小王子-the little prince (英文版)- 第1部分

　

To　Leon　Werth

　ask　the　indulgence　of　the　children　who　may　read　this　book　for　dedicating　it　to　a　grownup。　I　have　a　serious　reason：　he　is　the　best　friend　I　have　in　the　world。　I　have　another　reason：　this　grownup　understands　everything；　even　books　about　children。　I　have　a　third　reason：　he　lives　in　France　where　he　is　hungry　and　cold。　He　needs　cheering　up。　If　all　these　reasons　are　not　enough；　I　will　dedicate　the　book　to　the　child　from　whom　this　grownup　grew。　All　grownups　were　once　children　although　few　of　them　remember　it。　And　so　I　correct　my　dedication：　



To　Leon　Werth
when　he　was　a　little　boy
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　1　＇

　　we　are　introduced　to　the　narrator；　a　pilot；　and　his　ideas　about　grownups

　
　

Once　when　I　was　six　years　old　I　saw　a　magnificent　picture　in　a　book；　called　True　Stories　from　Nature；　about　the　primeval　forest。　It　was　a　picture　of　a　boa　constrictor　in　the　act　of　swallowing　an　animal。　Here　is　a　copy　of　the　drawing。　
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。〃　
I　pondered　deeply；　then；　over　the　adventures　of　the　jungle。　And　after　some　work　with　a　colored　pencil　I　succeeded　in　making　my　first　drawing。　My　Drawing　Number　One。　It　looked　like　this：　

　
　

I　showed　my　masterpiece　to　the　grownups；　and　asked　them　whether　the　drawing　frightened　them。
But　they　answered：　〃Frighten？　Why　should　any　one　be　frightened　by　a　hat？〃　

My　drawing　was　not　a　picture　of　a　hat。　It　was　a　picture　of　a　boa　constrictor　digesting　an　elephant。　But　since　the　grownups　were　not　able　to　understand　it；　I　made　another　drawing：　I　drew　the　inside　of　the　boa　constrictor；　so　that　the　grownups　could　see　it　clearly。　They　always　need　to　have　things　explained。　My　Drawing　Number　Two　looked　like　this：　
　
　

The　grownups‘　response；　this　time；　was　to　advise　me　to　lay　aside　my　drawings　of　boa　constrictors；　whether　from　the　inside　or　the　outside；　and　devote　myself　instead　to　geography；　history；　arithmetic　and　grammar。　That　is　why；　at　the　age　of　six；　I　gave　up　what　might　have　been　a　magnificent　career　as　a　painter。　I　had　been　disheartened　by　the　failure　of　my　Drawing　Number　One　and　my　Drawing　Number　Two。　Grownups　never　understand　anything　by　themselves；　and　it　is　tiresome　for　children　to　be　always　and　forever　explaining　things　to　them。

So　then　I　chose　another　profession；　and　learned　to　pilot　airplanes。　I　have　flown　a　little　over　all　parts　of　the　world；　and　it　is　true　that　geography　has　been　very　useful　to　me。　At　a　glance　I　can　distinguish　China　from　Arizona。　If　one　gets　lost　in　the　night；　such　knowledge　is　valuable。　
In　the　course　of　this　life　I　have　had　a　great　many　encounters　with　a　great　many　people　who　have　been　concerned　with　matters　of　consequence。　I　have　lived　a　great　deal　among　grownups。　I　have　seen　them　intimately；　close　at　hand。　And　that　hasn‘t　much　improved　my　opinion　of　them。

Whenever　I　met　one　of　them　who　seemed　to　me　at　all　clearsighted；　I　tried　the　experiment　of　showing　him　my　Drawing　Number　One；　which　I　have　always　kept。　I　would　try　to　find　out；　so；　if　this　was　a　person　of　true　understanding。　But；　whoever　it　was；　he；　or　she；　would　always　say：〃That　is　a　hat。〃
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　grownup　would　be　greatly　pleased　to　have　met　such　a　sensible　man。
　
　

＇　Chapter　2　＇

　　the　narrator　crashes　in　the　desert　and　makes　the　acquaintance　of　the　little　prince


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。　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。　It　was　a　question　of　life　or　death　for　me：　I　had　scarcely　enough　drinking　water　to　last　a　week。

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。　Thus　you　can　imagine　my　amazement；　at　sunrise；　when　I　was　awakened　by　an　odd　little　voice。　It　said：　

〃If　you　please　draw　me　a　sheep！〃

〃What！〃

〃Draw　me　a　sheep！〃

I　jumped　to　my　feet；　pletely　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。　Here　you　may　see　the　best　potrait　that；　later；　I　was　able　to　make　of　him。　But　my　drawing　is　certainly　very　much　less　charming　than　its　model。
　
　

　That；　however；　is　not　my　fault。　The　grownups　discouraged　me　in　my　painter‘s　career　when　I　was　six　years　old；　and　I　never　learned　to　draw　anything；　except　boas　from　the　outside　and　boas　from　the　inside。

Now　I　stared　at　this　sudden　apparition　with　my　eyes　fairly　starting　out　of　my　head　in　astonishment。　Remember；　I　had　crashed　in　the　desert　a　thousand　miles　from　any　inhabited　region。　And　yet　my　little　man　seemed　neither　to　be　straying　uncertainly　among　the　sands；　nor　to　be　fainting　from　fatigue　or　hunger　or　thirst　or　fear。　Nothing　about　him　gave　any　suggestion　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？〃

And　in　answer　he　repeated；　very　slowly；　as　if　he　were　speaking　of　a　matter　of　great　consequence：　〃If　you　please　draw　me　a　sheep。。。〃

When　a　mystery　is　too　overpowering；　one　dare　not　disobey。　Absurd　as　it　might　seem　to　me；　a　thousand　miles　from　any　human　habitation　and　in　danger　of　death；　I　took　out　of　my　pocket　a　sheet　of　paper　and　my　fountainpen。　But　then　I　remembered　how　my　studies　had　been　concentrated　on　geography；　history；　arithmetic；　and　grammar；　and　I　told　the　little　chap　（a　little　crossly；　too）　that　I　did　not　know　how　to　draw。　He　answered　me：〃That　doesn‘t　matter。　Draw　me　a　sheep。。。〃

But　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。　And　I　was　astounded　to　hear　the　little　fellow　greet　it　with；　〃No；　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。〃　

So　then　I　made　a　drawing。　
　
　

He　looked　at　it　carefully；　then　he　said：　〃No。　This　sheep　is　already　very　sickly。　Make　me　another。〃　
So　I　made　another　drawing。　
　
　

　My　friend　smiled　gently　and　indulgenty。　〃You　see　yourself；〃　he　said；　〃that　this　is　not　a　sheep。　This　is　a　ram。　It　has　horns。〃　
So　then　I　did　my　drawing　over　once　more。　
　
　

But　it　was　rejected　too；　just　like　the　others。　〃This　one　is　too　old。　I　want　a　sheep　that　will　live　a　long　time。〃
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　I　threw　out　an　explanation　with　it。　

〃This　is　only　his　box。　The　sheep　you　asked　for　is　inside。〃

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？〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because　where　I　live　everything　is　very　small。。。〃
〃There　will　surely　be　enough　grass　for　him；〃　I　said。　〃It　is　a　very　small　sheep　that　I　have　given　you。〃　
He　bent　his　head　over　the　drawing：　
〃Not　so　small　that　Look！　He　has　gone　to　sleep。。。〃

And　that　is　how　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　the　little　prince。
　
　
＇　Chapter　3　＇

　　the　narrator　learns　more　about　from　where　the　little　prince　came


It　took　me　a　long　time　to　learn　where　he　came　from。　The　little　prince；　ed　to　hear　the　ones　I　asked　him。　It　was　from　words　dropped　by　chance　that；　little　by　little；　everything　was　revealed　to　me。　
The　first　time　he　saw　my　airplane；　for　instance　（I　shall　not　draw　my　airplane；　that　would　be　much　too　plicated　for　me）；　he　asked　me：　〃What　is　that　object？〃
〃That　is　not　an　object。　It　flies。　It　is　an　airplane。　It　is　my　airplane。〃　And　I　was　proud　to　have　him　learn　that　I　could　fly。　

He　cried　out；　then：　〃What！　You　dropped　down　from　the　sky？〃
〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　modestly。
〃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。

Then　he　added：　〃So　you；　too；　e　from　the　sky！　Which　is　your　pla？〃　
At　that　moment　I　caught　a　gleam　of　light　in　the　imperable　mystery　of　his　presence；　and　I　demanded；　abruptly：　〃Do　you　e　from　another　pla？〃　
But　he　did　not　reply。　He　tossed　his　head　gently；　without　taking　his　eyes　from　my　plane：　〃It　is　true　that　on　that　you　can‘t　have　e　from　very　far　away。。。〃　
And　he　sank　into　a　reverie；　which　lasted　a　long　time。　Then；　taking　my　sheep　out　of　his　pocket；　he　buried　himself　in　the　contemplation　of　his　treasure。　

You　can　imagine　how　my　curiosity　was　aroused　by　this　halfconfidence　about　the　〃other　plas。〃　I　made　a　great　effort；　therefore；　to　find　out　more　on　this　subject。
〃My　little　man；　where　do　you　e　from？　What　is　this　‘where　I　live；‘　of　which　you　speak？　Where　do　you　want　to　take　your　sheep？〃
After　a　reflective　silence　he　answered：　〃The　thing　that　is　so　good　about　the　box　you　have　given　me　is　that　at　night　he　can　use　it　as　his　house。〃　
〃That　is　so。　And　if　you　are　good　I　will　give　you　a　string；　too；　so　that　you　can　tie　him　during　the　day；　and　a　post　to　tie　him　to。〃　
But　the　little　prince　seemed　shocked　by　this　offer：　〃Tie　him！　What　a　queer　idea！〃　
〃But　if　you　don‘t　tie　him；〃　I　said；　〃he　will　wander　off　somewhere；　and　get　lost。〃　
My　friend　broke　into　another　peal　of　laughter：　〃But　where　do　you　think　he　would　go？〃　
〃Anywhere。　Straight　ahead　of　him。〃　
Then　the　little　prince　said；　earnestly：　〃That　doesn‘t　matter。　Where　I　live；　everything　is　so　small！〃　
And；　with　perhaps　a　hint　of　sadness；　he　added：　〃Straight　ahead　of　him；　nobody　can　go　very　far。。。〃
　
　
＇　Chapter　4　＇

　　the　narrator　speculates　as　to　which　asteroid　from　which　the　little　prince　came

　
　

I　had　thus　learned　a　second　fact　of　great　importance：　this　was　that　the　pla　the　little　prince　came　from　was　scarcely　any　larger　than　a　house！
But　that　did　not　really　surprise　me　much。　I　knew　very　well　that　in　addition　to　the　great　plas　such　as　the　Earth；　Jupiter；　Mars；　Venus　to　which　we　have　given　names；　there　are　also　hundreds　of　others；　some　of　which　are　so　small　that　one　has　a　hard　time　seeing　them　through　the　telescope。　When　an　astronomer　discovers　one　of　these　he　does　not　give　it　a　name；　but　only　a　number。　He　might　call　it；　for　example；　〃Asteroid　325。〃　

　
　

I　have　serious　reason　to　believe　that　the　pla　from　which　the　little　prince　came　is　the　asteroid　known　as　B612。　This　asteroid　has　only　once　been　seen　through　the　telescope。　That　was　by　a　Turkish　astronomer；　in　1909。　

　
　

On　making　his　discovery；　the　astronomer　had　presented　it　to　the　International　Astronomical　Congress；　in　a　great　demonstration。　But　he　was　in　Turkish　costume；　and　so　nobody　would　believe　what　he　said。
Grownups　are　like　that。。。　

　
　

Fortunat