小王子-the little prince (英文版)- 第6部分

The　Earth　is　not　just　an　ordinary　pla！　One　can　count；　there　111　kings　（not　fetting；　to　be　sure；　the　Negro　kings　among　them）；　7000　geographers；　900；000　businessmen；　7；500；000　tipplers；　311；000；000　conceited　men　that　is　to　say；　about　2；000；000；000　grownups。　

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。　

Seen　from　a　slight　distance；　that　would　make　a　splendid　spectacle。　The　movements　of　this　army　would　be　regulated　like　those　of　the　ballet　in　the　opera。　First　would　e　the　turn　of　the　lamplighters　of　New　Zealand　and　Australia。　Having　set　their　lamps　alight；　these　would　go　off　to　sleep。　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。　After　that　would　e　the　turn　of　the　lamplighters　of　Russia　and　the　Indies；　then　those　of　Africa　and　Europe；　then　those　of　South　America；　then　those　of　South　America；　then　those　of　North　America。　And　never　would　they　make　a　mistake　in　the　order　of　their　entry　upon　the　stage。　It　would　be　magnificent。　

Only　the　man　who　was　in　charge　of　the　single　lamp　at　the　North　Pole；　and　his　colleague　who　was　responsible　for　the　single　lamp　at　the　South　Pole　only　these　two　would　live　free　from　toil　and　care：　they　would　be　busy　twice　a　year。

　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　17　＇

　　the　little　prince　makes　the　acquaintance　of　the　snake


When　one　wishes　to　play　the　wit；　he　sometimes　wanders　a　little　from　the　truth。　I　have　not　been　altogether　honest　in　what　I　have　told　you　about　the　lamplighters。　And　I　realize　that　I　run　the　risk　of　giving　a　false　idea　of　our　pla　to　those　who　do　not　k　now　it。　Men　occupy　a　very　small　place　upon　the　Earth。　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　assembly；　they　could　easily　be　put　into　one　public　square　twenty　miles　long　and　twenty　miles　wide。　All　humanity　could　be　piled　up　on　a　small　Pacific　islet。　

The　grownups；　to　be　sure；　will　not　believe　you　when　you　tell　them　that。　They　imagine　that　they　fill　a　great　deal　of　space。　They　fancy　themselves　as　important　as　the　baobabs。　You　should　advise　them；　then；　to　make　their　own　calculations。　They　adore　fig　ures；　and　that　will　please　them。　But　do　not　waste　your　time　on　this　extra　task。　It　is　unnecessary。　You　have；　I　know；　confidence　in　me。　

When　the　little　prince　arrived　on　the　Earth；　he　was　very　much　surprised　not　to　see　any　people。　He　was　beginning　to　be　afraid　he　had　e　to　the　wrong　pla；　when　a　coil　of　gold；　the　color　of　the　moonlight；　flashed　across　the　sand。

〃Good　evening；〃　said　the　little　prince　courteously。　
〃Good　evening；〃　said　the　snake。　
〃What　pla　is　this　on　which　I　have　e　down？〃　asked　the　little　prince。
〃This　is　the　Earth；　this　is　Africa；〃　the　snake　answered。　
〃Ah！　Then　there　are　no　people　on　the　Earth？〃　
〃This　is　the　desert。　There　are　no　people　in　the　desert。　The　Earth　is　large；〃　said　the　snake。

The　little　prince　sat　down　on　a　stone；　and　raised　his　eyes　toward　the　sky。　
〃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　pla。　It　is　right　there　above　us。　But　how　far　away　it　is！〃　
〃It　is　beautiful；〃　the　snake　said。　〃What　has　brought　you　here？〃
〃I　have　been　having　some　trouble　with　a　flower；〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Ah！〃　said　the　snake。　
And　they　were　both　silent。　
〃Where　are　the　men？〃　the　little　prince　at　last　took　up　the　conversation　again。　〃It　is　a　little　lonely　in　the　desert。。。〃　
〃It　is　also　lonely　among　men；〃　the　snake　said。　

The　little　prince　gazed　at　him　for　a　long　time。　
〃You　are　a　funny　animal；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃You　are　no　thicker　than　a　finger。。。〃　
〃But　I　am　more　powerful　than　the　finger　of　a　king；〃　said　the　snake。　
The　little　prince　smiled。　
〃You　are　not　very　powerful。　You　haven‘t　even　any　feet。　You　cannot　even　travel。。。〃　
〃I　can　carry　you　farther　than　any　ship　could　take　you；〃　said　the　snake。　
He　twined　himself　around　the　little　prince‘s　ankle；　like　a　golden　bracelet。　
〃Whomever　I　touch；　I　send　back　to　the　earth　from　whence　he　came；〃　the　snake　spoke　again。　〃But　you　are　innocent　and　true；　and　you　e　from　a　star。。。〃

The　little　prince　made　no　reply。　
〃You　move　me　to　pity　you　are　so　weak　on　this　Earth　made　of　granite；〃　the　snake　said。　〃I　can　help　you；　some　day；　if　you　grow　too　homesick　for　your　own　pla。　I　can〃　
〃Oh！　I　understand　you　very　well；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃But　why　do　you　always　speak　in　riddles？〃　
〃I　solve　them　all；〃　said　the　snake。　
And　they　were　both　silent。
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　18　＇

　　the　little　prince　goes　looking　for　men　and　meets　a　flower

　
The　little　prince　crossed　the　desert　and　met　with　only　one　flower。　It　was　a　flower　with　three　petals；　a　flower　of　no　account　at　all。　
〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　flower。　
〃Where　are　the　men？〃　the　little　prince　asked；　politely。　
The　flower　had　once　seen　a　caravan　passing。　
〃Men？〃　she　echoed。　〃I　think　there　are　six　or　seven　of　them　in　existence。　I　saw　them；　several　years　ago。　But　one　never　knows　where　to　find　them。　The　wind　blows　them　away。　They　have　no　roots；　and　that　makes　their　life　very　difficult。〃　
〃Goodbye；〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Goodbye；〃　said　the　flower。
　
　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　19　＇

　　the　little　prince　climbs　a　mountain　range


After　that；　the　little　prince　climbed　a　high　mountain。　The　only　mountains　he　had　ever　known　were　the　three　volcanoes；　which　came　up　to　his　knees。　And　he　used　the　extinct　volcano　as　a　footstool。　〃From　a　mountain　as　high　as　this　one；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　shall　be　able　to　see　the　whole　pla　at　one　glance；　and　all　the　people。。。〃

But　he　saw　nothing；　save　peaks　of　rock　that　were　sharpened　like　needles。　
〃Good　morning；〃　he　said　courteously。　
〃Good　morningGood　morningGood　morning；〃　answered　the　echo。　
〃Who　are　you？〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Who　are　youWho　are　youWho　are　you？〃　answered　the　echo。　
〃Be　my　friends。　I　am　all　alone；〃　he　said。　
〃I　am　all　aloneall　aloneall　alone；〃　answered　the　echo。　
〃What　a　queer　pla！〃　he　thought。　〃It　is　altogether　dry；　and　altogether　pointed；　and　altogether　harsh　and　forbidding。　And　the　people　have　no　imagination。　They　repeat　whatever　one　says　to　them。。。　On　my　pla　I　had　a　flower；　she　always　was　the　first　to　speak。。。〃
　
　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　20　＇

　　the　little　prince　discovers　a　garden　of　roses


But　it　happened　that　after　walking　for　a　long　time　through　sand；　and　rocks；　and　snow；　the　little　prince　at　last　came　upon　a　road。　And　all　roads　lead　to　the　abodes　of　men。　

〃Good　morning；〃　he　said。　

　

He　was　standing　before　a　garden；　all　abloom　with　roses。　
〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　roses。　

The　little　prince　gazed　at　them。　They　all　looked　like　his　flower。　
〃Who　are　you？〃　he　demanded；　thunderstruck。　
〃We　are　roses；〃　the　roses　said。　

And　he　was　overe　with　sadness。　His　flower　had　told　him　that　she　was　the　only　one　of　her　kind　in　all　the　universe。　And　here　were　five　thousand　of　them；　all　alike；　in　one　single　garden！　

〃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　be　obliged　to　pretend　that　I　was　nursing　her　back　to　life　for　if　I　did　not　do　that；　to　humble　myself　also；　she　would　really　allow　herself　to　die。。。〃　
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　mon　rose。　A　mon　rose；　and　three　volcanoes　that　e　up　to　my　knees　and　one　of　them　perhaps　extinct　forever。。。　that　doesn‘t　make　me　a　very　great　prince。。。〃　
And　he　lay　down　in　the　grass　and　cried。

　
　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　21　＇

　　the　little　prince　befriends　the　fox


It　was　then　that　the　fox　appeared。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　fox。　
〃Good　morning；〃　the　little　prince　responded　politely；　although　when　he　turned　around　he　saw　nothing。　
〃I　am　right　here；〃　the　voice　said；　〃under　the　apple　tree。〃　
〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　little　prince；　and　added；　〃You　are　very　pretty　to　look　at。〃　
〃I　am　a　fox；〃　said　the　fox。　
〃e　and　play　with　me；〃　proposed　the　little　prince。　〃I　am　so　unhappy。〃　
〃I　cannot　play　with　you；〃　the　fox　said。　〃I　am　not　tamed。〃　
〃Ah！　Please　excuse　me；〃　said　the　little　prince。　
But；　after　some　thought；　he　added：　〃What　does　that　mean　‘tame‘？〃　
〃You　do　not　live　here；〃　said　the　fox。　〃What　is　it　that　you　are　looking　for？〃　
〃I　am　looking　for　men；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃What　does　that　mean　‘tame‘？〃　
〃Men；〃　said　the　fox。　〃They　have　guns；　and　they　hunt。　It　is　very　disturbing。　They　also　raise　chickens。　These　are　their　only　interests。　Are　you　looking　for　chickens？〃　
〃No；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃I　am　looking　for　friends。　What　does　that　mean　‘tame‘？〃　
〃It　is　an　act　too　often　neglected；〃　said　the　fox。　It　means　to　establish　ties。〃　
〃‘To　establish　ties‘？〃

〃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。。。〃　

〃I　am　beginning　to　understand；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃There　is　a　flower。。。　I　think　that　she　has　tamed　me。。。〃　

　

〃It　is　possible；〃　said　the　fox。　〃On　the　Earth　one　sees　all　sorts　of　things。〃　
〃Oh；　but　this　is　not　on　the　Earth！〃　said　the　little　prince。　
The　fox　seemed　perplexed；　and　very　curious。　
〃On　another　pla？〃　
〃Yes。〃　
〃Are　there　hunters　on　this　pla？〃　
〃No。〃　
〃Ah；　that　is　interesting！　Are　there　chickens？〃　
〃No。〃　
〃Nothing　is　perfect；〃　sighed　the　fox。　
But　he　came　back　to　his　idea。　

〃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　grainfields　down　yonder？　I　do　not　ea　t　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　bac　k　the　thought　of　you。　And　I　shall　love　to　listen　to　the　wind　in　the　wheat。。。〃　

The　fox　gazed　at　the　little　prince；　for　a　long　time。　
〃Please　tame　me！〃　he　said。　
〃I　want　to；　very　much；〃　the　little　prince　replied。　〃But　I　have　not　much　time。　I　have　friends　to　discover；　and　a　great　many　things　to　understand。〃　

〃One　only　understands　the　things　that　one　tames；〃　said　the　fox。　〃Men　have　no　more　time　to　understand　anything。　They　buy　things　all　ready　made　at　the　shops。　But　there　is　no　shop　anywhere　where　one　can　buy　friendship；　and　s