the little prince converses with the snake;
小王子与蛇交谈； —
the little prince consoles the narrator;
小王子安慰叙述者。 —
the little prince returns to his planet Beside the well there was the ruin of an old stone wall.
小王子返回了他的星球。在井旁边有一堵老石墙的废墟。 —
When I came back from my work, the next evening, I saw from some distance away my little price sitting on top of a wall, with his feet dangling.
当我第二天晚上下班回来时，我从远处看到我的小王子坐在墙顶上，脚悬空着。 —
And I heard him say: “Then you don’t remember.
我听到他说：“那你不记得了。” —
This is not the exact spot.” Another voice must have answered him, for he replied to it:
另一个声音肯定回答了他，因为他回答说：“是的，是的！这并不是那个地方。”我继续朝着墙走去。 —
“Yes, yes!
—
It is the right day, but this is not the place.” I continued my walk toward the wall.
但我始终没有看见或听到任何人。然而，小王子又一次回答说：“–完全正确。” —
At no time did I see or hear anyone.
这里是正确的时间， —
The little prince, however, replied once again: “–Exactly.
但这不是正确的地方。” —
You will see where my track begins, in the sand.
你会看到我的足迹从沙地上开始， —
You have nothing to do but wait for me there.
你只需在那里等待我。 —
I shall be there tonight.” I was only twenty metres from the wall, and I still saw nothing.
我会在今晚到达那里。”我离墙只有二十米远，但仍然没有看到任何东西。 —
After a silence the little prince spoke again:
沉默片刻，小王子又开口了： —
“You have good poison?
“你有强力毒药吗？ —
You are sure that it will not make me suffer too long?” I stopped in my tracks, my heart torn asunder;
你确定它不会让我太长时间地痛苦吗？”我停下脚步，内心被撕裂成两半； —
but still I did not understand. “Now go away,” said the little prince.
但我仍然不明白。“现在走开，”小王子说， —
“I want to get down from the wall.” I dropped my eyes, then, to the foot of the wall– and I leaped into the air.
“我想从墙上下来。”随后我低头看向墙脚——我跳了起来。 —
There before me, facing the little prince, was one of those yellow snakes that take just thirty seconds to bring your life to an end.
在我面前，面对着小王子，站着的是一条黄蛇，仅需三十秒便能结束你的生命。 —
Even as I was digging into my pocked to get out my revolver I made a running step back.
我正将手伸进口袋拿出手枪，同时往后迈出一步。 —
But, at the noise I made, the snake let himself flow easily across the sand like the dying spray of a fountain, and, in no apparent hurry, disappeared, with a light metallic sound, among the stones.
然而，在我发出声响的同时，蛇像喷泉的消散水滴一样，流动地穿过沙地，毫不慌乱，并发出轻微的金属声音，消失在石头间。 —
I reached the wall just in time to catch my little man in my arms;
我及时赶到墙边，抱住了我的小男孩； —
his face was white as snow.
他的脸苍白如雪。 —
“What does this mean?” I demanded.
我责问：“这是什么意思？ —
“Why are you talking with snakes?” I had loosened the golden muffler that he always wore.
你为什么和蛇说话？”我解下了他一直佩戴的金色围巾。 —
I had moistened his temples, and had given him some water to drink.
我润湿了他的太阳穴，给他喝了些水。 —
And now I did not dare ask him any more questions.
现在我不敢再问他任何问题了。 —
He looked at me very gravely, and put his arms around my neck.
他很严肃地看着我，抱住我的脖子。 —
I felt his heart beating like the heart of a dying bird, shot with someone’s rifle.
我感觉到他的心跳，像是一只被某人枪击的濒死鸟的心跳。 —
.. “I am glad that you have found what was the matter with your engine,” he said. “Now you can go back home–” “How do you know about that?” I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyond anything that I had dared to hope.
“我很高兴你找到了你发动机的问题，”他说道。” 现在你可以回家了–” “你怎么知道这件事？” 我刚要告诉他，我的工作已经成功了，超出了我敢希望的一切。 —
He made no answer to my question, but he added:
他没有回答我的问题，但他补充道： —
“I, too, am going back home today…” Then, sadly– “It is much farther.
“我也要回家了…然后，他悲伤地说道–“那里离得更远. —
.. it is much more difficult.
..更加困难。 —
..” I realised clearly that something extraordinary was happening.
“我清楚地意识到，一些非同寻常的事情正在发生。 —
I was holding him close in my arms as if he were a little child;
我把他紧紧地抱在怀里，就像对待一个小孩子一样； —
and yet it seemed to me that he was rushing headlong toward an abyss from which I could do nothing to restrain him.
然而我觉得他正向一个我无法阻止的深渊冲去。 —
.. His look was very serious, like some one lost far away. “I have your sheep.
他的表情非常严肃，就像迷失在遥远的地方一样。“我有你的绵羊。 —
And I have the sheep’s box.
我有绵羊的箱子。 —
And I have the muzzle.
我有绵羊的口罩。 —
..” And he gave me a sad smile.
“他对我微笑了一下， —
I waited a long time.
带着悲伤。我等了很长时间。 —
I could see that he was reviving little by little.
我可以看出他正在逐渐恢复。 —
“Dear little man,” I said to him, “you are afraid.
“亲爱的小人，”我对他说，“你害怕。 —
..” He was afraid, there was no doubt about that.
“他害怕，毫无疑问。 —
But he laughed lightly.
但他轻松地笑了。 —
“I shall be much more afraid this evening.
“今晚我会更加害怕。 —
..” Once again I felt myself frozen by the sense of something irreparable.
“我再次感到自己被一种无法弥补的感觉所冻结。 —
And I knew that I could not bear the thought of never hearing that laughter any more.
我知道我无法忍受再也听不到那种笑声的想法。对我来说， —
For me, it was like a spring of fresh water in the desert.
那就像沙漠中的一泓清泉。 —
“Little man,” I said, “I want to hear you laugh again.” But he said to me: “Tonight, it will be a year.
“小朋友，”我说，“我想再听到你笑声。”但他对我说：“今天晚上，已经是一年了。” —
.. my star, then, can be found right above the place where I came to the Earth, a year ago.
然后，我的星星就会出现在我来到地球的地方上方，一年前的地方。 —
..” “Little man,” I said, “tell me that it is only a bad dream– this affair of the snake, and the meeting-place, and the star.
“小朋友，”我说，“告诉我这只蛇和见面地点以及星星只是一个恶梦，只是一个恶梦吧。” —
..” But he did not answer my plea.
但他没有回答我的请求。 —
He said to me, instead:
相反，他对我说： —
“The thing that is important is the thing that is not seen.
“重要的是看不见的东西……” “是的， —
..” “Yes, I know…” “It is just as it is with the flower.
我知道……” “就像花朵一样。 —
If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night.
如果你爱上了一个生长在星星上的花朵，晚上看着天空是多么美好。 —
All the stars are a-bloom with flowers…” “Yes, I know…” “It is just as it is with the water.
所有的星星都开满了花朵……” “是的，我知道……” “就像水一样。 —
Because of the pulley, and the rope, what you gave me to drink was like music.
因为滑轮和绳子，你给我的饮料就像音乐一样好听。 —
You remember– how good it was.” “Yes, I know.
你记得吗，多么美味。” “是的， —
..” “And at night you will look up at the stars.
我知道……” “而且晚上你还会抬头看星星。 —
Where I live everything is so small that I cannot show you where my star is to be found.
我的家乡一切都很小，我无法告诉你我的星星在哪里。 —
It is better, like that.
这样更好。 —
My star will just be one of the stars, for you.
我的星星只会成为你的其中一颗星星。 —
And so you will love to watch all the stars in the heavens.
这样你会喜欢看天上所有的星星。 —
.. they will all be your friends. And, besides, I am going to make you a present.
它们都将成为你的朋友。而且，我将给你一份礼物。 —
..” He laughed again. “Ah, little prince, dear little prince! I love to hear that laughter!” “That is my present.
…他再次笑了起来。“啊，小王子，亲爱的小王子！我很喜欢听到你的笑声！”“那就是我的礼物。 —
Just that.
仅此而已。 —
It will be as it was when we drank the water.
它将会像我们喝水时一样……”“你想说什么？ —
..” “What are you trying to say?” “All men have the stars,” he answered, “but they are not the same things for different people.
”“所有人都拥有星星，”他回答，“但对不同的人来说，它们代表的意义不同。 —
For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides.
对于一些旅行者来说，星星是导航的标志。 —
For others they are no more than little lights in the sky.
对于其他人，它们只是天空中的小点亮。 —
For others, who are scholars, they are problems .
对于学者来说，它们是问题。 —
For my businessman they were wealth.
对于商人来说，它们是财富。 —
But all these stars are silent.
但所有这些星星都是沉默的。 —
You– you alone– will have the stars as no one else has them–” “What are you trying to say?” “In one of the stars I shall be living.
你，只有你，将拥有独特的星星——没有其他人能拥有它们——”“你想说什么？”“在其中一颗星星上，我将生活着。 —
In one of them I shall be laughing.
在其中一颗星星上，我将笑着。 —
And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night.
所以当你夜晚仰望星空时，就好像所有的星星都在笑。 —
.. you– only you– will have stars that can laugh!” And he laughed again.
..只有你–只有你–会拥有会笑的星星！他又笑了起来。 —
“And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me.
“当你的悲伤得到安慰（时间会抚慰一切悲伤）时，你将会满足于曾经认识我。 —
You will always be my friend.
你会永远是我的朋友。 —
You will want to laugh with me.
你会想和我一起笑。 —
And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure.
你有时候会打开窗户，为了那份快乐。 —
.. and your friends will be properly astonished to see you laughing as you look up at the sky!
..而你的朋友们会非常吃惊地看着你笑着仰望着天空！ —
Then you will say to them, ‘Yes, the stars always make me laugh!’ And they will think you are crazy.
然后你会对他们说，‘是的，星星总让我笑！’他们会认为你疯了。 —
It will be a very shabby trick that I shall have played on you.
这将是我对你玩的一个非常卑劣的把戏. —
..” And he laughed again.
..”他又笑了起来。 —
“It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh.
“这就好像，我给了你很多会笑的小铃铛代替了星星. —
..” And he laughed again.
..“他又笑了起来。 —
Then he quickly became serious:
然后他很快变得认真起来： —
“Tonight– you know… do not come,” said the little prince.
“今晚–你知道…别来了，”小王子说。 —
“I shall not leave you,” I said.
“我不会离开你的，”我说。 —
“I shall look as if I were suffering.
“我会表现得像是在受苦。 —
I shall look a little as if I were dying.
我会看起来像是快死了。 —
It is like that.
就像这样。 —
Do not come to see that.
别来看我。 —
It is not worth the trouble.
不值得麻烦. —
..” “I shall not leave you.” But he was worried.
..” “我不会离开你的。” 但他很担心。 —
“I tell you– it is also because of the snake.
“我告诉你——也是因为那条蛇。 —
He must not bite you.
它不能咬到你。 —
Snakes– they are malicious creatures.
蛇——它们是恶意的生物。 —
This one might bite you just for fun.
这种蛇可能只是为了好玩而咬你. —
..” “I shall not leave you.” But a thought came to reassure him:
..” “我不会离开你的。” 但一个想法让他安心了起来： —
“It is true that they have no more poison for a second bite.” That night I did not see him set out on his way.
“确实，它们没有多余的毒液来进行第二次咬伤。”那天晚上，我没有看到他默默地启程。 —
He got away from me without making a sound.
他悄无声息地离开了我。 —
When I succeeded in catching up with him he was walking along with a quick and resolute step.
当我成功追上他时，他步伐迅速而坚决。他只对我说了一句话：“啊！你在这儿. —
He said to me merely: “Ah!
..” 然而他仍然担心。 —
You are there…” And he took me by the hand. But he was still worrying.
“你来是不对的。你会受苦。我会假装死去；但那将不是真的。 —
“It was wrong of you to come. You will suffer.
..” 我没有说话。“你懂的. —
I shall look as if I were dead;
.. 这太远了。我不能带着这具身体走。 —
and that will not be true.
” —
..” I said nothing. “You understand.
..” 我没有说话。“你懂的. —
.. it is too far. I cannot carry this body with me.
.. 这太远了。我不能带着这具身体走。” —
It is too heavy.” I said nothing.
“太重了。”我什么也不说。 —
“But it will be like an old abandoned shell.
“但它会像一只老掉了渣的贝壳一样。 —
There is nothing sad about old shells.
老掉了渣的贝壳没有什么可悲的。 —
..” I said nothing. He was a little discouraged.
“。。”我什么也不说。他有点泄气。 —
But he made one more effort:
但他又作出了最后的努力： —
“You know, it will be very nice. I, too, shall look at the stars.
“你知道，那会很美。我也会看星星。 —
All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley.
所有的星星会变成带有生锈滑轮的井。 —
All the stars will pour out fresh water for me to drink.
所有的星星都会倾泻出清新的水供我饮用…”我什么也不说。 —
..” I said nothing.
—
“That will be so amusing!
“那会很有趣！ —
You will have five hundred million little bells, and I shall have five hundred million springs of fresh water.
你将拥有五亿个小铃铛，而我将拥有五亿个清泉。 —
..” And he too said nothing more, because he was crying.
“。。”他也再没说什么了，因为他在哭泣。。 —
.. “Here it is.
“就在这里。 —
Let me go on by myself.” And he sat down, because he was afraid.
让我自己去吧。”他坐下来，因为害怕。 —
Then he said, again:
然后他又说： —
“You know– my flower… I am responsible for her.
“你知道——我的花儿…我要对她负责。 —
And she is so weak! She is so naive!
而她是如此脆弱！她是如此天真！ —
She has four thorns, of no use at all, to protect herself against all the world.
“她有四根毫无用处的刺，以保护自己免受整个世界的伤害。 —
..” I too sat down, because I was not able to stand up any longer.
“。。”我也坐了下来，因为我再也站不起来了。“现在， —
“There now– that is all.
就是这样了。” —
..” He still hesitated a little; then he got up.
他仍有些犹豫；然后他站了起来。 —
He took one step. I could not move.
他迈出了一步。我无法移动。 —
There was nothing but a flash of yellow close to his ankle.
他脚踝附近只有一道黄色的闪光。 —
He remained motionless for an instant.
他停顿了片刻，一动不动。 —
He did not cry out. He fell as gently as a tree falls.
他没有叫出声来。他像一棵树一样轻轻倒下。 —
There was not even any sound, because of the sand.
因为沙子的缘故，甚至没有任何声音。