercise the little prince grew tired of the monotonous game. 玩了五分钟，小王子厌倦了这个单调的游戏。 “And what should one do to make the hat come down?” he asked. “怎么让帽子放下来？”他问。 But the conceited man did not hear him. Conceited people never hear anything but praise. 自大的人没听见——自大的人只听得进赞美。 “Do you really admire me very much?” he demanded of the little prince. “你真的很崇拜我吗？”他问小王子。 “What does that mean—‘admire’?” “崇拜是什么意思？” “‘Admire’ means that you regard me as the handsomest, the best-dressed, the richest, and the most intelligent man on this planet.” “崇拜就是：你觉得我是这颗星球上最帅、最会穿、最有钱、最聪明的人。” “But you are the only man on your planet!” “可你是你星球上唯一的人！” “Do me the favour to admire me, anyway!” “那就请你崇拜我吧！” “I admire you,” the little prince said, shrugging his shoulders, “but what is there about it that interests you?” “我崇拜你，”小王子耸耸肩，“但这对你有什么意义呢？” And the little prince went on his way. 小王子离开了。 “Grown-ups are certainly very odd,” he said to himself, as he continued on his journey. “大人真奇怪。”他一边走一边想。 Chapter 12（第47–50页） The third planet was inhabited by a drunkard. 第三颗星球住着一个酒鬼。 This visit was very short. But it plunged the little prince into great sadness. 这次拜访很短，却让小王子非常难过。 “What are you doing there?” he asked the drunkard, whom he found sitting silently before a collection of empty bottles and a collection of full bottles. 他看到酒鬼默默坐在一堆空瓶子和满瓶子前，问：“你在干什么？” “I am drinking,” replied the drunkard, with a gloomy air. “我在喝酒。”酒鬼忧郁地说。 “Why are you drinking?” the little prince asked. “为什么喝酒？”小王子问。 “To forget,” the drunkard answered. “为了忘记。”酒鬼说。 “To forget what?” the little prince asked, who already began to feel sorry for him. “忘记什么？”小王子有点同情他了。 “To forget that I am ashamed,” the drunkard confessed, hanging his head. “忘记我的羞愧。”酒鬼低下头说。 “Ashamed of what?” the little prince asked, who wanted to help him. “羞愧什么？”小王子想帮他。 “Ashamed of drinking!” “羞愧喝酒！” And the little prince went away, much puzzled. 小王子困惑地离开了。 “Grown-ups are certainly very, very odd,” he said to himself, as he continued on his journey. “大人真的非常非常奇怪。”他边走边想。 Chapter 13（第51–54页） The fourth planet was inhabited by a businessman. 第四颗星球住着一个商人。 This man was so much occupied that he did not even raise his head at the arrival of the little prince. 这人忙得连小王子来了都没抬头。 “Good morning,” the little prince said to him. “Your cigarette has gone out.” “早上好，”小王子说，“你的烟灭了。” “Three and two make five. Five and seven make twelve. Twelve and three make fifteen. Good morning. Fifteen and seven make twenty-two. Twenty-two and six make twenty-eight. I haven’t time to light it again.” “3+2=5，5+7=12，12+3=15，早上好。15+7=22，22+6=28，我没空点烟。” “Twenty-eight and four make thirty-two. Thirty-two and five make thirty-seven. Good morning.” “28+4=32，32+5=37，早上好。” “Thirty-seven and six make forty-three. Forty-three and five make forty-eight. Forty-eight and seven make fifty-five. I’m making my account.” “37+6=43，43+5=48，48+7=55，我在算账。” “Your account?” “算账？” “Yes. I own these stars. I count them and count them again.” “对，我拥有这些星星，我数了又数。” “You own the stars?” “你拥有星星？” “Yes.” “对。” “But what do you do with them?” “你用星星做什么？” “I manage them. I count them over and over again. That is difficult. But I am a serious man!” “我管理它们，数了又数。很难，但我是正经人！” The little prince was still not satisfied. 小王子还是不明白。 “If I owned a silk scarf,” he said, “I could put it around my neck and take it away with me. If I owned a flower, I could pluck that flower and take it away with me. But you cannot pluck the stars from heaven...” “如果我有丝巾，我能围在脖子上带走；如果我有花，我能摘下来带走。可你不能把星星从天上摘下来……” “No. But I can put them in the bank.” “不能，但我能把它们存进银行。” “What does that mean?” “什么意思？” “That means that I write the number of my stars on a little paper. And then I put this paper in a drawer and lock it with a key.” “我把星星的数量写在纸上，放进抽屉，锁起来。” “And that is all?” “就这样？” “That is enough!” “够了！” The little prince thought: “This man is a little less absurd than the conceited man. But he is not less ridiculous.” 小王子心想：“这人比自大的人好一点，但也一样可笑。” “Grown-ups are certainly very odd,” he said to himself, as he continued on his journey. “大人真奇怪。”他边走边想。 Chapter 14（第55–58页） The fifth planet was very small. It was just big enough for a street lamp and a lamplighter. 第五颗星球很小，只能放下一盏路灯和一个点灯人。 The little prince could not believe his eyes: “This is strange! There has never been a street lamp here before. What can have happened?” 小王子不敢相信：“好奇怪！这里从没路灯，怎么回事？” He greeted the lamplighter. 他向点灯人问好。 “Good morning. Why have you just put out your lamp?” “早上好，你为什么刚把灯灭了？” “Good morning,” the lamplighter replied. “It is the rule.” “早上好，”点灯人说，“规定。” “What is the rule?” “什么规定？” “To put out my lamp. Good evening.” “熄灯。晚上好。” And he lighted his lamp again. 他又点亮了灯。 “But why have you just lighted it again?” “你为什么又点亮？” “It is the rule,” the lamplighter replied. “规定。”点灯人说。 “I do not understand,” the little prince said. “我不懂。”小王子说。 “There is nothing to understand,” the lamplighter said. “The rule is the rule. Good morning.” “没什么懂的，规定就是规定。早上好。” And he put out his lamp. 他又灭了灯。 The planet revolved faster and faster, and the lamplighter repeated: “Good morning! Good evening! Good morning! Good evening!” 星球转得越来越快，点灯人反复：“早上好！晚上好！早上好！晚上好！” “This is terrible! What a fast pace you keep!” the little prince said. “太可怕了！你节奏好快！”小王子说。 “I have no choice,” the lamplighter said. “We are all slaves of our rules.” “我没办法，”点灯人说，“我们都是规定的奴隶。” “And what is the rule?” “什么规定？” “It has changed. The planet revolves faster every year. The days are shorter and shorter.” “规定变了，星球一年比一年转得快，白天越来越短。” “And so?” “然后呢？” “So now, every minute I have to light my lamp and put it out again. I have not a second of rest.” “现在每分钟都要点灯、熄灯，一秒都不能休息。” “That is funny! Your day is only one minute long!” “真好玩！你的一天只有一分钟！” “It is not funny at all,” the lamplighter said. “We have been talking for a month.” “一点都不好玩，”点灯人说，“我们已经聊了一个月了。” “A month?” “一个月？” “Yes. Thirty minutes. Thirty days. Good evening.” “对，三十分钟，三十天。晚上好。” And he lighted his lamp again. 他又点亮了灯。 The little prince looked at the lamplighter, and he liked this man who was so faithful to his duty. 小王子看着点灯人，喜欢这个忠于职守的人。 He thought of the sunset he had himself so often watched. He felt sorry for his poor friend. 他想起自己常看的日落，为这个可怜人难过。 “I know a way to make you rest whenever you want,” he said. “我有办法让你随时休息。”他说。 “I should like that very much,” the lamplighter said. “太好了。”点灯人说。 “Your planet is so small that three steps will take you all around it. You have only to walk slowly in the direction of the sun, and you will have daylight as long as you want it. When you want to rest, you walk... and your day will last as long as you like.” “你的星球很小，走三步就一圈。你只要慢慢朝太阳走，就能一直是白天；想休息就走，白天想多久就多久。” “That does not help me much,” the lamplighter said. “I like sleep best of all things.” “没用，”点灯人说，“我最喜欢睡觉。” “Too bad,” the little prince said. “真可惜。”小王子说。 “Too bad,” the lamplighter said. “Good morning.” “真可惜，早上好。” And he put out his lamp. 他灭了灯。 “This man would have been despised by all the others – by the king, the conceited man, the drunkard, the businessman. And yet he is the only one who does not seem ridiculous to me. Perhaps because he is thinking of something else besides himself.” “国王、自大的人、酒鬼、商人都会看不起他。但他是唯一不可笑的人，也许因为他想的不是自己。” “He is the only one who could have been my friend,” the little prince thought. “But his planet is really too small. There is no room for two of them.” “他本可以做我朋友，”小王子心想，“但他星球太小，容不下两个人。” He did not dare to admit it to himself, but he was sorry to leave this planet. The only one he had found whose devotion was not absurd. 他不敢承认，但离开这颗星球很难过——这是唯一奉献不荒谬的人。 Chapter 15（第59–60页） The sixth planet was ten times larger than the last one. It was inhabited by an old gentleman who wrote voluminous books. 第六颗星球比上一颗大十倍，住着一位老绅士，写了很多书。 “Oh, look! Here is an explorer!” he exclaimed to himself when he saw the little prince coming. “哦，来了个探险家！”他看到小王子，自言自语。 The little prince sat down at the table and panted a little. He had already traveled so much and so far! 小王子坐在桌边，有点喘气——他走了很远的路！ “Where do you come from?” the old gentleman asked him. “你从哪来？”老绅士问。 “What is that big book?” the little prince asked. “What are you doing?” “这本大书是什么？”小王子问，“你在干什么？” “I am a geographer,” the old gentleman said. “我是地理学家。”老绅士说。 “What is a geographer?” “地理学家是什么？” “A geographer is a scholar who knows the location of all the seas, rivers, towns, mountains, and deserts.” “地理学家是学者，知道所有海洋、河流、城镇、山脉、沙漠的位置。” “That is very interesting,” the little prince said. “At last! A real job!” “真有趣，”小王子说，“终于有个正经工作了！” He cast a glance about the geographer’s planet. He had never seen a planet so magnificent and so well furnished. 他看了看地理学家的星球，从没见过这么壮丽、整洁的星球。 “Your planet is very beautiful,” he said. “Are there any oceans?” “你的星球真美，”他说，“有海洋吗？” “I cannot know that,” the geographer said. “我不知道。”地理学家说。 “Oh!” The little prince was disappointed. “Are there any mountains?” “哦！”小王子有点失望，“有山脉吗？” “I cannot know that,” the geographer said. “我不知道。”地理学家说。 “And towns, and rivers, and deserts?” “那城镇、河流、沙漠呢？” “I cannot know that either.” “我也不知道。” “But you are a geographer!” “可你是地理学家啊！” “Exactly,” the geographer said. “But I am not an explorer. I have not a single explorer on my planet. It is not the geographer who goes out to count the towns, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the oceans, and the deserts.” “没错，”地理学家说，“但我不是探险家。我星球上没有探险家。地理学家不用出门数城镇、河流、山脉、海洋、沙漠。” “Then who does?” “那谁做？” “The explorers. The geographer receives the explorers in his study. He asks them questions, and he notes down what they recall of their travels. And if the recollections of any one among them seem interesting to the geographer, he orders an inquiry into the morality of the explorer.” “探险家做。地理学家在书房接待探险家，问他们问题，记下他们的旅行见闻。如果见闻有趣，地理学家就会调查探险家的品行。” “Why?” “为什么？” “Because an explorer who told lies would bring disaster on the books of the geographer. So would an explorer who drank too much.” “因为说谎的探险家会毁了地理学家的书，酒鬼探险家也一样。” Chapter 16（第 61–64 页） So the seventh planet was the Earth. 第七颗星球，就是地球。 The Earth is not just an ordinary planet! 地球可不是一颗普通的星球！ One can count there 111 kings (not forgetting, to be sure, the negro kings among them), 7,000 geographers, 900,000 businessmen, 7,500,000 drunkards, 311,000,000 conceited men – that is to say, about 2,000,000,000 grown-ups. 地球上有 111 个国王（当然，还得算上黑人国王）、7000 个地理学家、90 万个商人、750 万个酒鬼、3.11 亿个自大的人 —— 总共大约 20 亿个大人。 To give you an idea of the size of the Earth, I will tell you that before the invention of electricity, it was necessary to maintain, over the whole of the six continents, a veritable army of 462,511 lamplighters for the street lamps. 为了让你了解地球有多大，我告诉你：在电灯发明之前，六大洲需要维持一支 462511 人的点灯人大军，来点亮所有路灯。 Seen from a slight distance, that would make a splendid spectacle. 从远处看，场面非常壮观。 The movements of this army would be regulated like those of the ballet in the opera. 这支队伍的动作整齐划一，就像歌剧院里的芭蕾舞表演。 First would come the turn of the lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. 首先是新西兰和澳大利亚的点灯人上场。 Having set their lamps alight, these would go off to sleep. 他们点亮路灯后，就去睡觉了。 Next, the lamplighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance, and then they too would be waved back into the wings. 接着，中国和西伯利亚的点灯人上场跳舞，然后也退到幕后。 After that would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and the Indies; then those of Africa and Europe, then those of South America; then those of North America. 之后轮到俄罗斯和印度群岛的点灯人；然后是非洲和欧洲，接着是南美洲，最后是北美洲。 And never did they miss their cue. 他们从不会出错。 It was magnificent. 场面十分壮丽。 Only the lamplighter of the North Pole and his colleague of the South Pole lived a life of idleness and carelessness: they worked only twice a year. 只有北极和南极的点灯人很清闲，他们一年只工作两次。 Chapter 17（第 65–68 页） When one wishes to be witty, one is apt to tell a few lies. 人想卖弄聪明时，总难免说些小谎。 I have not been entirely honest with you when I told you about the lamplighters. 我跟你讲点灯人的时候，没完全说实话。 I am not sure that I give a very true idea of the Earth to those who do not know it. 我不确定，这样描述地球，能让不了解它的人明白真相。 Men occupy very little space on the Earth. 人类在地球上占的空间很小。 If the two billion inhabitants who people its surface were all to stand upright and somewhat crowded together, as they do for some big public meeting, they could easily be put into one public square twenty miles long and twenty miles wide. 如果把地球上 20 亿人都集中起来，像大型集会那样挤在一起，一个 20 英里见方的广场就能轻松容纳。 All humanity could be piled up on a small Pacific island. 全人类都能堆在太平洋的一个小岛上。 The grown-ups, of course, will not believe you when you tell them that. 当然，你跟大人这么说，他们肯定不信。 They imagine that they fill a great deal of space. 他们总觉得自己占了很大地方。 They fancy that they are important, like the baobabs. 他们自以为很重要，就像猴面包树一样。 You should advise them to do the sums. 你应该让他们算算看。 They adore figures, and that will please them. 他们最爱数字，这会让他们高兴。 But do not waste your time on this extra work. It is useless. You can trust me. 但别浪费时间做这事，没用的，相信我。 When the little prince arrived on the Earth, he was very much surprised not to see any people. 小王子来到地球时，很惊讶没看到一个人。 He was beginning to be afraid he had come to the wrong planet, when a coil of gold, the colour of the moonlight, flashed across the sand. 他正担心是不是来错了星球，一条像月光一样金色的蛇，在沙地上一闪而过。 “Good evening,” said the little prince, politely. “晚上好。” 小王子礼貌地说。 “Good evening,” said the snake. “晚上好。” 蛇说。 “What planet is this?” asked the little prince. “这是哪个星球？” 小王子问。 “This is the Earth,” said the snake. “This is Africa.” “地球，” 蛇说，“这里是非洲。” “Oh! And there are no people on the Earth?” “哦！地球上没有人吗？” “This is the desert. There are no people here. The Earth is very big.” “这里是沙漠，没人。地球可大着呢。” The little prince sat down on a stone and raised his eyes to the sky. 小王子坐在一块石头上，抬头望着天空。 “I wonder,” he said, “whether the stars are set alight in heaven so that one day each one of us may find his own again... Look at my planet. It is right there above us. But how far away it is!” “我在想，” 他说，“天上的星星发光，是不是为了让每个人有一天能找回自己的那颗…… 看我的星球，就在我们头顶，可它好远啊！” “It is beautiful,” the snake said. “What have you come here for?” “很美，” 蛇说，“你来这儿干什么？” “I have come to be friends with men,” the little prince said. “But what does ‘tame’ mean?” “我来和人类交朋友，” 小王子说，“但‘驯服’是什么意思？” “Men,” the snake said. “They have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests.” “人类啊，” 蛇说，“他们有枪，会打猎，很讨厌。他们也养鸡，就这点爱好。” “What does ‘tame’ mean?” the little prince asked again. He never let go of a question once he had asked it. “‘驯服’是什么意思？” 小王子又问，他问过的问题从不放过。 “It is an act too often neglected,” said the snake. “It means to establish ties.” “这是个常被忽略的词，” 蛇说，“意思是‘建立联结’。” “‘To establish ties’?” “‘建立联结’？” “Just that,” said the snake. “You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose...” “没错，” 蛇说，“你要为你驯服的一切永远负责。你要对你的玫瑰负责……” “I am responsible for my rose,” the little prince repeated, so that he might remember it well. “我要对我的玫瑰负责。” 小王子重复道，牢牢记住这句话。 “You are a funny little creature,” the snake said. “You are as thin as a finger...” “你这小家伙真有意思，” 蛇说，“你细得像根手指……” “But I am more powerful than the finger of a king,” said the snake. “但我比国王的手指更有力量。” 蛇说。 The little prince smiled. “You are not very powerful. You haven’t even any feet. You cannot travel...” 小王子笑了：“你没多厉害，你连脚都没有，没法远行……” “I can carry you farther than any ship could take you,” said the snake. “我能带你去比船更远的地方。” 蛇说。 He twined himself about the little prince’s ankle, like a gold bracelet. 蛇盘在小王子的脚踝上，像一只金镯子。 “Whomever I touch, I send back to the earth from whence he came,” the snake said. “But you are innocent and true, and you come from a star...” “被我触碰过的人，我会送他回到来的地方，” 蛇说，“但你纯洁又真诚，你来自一颗星星……” The little prince made no answer. 小王子没有回答。 “I feel sorry for you,” the snake said. “You are so weak in this world of stone. I can help you, some day, if you should grow too homesick. I can——” “我可怜你，” 蛇说，“在这个坚硬的世界里，你太弱小了。有一天你太想家了，我可以帮你，我能 ——” “Oh! I understand very well,” the little prince said. “But why do you always speak in riddles?” “哦！我懂，” 小王子说，“可你为什么总说谜语？” “I solve all riddles,” the snake said. “我能解开所有谜语。” 蛇说。 And they were silent. 然后他们都沉默了。 Chapter 18（第 69–72 页） The little prince crossed the desert and met with no one but a flower. 小王子穿过沙漠，只遇到了一朵花。 It was a flower with three petals, a flower of no account at all. 那是一朵有三片花瓣的花，很不起眼。 “Good morning,” said the little prince. “早上好。” 小王子说。 “Good morning,” said the flower. “早上好。” 花说。 “Where are the men?” the little prince asked, politely. “人类在哪里？” 小王子礼貌地问。 The flower had once seen a caravan passing. 这朵花曾见过一支商队经过。 “Men?” she repeated. “There are six or seven of them. I saw them pass, years ago. But you never know where to find them. The wind blows them away. They have no roots, and that makes their life very difficult.” “人类？” 她重复道，“有六七个人，几年前我见过他们经过。但不知道去哪找，风把他们吹走了。他们没有根，活得很辛苦。” “Goodbye,” said the little prince. “再见。” 小王子说。 “Goodbye,” said the flower. “再见。” 花说。 Chapter 19（第 73–76 页） The little prince climbed a high mountain. 小王子爬上一座高山。 The only mountains he had ever known were the three volcanoes, which came up to his knees. 他以前只见过三座到他膝盖高的火山。 And he used the extinct volcano as a footstool. 他还把死火山当脚凳用。 “From a mountain as high as this one,” he said to himself, “I shall be able to see the whole planet and all the men at once.” “从这么高的山上，” 他心想，“我能一眼看到整个星球和所有人类。” But he saw nothing but an enormous waste of rock. 但他只看到一片荒凉的岩石。 “Good morning,” he said, nevertheless, to the empty air. “早上好。” 他对着空气说。 “Good morning... Good morning... Good morning...” “早上好…… 早上好…… 早上好……” An echo answered him. 回声回应着他。 “Who are you?” said the little prince. “你们是谁？” 小王子问。 “Who are you... Who are you... Who are you...” “你们是谁…… 你们是谁…… 你们是谁……” The echo repeated. 回声重复道。 “Be my friends. I am all alone,” he said. “做我的朋友吧，我好孤单。” 他说。 “I am all alone... I am all alone... I am all alone...” “我好孤单…… 我好孤单…… 我好孤单……” Again the echo answered him. 回声再次回应。 “What a strange planet!” he thought. “It is all dry and sharp, and salt. And the men have no imagination. They repeat whatever one says to them... On my planet I had a flower; she always was the first to speak...” “好奇怪的星球！” 他心想，“到处又干又尖又咸。人类没有想象力，只会重复别人说的话…… 在我的星球上，我有一朵花，她总是先开口说话……” Chapter 20（第 77–82 页） He walked on and on, through sand and rocks and snow. 他走啊走，穿过沙地、岩石和雪地。 After a long time he came to a road. 走了很久，他来到一条路上。 And all roads lead to the abodes of men. 所有的路，都通向人类居住的地方。 “Good morning,” he said. “早上好。” 他说。 It was a garden full of roses. 这是一个种满玫瑰的花园。 “Good morning,” the roses answered. “早上好。” 玫瑰们回答。 The little prince looked at them. They all looked like his flower. 小王子看着它们，它们长得都和他的玫瑰一样。 “Who are you?” he asked, astonished. “你们是谁？” 他惊讶地问。 “We are roses,” the roses said. “我们是玫瑰。” 它们说。 And he was very sad. His flower had told him that she was the only one of her kind in all the universe. 他很伤心。他的玫瑰曾告诉他，她是宇宙中独一无二的。 And here were five thousand of them, all alike, in one single garden! 可眼前一个花园里，就有五千朵一模一样的玫瑰！ “She would be very much annoyed,” he said to himself, “if she should see that... she would cough most dreadfully, and she would pretend that she was dying, to avoid being laughed at. And I should have to pretend that I was nursing her back to life, too, because if I did not do that, to humble myself also, she would really allow herself to die...” “她看到一定会很生气，” 他心想，“她会拼命咳嗽，假装死去，免得被嘲笑。我还得假装照顾她，不然她会真的死掉……” Then he went on with his reflections: “I thought that I was rich, with a flower that was unique in all the world; and all I had was a common rose. A common rose, and three volcanoes that come up to my knees – and one of them perhaps extinct forever... that doesn’t make me a very great prince...” “我还以为自己很富有，拥有一朵全世界独一无二的花，可我有的只是一朵普通的玫瑰。一座普通的玫瑰，三座到我膝盖高的火山 —— 其中一座可能永远死了…… 我算什么了不起的王子……” And he lay down in the grass and cried. 他躺在草地上，哭了起来。 Chapter 21（第 83–90 页） It was then that the fox appeared. 就在这时，狐狸出现了。 “Good morning,” said the fox. “早上好。” 狐狸说。 “Good morning,” the little prince answered politely, turning around, but he saw nothing. “早上好。” 小王子礼貌地转过身，却什么也没看见。 “I am here,” said the voice. “Under the apple tree.” “我在这儿，” 声音说，“苹果树下。” The little prince looked again. He saw a fox with golden fur. 小王子又看了看，看见一只金色皮毛的狐狸。 “Come play with me,” said the little prince. “I am so unhappy.” “来和我玩吧，” 小王子说，“我好难过。” “I cannot play with you,” the fox said. “I am not tamed.” “我不能和你玩，” 狐狸说，“我还没被驯服。” “Ah! Please excuse me,” said the little prince. “啊！对不起。” 小王子说。 But, after some thought, he added: “What does that mean – ‘tamed’?” 他想了想，又问：“‘驯服’是什么意思？” “You do not live here,” said the fox. “What are you looking for?” “你不是这里的，” 狐狸说，“你在找什么？” “I am looking for men,” said the little prince. “What does that mean – ‘tamed’?” “我在找人类，” 小王子说，“‘驯服’是什么意思？” “Men,” said the fox. “They have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests.” “人类啊，” 狐狸说，“他们有枪，会打猎，很讨厌。他们也养鸡，就这点爱好。” “What does that mean – ‘tamed’?” the little prince asked again. “‘驯服’是什么意思？” 小王子又问。 “It is an act too often neglected,” said the fox. “It means to establish ties.” “这是个常被忽略的词，” 狐狸说，“意思是‘建立联结’。” “‘To establish ties’?” “‘建立联结’？” “Just that,” said the fox. “To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world...” “没错，” 狐狸说，“对我来说，你还只是一个小男孩，和其他成千上万的小男孩没什么两样。我不需要你，你也不需要我。对你来说，我也只是一只狐狸，和其他成千上万的狐狸没什么不同。但如果你驯服了我，我们就会彼此需要。对我来说，你就是全世界独一无二的；对你来说，我也是全世界独一无二的……” “I am beginning to understand,” said the little prince. “There is a flower... I think that she has tamed me...” “我有点明白了，” 小王子说，“有一朵花…… 我想她驯服了我……” “It is possible,” said the fox. “On the Earth one sees all sorts of things.” “有可能，” 狐狸说，“地球上什么事都有。” “Oh, but this is not on the Earth!” said the little prince. “哦，但她不在地球上！” 小王子说。 The fox looked very much surprised. 狐狸很惊讶。 “On another planet?” “在别的星球？” “Yes.” “是的。” “Are there hunters on that planet?” “那个星球上有猎人吗？” “No.” “没有。” “That is interesting. Are there chickens?” “有意思，那有鸡吗？” “No.” “没有。” “Nothing is perfect,” sighed the fox. “唉，没有十全十美的事。” 狐狸叹了口气。 But the fox came back to his idea. 狐狸又回到原来的话题。 “My life is very monotonous,” the fox said. “I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the colour of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat...” “我的生活很单调，” 狐狸说，“我抓鸡，人类抓我。所有的鸡都一样，所有的人也都一样。所以我有点无聊。但如果你驯服了我，我的生活就会像阳光照耀一样美好。我会认出一种与众不同的脚步声：别人的脚步声会让我躲进洞里，而你的脚步声会像音乐一样，让我从洞里出来。你看那边的麦田吗？我不吃面包，小麦对我没用，麦田和我没关系，这有点难过。但你有金色的头发，想想看，你驯服我之后会多美好！金色的小麦会让我想起你，我会爱上风吹过麦田的声音……” The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time. 狐狸久久地凝视着小王子。 “Please – tame me!” he said. “请…… 驯服我吧！” 他说。 Chapter 22（第 91–94 页） “Good morning,” said the little prince. “早上好。” 小王子说。 “Good morning,” said the railway switchman. “早上好。” 扳道工说。 “What do you do here?” the little prince asked. “你在这里做什么？” 小王子问。 “I sort out travelers, in bundles of a thousand,” said the switchman. “I send off the trains that carry them; now to the right, now to the left.” “我把旅客按一千人一组分类，” 扳道工说，“我送走运载他们的火车，时而向右，时而向左。” And a brilliantly lighted express train shook the switchman’s cabin as it rushed by with a roar like thunder. 这时，一列灯火通明的快车呼啸而过，雷鸣般的声响震得扳道工的小屋都在摇晃。 “They are in a great hurry,” said the little prince. “What are they looking for?” “他们好匆忙，” 小王子说，“他们在找什么？” “Not even the locomotive engineer knows that,” said the switchman. “连火车司机自己都不知道。” 扳道工说。 And a second brilliantly lighted express thundered by, in the opposite direction. 第二列灯火通明的快车朝着反方向轰鸣而过。 “Are they coming back already?” demanded the little prince. “他们已经回来了吗？” 小王子问。 “These are not the same ones,” said the switchman. “It is an exchange.” “不是同一批人，” 扳道工说，“这是往返。” “Were they not satisfied where they were?” asked the little prince. “他们对之前的地方不满意吗？” 小王子问。 “No one is ever satisfied where he is,” said the switchman. “人永远对自己所在的地方不满意。” 扳道工说。 And they heard the roaring thunder of a third brilliantly lighted express. 他们听到第三列灯火通明的快车轰鸣而来。 “Are they pursuing the first travelers?” demanded the little prince. “他们在追赶第一批旅客吗？” 小王子问。 “They are pursuing nothing at all,” said the switchman. “They are asleep in there, or if they are not asleep they are yawning. Only the children are flattening their noses against the windowpanes.” “他们什么都不追赶，” 扳道工说，“他们在里面睡觉，不然就是打哈欠。只有孩子会把鼻子贴在车窗上往外看。” “Only the children know what they are looking for,” said the little prince. “They waste their time over a rag doll and it becomes very important to them; and if anybody takes it away from them, they cry...” “只有孩子知道自己在找什么，” 小王子说，“他们为一个布娃娃花费时间，布娃娃就变得很重要；如果有人把它拿走，他们会哭……” “They are lucky,” the switchman said. “他们很幸运。” 扳道工说。 Chapter 23（第 95–98 页） “Good morning,” said the little prince. “早上好。” 小王子说。 “Good morning,” said the merchant. “早上好。” 商人说。 This merchant sold pills that quench thirst. 这个商人卖止渴药丸。 You swallow one pill a week, and you need never drink again. 每周吃一颗，就再也不用喝水了。 “Why do you sell these pills?” the little prince asked. “你为什么卖这种药丸？” 小王子问。 “They save a great deal of time,” the merchant said. “Experts have calculated. You save fifty-three minutes a week.” “能节省很多时间，” 商人说，“专家算过，每周能省下 53 分钟。” “What do you do with those fifty-three minutes?” “那 53 分钟你用来做什么？” “Anything you like...” “随便做什么……” “If I had fifty-three minutes to spend as I liked,” the little prince said, “I should walk at my leisure toward a spring of fresh water.” “如果我有 53 分钟可以自由支配，” 小王子说，“我会慢悠悠地走向一汪清泉。” Chapter 24（第 99–104 页） It was the morning after my desert landing. 这是我降落到沙漠后的第一个早晨。 I had listened to the merchant, and I was very thirsty. I offered the little prince a drink. 听完商人的故事，我口渴极了。我请小王子一起喝水。 We sat down beside the well. 我们坐在井边。 I let him drink. He drank with his eyes closed. It was as sweet as a festival. 我喂他喝水，他闭着眼睛喝，甘甜得像过节。 “The water you gave me tastes like music,” he said. “Because of the pulley and the rope... Do you remember? It is like the way we talked when you first came to me.” “你给我的水像音乐一样甜，” 他说，“因为滑轮和绳子…… 你记得吗？就像你刚来的时候我们聊天的感觉。” I understood then what he had been looking for. 我这时才明白他一直在寻找什么。 I raised the cup to his lips again. He drank with his eyes closed. 我再次把杯子凑到他唇边，他闭着眼喝。 The stars are beautiful because of a flower that cannot be seen... “星星很美，是因为有一朵看不见的花……” The desert is beautiful because somewhere it hides a well... “沙漠很美，是因为某处藏着一口井……” I was surprised to understand, suddenly, that mysterious radiance of the sand. 我忽然懂了沙漠那神秘的光芒，感到很惊讶。 When I was a little boy, I lived in an old house. It was said that a treasure was hidden there. Of course, no one ever found it. But it enchanted the whole house. My house hid a secret... “我小时候住在一栋老房子里，据说里面藏着宝藏。当然，没人找到过，但它让整栋房子都充满魔力。我的房子藏着一个秘密……” “Yes,” I said to the little prince. “The house, the stars, the desert – what makes them beautiful is invisible.” “是啊，” 我对小王子说，“房子、星星、沙漠 —— 让它们美丽的东西，是看不见的。” “I am glad you agree with my fox,” he said. “Now you are becoming wise.” “我很高兴你同意我狐狸说的话，” 他说，“你现在变聪明了。” Chapter 25（第 105–110 页） The little prince looked at me. “You will help me, won’t you?” he said. “I must go back home tonight.” 小王子看着我：“你会帮我的，对吗？” 他说，“我今晚必须回家。” I felt a strange sadness. I knew something very serious was going to happen. 我感到一阵莫名的难过，我知道要发生很严重的事了。 “You know... my rose... I am responsible for her. And she is so weak! And she is so innocent. She has only four thorns to defend herself against the world...” “你知道…… 我的玫瑰…… 我要对她负责。她那么脆弱，那么天真。她只有四根刺来保护自己，对抗这个世界……” I sat down beside him. He said softly, “It is a good thing you came. I was beginning to be afraid I would never see you again.” 我坐在他身边，他轻声说：“你来了真好。我开始担心再也见不到你了。” “I will be with you tonight,” I said. “我今晚陪你。” 我说。 He smiled. “When you say that, it makes me think of the fox. You are both tamed.” 他笑了：“你这么说，让我想起狐狸。你们都被驯服了。” “What does ‘tamed’ mean?” “‘驯服’是什么意思？” “It is something too often forgotten,” he said. “It means to create unique bonds with someone. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose...” “这是常被遗忘的事，” 他说，“意思是和某人建立独一无二的联结。你要为你驯服的一切永远负责。你要对你的玫瑰负责……” We were silent for a long time. Then he said, “It is almost time. I must go now.” 我们沉默了很久，然后他说：“时间快到了，我该走了。” I took his hand. I felt his heart beating like a bird’s wing, caught in a trap. 我握住他的手，感觉他的心跳像被困住的鸟儿翅膀，砰砰直跳。 “I am afraid,” he said. “But I must go. The snake will help me tonight. She promised me.” “我害怕，” 他说，“但我必须走。蛇今晚会帮我，她答应过我。” “Don’t talk about that,” I said. “I will stay with you.” “别这么说，” 我说，“我会陪着你。” “I know,” he said. “But you must not watch. It will hurt too much.” “我知道，” 他说，“但你不能看，会很痛。” Chapter 26（第 111–116 页） He sat down on the sand, near the well. I sat beside him. 他坐在井边的沙地上，我坐在他身边。 “My planet is very small,” he said. “It is just a little dot in the sky. You will look for me there. You will see me smiling. And you will hear my laughter. And all the stars will laugh with you...” “我的星球很小，” 他说，“只是天上的一个小点。你会在那里找我，你会看到我在笑，听到我的笑声，所有的星星都会和你一起笑……” He closed his eyes. “It will be like giving me a drink of water. The stars will be beautiful because of a flower that cannot be seen...” 他闭上眼睛：“就像给我喝了水一样。星星很美，因为有一朵看不见的花……” I looked at him. He was like a little angel, so peaceful. 我看着他，他像个小天使，那么平静。 “I will stay with you,” I said again. “我会陪着你。” 我又说。 He stood up. He took a step forward. I could not move. 他站起来，向前走了一步，我动弹不得。 He did not fall. He sank slowly, like a tree falling, into the sand. There was no sound. 他没有倒下，而是缓缓地沉入沙地，像一棵树倒下，没有声音。 Chapter 27（第 117–120 页） And now, six years have passed. I have never spoken of this story to anyone. 六年过去了，我从没跟任何人讲过这个故事。 I have traveled far and wide. I have told many stories. But this one I have kept in my heart. 我走了很多地方，讲过很多故事，但这个故事一直藏在我心里。 When I look at the stars at night, I hear laughter. It is the laughter of the little prince. 每当我夜晚仰望星空，就能听到笑声，那是小王子的笑声。 And I think, “Somewhere, my rose is there...” 我会想：“在某个地方，我的玫瑰就在那里……” And I become happy. All the stars laugh with me. 于是我变得快乐，所有的星星都和我一起笑。 If you ever come to the desert, look for me. I will be there, waiting for you. 如果你来到沙漠，来找我吧，我会在那里等你。 And if you see a little boy with golden hair, who laughs and does not answer when you ask him questions, you will know who he is. Then please send me word that he has come back. 如果你看到一个金发小男孩，他笑着，你问他问题他却不回答，你就知道他是谁了。请告诉我他回来了。 The end （完） 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $