小王子-the little prince (英文版)-第7部分

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p；　and　so　men　have　no　friends　any　more。　If　you　want　a　friend；　tame　me。。。〃　
〃What　must　I　do；　to　tame　you？〃　asked　the　little　prince。　
〃You　must　be　very　patient；〃　replied　the　fox。　〃First　you　will　sit　down　at　a　little　distance　from　me　like　that　in　the　grass。　I　shall　look　at　you　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　and　you　will　say　nothing。　Words　are　the　source　of　misunderstandings。　But　yo　u　will　sit　a　little　closer　to　me；　every　day。。。〃　

　
　The　next　day　the　little　prince　came　back。　

〃It　would　have　been　better　to　e　back　at　the　same　hour；〃　said　the　fox。　〃If；　for　example；　you　e　at　four　o‘clock　in　the　afternoon；　then　at　three　o‘clock　I　shall　begin　to　be　happy。　I　shall　feel　happier　and　happier　as　the　hour　advances。　At　four　o‘clock；　I　shall　already　be　worrying　and　jumping　about。　I　shall　show　you　how　happy　I　am！　But　if　you　e　at　just　any　time；　I　shall　never　know　at　what　hour　my　heart　is　to　be　ready　to　greet　you。。。　One　must　observe　the　proper　rites。。。〃

〃What　is　a　rite？〃　asked　the　little　prince。　

〃Those　also　are　actions　too　often　neglected；〃　said　the　fox。　〃They　are　what　make　one　day　different　from　other　days；　one　hour　from　other　hours。　There　is　a　rite；　for　example；　among　my　hunters。　Every　Thursday　they　dance　with　the　village　girls。　So　Thursday　is　a　wonderful　day　for　me！　I　can　take　a　walk　as　far　as　the　vineyards。　But　if　the　hunters　danced　at　just　any　time；　every　day　would　be　like　every　other　day；　and　I　should　never　have　any　vacation　at　all。〃　

So　the　little　prince　tamed　the　fox。　And　when　the　hour　of　his　departure　drew　near　
〃Ah；〃　said　the　fox；　〃I　shall　cry。〃　
〃It　is　your　own　fault；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃I　never　wished　you　any　sort　of　harm；　but　you　wanted　me　to　tame　you。。。〃　
〃Yes；　that　is　so；〃　said　the　fox。　
〃But　now　you　are　going　to　cry！〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Yes；　that　is　so；〃　said　the　fox。　
〃Then　it　has　done　you　no　good　at　all！〃　
〃It　has　done　me　good；〃　said　the　fox；　〃because　of　the　color　of　the　wheat　fields。〃　And　then　he　added：　
〃Go　and　look　again　at　the　roses。　You　will　understand　now　that　yours　is　unique　in　all　the　world。　Then　e　back　to　say　goodbye　to　me；　and　I　will　make　you　a　present　of　a　secret。〃　
The　little　prince　went　away；　to　look　again　at　the　roses。　
〃You　are　not　at　all　like　my　rose；〃　he　said。　〃As　yet　you　are　nothing。　No　one　has　tamed　you；　and　you　have　tamed　no　one。　You　are　like　my　fox　when　I　first　knew　him。　He　was　only　a　fox　like　a　hundred　thousand　other　foxes。　But　I　have　made　him　my　friend；　and　now　he　is　unique　in　all　the　world。〃　
And　the　roses　were　very　much　embarrassed。　

〃You　are　beautiful；　but　you　are　empty；〃　he　went　on。　〃One　could　not　die　for　you。　To　be　sure；　an　ordinary　passerby　would　think　that　my　rose　looked　just　like　you　the　rose　that　belongs　to　me。　But　in　herself　alone　she　is　more　important　than　all　the　hundreds　of　you　other　roses：　because　it　is　she　that　I　have　watered；　because　it　is　she　that　I　have　put　under　the　glass　globe；　because　it　is　she　that　I　have　sheltered　behind　the　screen；　because　it　is　for　her　that　I　have　killed　the　caterpillars　（except　the　two　or　three　that　we　saved　to　bee　butterflies）；　because　it　is　she　that　I　have　listened　to；　when　she　grumbled；　or　boasted；　or　even　sometimes　when　she　said　nothing。　Because　she　is　my　rose。　

And　he　went　back　to　meet　the　fox。　
〃Goodbye；〃　he　said。　
〃Goodbye；〃　said　the　fox。　〃And　now　here　is　my　secret；　a　very　simple　secret：　It　is　only　with　the　heart　that　one　can　see　rightly；　what　is　essential　is　invisible　to　the　eye。〃　
〃What　is　essential　is　invisible　to　the　eye；〃　the　little　prince　repeated；　so　that　he　would　be　sure　to　remember。
〃It　is　the　time　you　have　wasted　for　your　rose　that　makes　your　rose　so　important。〃　
〃It　is　the　time　I　have　wasted　for　my　rose〃　said　the　little　prince；　so　that　he　would　be　sure　to　remember。　
〃Men　have　fotten　this　truth；〃　said　the　fox。　〃But　you　must　not　fet　it。　You　bee　responsible；　forever；　for　what　you　have　tamed。　You　are　responsible　for　your　rose。。。〃　
〃I　am　responsible　for　my　rose；〃　the　little　prince　repeated；　so　that　he　would　be　sure　to　remember。
　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　22　＇

　　the　little　prince　encounters　a　railway　switchman


〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　railway　switchman。　
〃What　do　you　do　here？〃　the　little　prince　asked。　
〃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。〃　
And　a　brilliantly　lighted　express　train　shook　the　switchman‘s　cabin　as　it　rushed　by　with　a　roar　like　thunder。　
〃They　are　in　a　great　hurry；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃What　are　they　looking　for？〃　
〃Not　even　the　lootive　engineer　knows　that；〃　said　the　switchman。　
And　a　second　brilliantly　lighted　express　thundered　by；　in　the　opposite　direction。　
〃Are　they　ing　back　already？〃　demanded　the　little　prince。　
〃These　are　not　the　same　ones；〃　said　the　switchman。　〃It　is　an　exchange。〃　
〃Were　they　not　satisfied　where　they　were？〃　asked　the　little　prince。　
〃No　one　is　ever　satisfied　where　he　is；〃　said　the　switchman。
And　they　heard　the　roaring　thunder　of　a　third　brilliantly　lighted　express。
〃Are　they　pursuing　the　first　travelers？〃　demanded　the　little　prince。　
〃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。〃　
〃Only　the　children　know　what　they　are　looking　for；〃　said　the　little　prince。　〃They　waste　their　time　over　a　rag　doll　and　it　bees　very　important　to　them；　and　if　anybody　takes　it　away　from　them；　they　cry。。。〃　
〃They　are　lucky；〃　the　switchman　said。
　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　23　＇

　　the　little　prince　encounters　a　merchant


〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　little　prince。　
〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　merchant。　

This　was　a　merchant　who　sold　pills　that　had　been　invented　to　quench　thirst。　You　need　only　swallow　one　pill　a　week；　and　you　would　feel　no　need　of　anything　to　drink。　
〃Why　are　you　selling　those？〃　asked　the　little　prince。　
〃Because　they　save　a　tremendous　amount　of　time；〃　said　the　merchant。　〃putations　have　been　made　by　experts。　With　these　pills；　you　save　fiftythree　minutes　in　every　week。〃
〃And　what　do　I　do　with　those　fiftythree　minutes？〃　
〃Anything　you　like。。。〃　
〃As　for　me；〃　said　the　little　prince　to　himself；　〃if　I　had　fiftythree　minutes　to　spend　as　I　liked；　I　should　walk　at　my　leisure　toward　a　spring　of　fresh　water。〃　

　
　
　
　
　

　
＇　Chapter　24　＇

　　the　narrator　and　the　little　prince；　thirsty；　hunt　for　a　well　in　the　desert


It　was　now　the　eighth　day　since　I　had　had　my　accident　in　the　desert；　and　I　had　listened　to　the　story　of　the　merchant　as　I　was　drinking　the　last　drop　of　my　water　supply。　

〃Ah；〃　I　said　to　the　little　prince；　〃these　memories　of　yours　are　very　charming；　but　I　have　not　yet　succeeded　in　repairing　my　plane；　I　have　nothing　more　to　drink；　and　I；　too；　should　be　very　happy　if　I　could　walk　at　my　leisure　toward　a　spring　of　fresh　water！〃　
〃My　friend　the　fox〃　the　little　prince　said　to　me。　
〃My　dear　little　man；　this　is　no　longer　a　matter　that　has　anything　to　do　with　the　fox！〃　
〃Why　not？〃　
〃Because　I　am　about　to　die　of　thirst。。。〃　

He　did　not　follow　my　reasoning；　and　he　answered　me：　
〃It　is　a　good　thing　to　have　had　a　friend；　even　if　one　is　about　to　die。　I；　for　instance；　am　very　glad　to　have　had　a　fox　as　a　friend。。。〃　
〃He　has　no　way　of　guessing　the　danger；〃　I　said　to　myself。　〃He　has　never　been　either　hungry　or　thirsty。　A　little　sunshine　is　all　he　needs。。。〃　

But　he　looked　at　me　steadily；　and　replied　to　my　thought：　
〃I　am　thirsty；　too。　Let　us　look　for　a　well。。。〃　

I　made　a　gesture　of　weariness。　It　is　absurd　to　look　for　a　well；　at　random；　in　the　immensity　of　the　desert。　But　nevertheless　we　started　walking。　

When　we　had　trudged　along　for　several　hours；　in　silence；　the　darkness　fell；　and　the　stars　began　to　e　out。　Thirst　had　made　me　a　little　feverish；　and　I　looked　at　them　as　if　I　were　in　a　dream。　The　little　prince‘s　last　words　came　reeling　back　into　my　memory：　
〃Then　you　are　thirsty；　too？〃　I　demanded。　

But　he　did　not　reply　to　my　question。　He　merely　said　to　me：
〃Water　may　also　be　good　for　the　heart。。。〃　

I　did　not　understand　this　answer；　but　I　said　nothing。　I　knew　very　well　that　it　was　impossible　to　crossexamine　him。　

He　was　tired。　He　sat　down。　I　sat　down　beside　him。　And；　after　a　little　silence；　he　spoke　again：
〃The　stars　are　beautiful；　because　of　a　flower　that　cannot　be　seen。〃　

I　replied；　〃Yes；　that　is　so。〃　And；　without　saying　anything　more；　I　looked　across　the　ridges　of　sand　that　were　stretched　out　before　us　in　the　moonlight。　

〃The　desert　is　beautiful；〃　the　little　prince　added。　

And　that　was　true。　I　have　always　loved　the　desert。　One　sits　down　on　a　desert　sand　dune；　sees　nothing；　hears　nothing。　Yet　through　the　silence　something　throbs；　and　gleams。。。　
〃What　makes　the　desert　beautiful；〃　said　the　little　prince；　〃is　that　somewhere　it　hides　a　well。。。〃　

I　was　astonished　by　a　sudden　understanding　of　that　mysterious　radiation　of　the　sands。　When　I　was　a　little　boy　I　lived　in　an　old　house；　and　legend　told　us　that　a　treasure　was　buried　there。　To　be　sure；　no　one　had　ever　known　how　to　find　it；　perhaps　no　one　had　ever　even　looked　for　it。　But　it　cast　an　enchantment　over　that　house。　My　home　was　hiding　a　secret　in　the　depths　of　its　heart。。。
〃Yes；〃　I　said　to　the　little　prince。　〃The　house；　the　stars；　the　desert　what　gives　them　their　beauty　is　something　that　is　invisible！〃　
〃I　am　glad；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　agree　with　my　fox。〃　

As　the　little　prince　dropped　off　to　sleep；　I　took　him　in　my　arms　and　set　out　walking　once　more。　I　felt　deeply　moved；　and　stirred。　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　was　carrying　a　very　fragile　treasure。　It　seemed　to　me；　even；　that　there　was　nothing　more　fragile　on　all　Earth。　In　the　moonlight　I　looked　at　his　pale　forehead；　his　closed　eyes；　his　locks　of　hair　that　trembled　in　the　wind；　and　I　said　to　myself：　〃What　I　see　here　is　nothing　but　a　shell。　What　is　most　important　is　invisible。。。〃　

As　his　lips　opened　slightly　with　the　suspicious　of　a　halfsmile；　I　said　to　myself；　again：　〃What　moves　me　so　deeply；　about　this　little　prince　who　is　sleeping　here；　is　his　loyalty　to　a　flower　the　image　of　a　rose　that　shines　through　his　whole　being　like　the　flame　of　a　lamp；　even　when　he　is　asleep。。。〃　And　I　felt　him　to　be　more　fragile　still。　I　felt　the　need　of　protecting　him；　as　if　he　himself　were　a　flame　that　might　be　extinguished　by　a　little　puff　of　wind。。。　
And；　as　I　walked　on　so；　I　found　the　well；　at　daybreak。
　
　
　
　
　
＇　Chapter　25　＇

　　finding　a　well；　the　narrator　and　the　little　prince　discuss　his　return　to　his　pla


〃Men；〃　said　the　little　prince；　〃set　out　on　their　way　in　express　trains；　but　they　do　not　know　what　they　are　looking　for。　Then　they　rush　about；　and　get　excited；　and　turn　round　and　round。。。〃　
And　he　added：　
〃It　is　not　worth　the　trouble。。。〃　

The　well　that　we　had　e　to　was　not　like　the　wells　of　the　Sahara。　The　wells　of　the　Sahara　are　mere　holes　dug　in　the　sand。　This　one　was　like　a　well　in　a　village。　But　there　was　no　village　here；　and　I　thought　I　must　be　dreaming。。。　
〃It　is　strange；〃　I　said　to　the　little　prince。　〃Everything　is　ready　for　use：　the　pulley；　the　bucket；　the　rope。。。〃　

　
He　laughed；　touched　the　rope；　and　set　the　pulley　to　working。　And　the　pulley　moaned；　like　an　old　weathervane　which　the　wind　has　long　since　fotten