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地方小王子画得太大了些，另一个地方又画得太小了些。对他衣服的颜色我也拿不准。于是我就摸索着这么试试那么改改，画个大概齐。我很可能在某些重要的细节上画错了。这就得请大家原谅我了。因为我的这个朋友，从来也不加说明解释。他认为我同他一样。可是，很遗憾，我却不能透过盒子看见小羊。我大概有点和大人们差不多。我一定是变老了。
＇ 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 planet 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 planets…… 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 planet from which the little prince came is the asteroid known as b…612。
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。
grown…ups are like that。。。
fortunately； however； for the reputation of asteroid b…612； a turkish dictator made a law that his subjects； under pain of death； should change to european costume。 so in 1920 the astronomer gave his demonstration all over again； dressed with impressive style and elegance。 and this time everybody accepted his report。
if i have told you these details about the asteroid； and made a note of its number for you； it is on account of the grown…ups and their ways。 when you tell them that you have made a new friend； they never ask you any questions about essential matters。 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？〃 only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him。
if you were to 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 get any idea of that house at all。 you would 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 anybody wants a sheep； that is a proof that he exists。〃 and what good would it do to tell them that？ they would shrug their shoulders； and treat you like a child。 but if you said to them： 〃the planet he came from is asteroid b…612；〃 then they would be convinced； and leave you in peace from their questions。
they are like that。 one must not hold it against them。 children should always show great forbearance toward grown…up people。
but certainly； for us who understand life； figures are a matter of indifference。 i should have liked to begin this story in the fashion of the fairy…tales。 i should have like to say： 〃once upon a time there was a little prince who lived on a planet that was scarcely any bigger than himself； and who had need of a sheep。。。〃
to those who understand life； that would have given a much greater air of truth to my story。
for i do not want any one to read my book carelessly。 i have suffered too much grief in setting down these memories。 six years have already passed since my friend went away from me； with his sheep。 if i try to describe him here； it is to make sure that i shall not forget him。 to forget a friend is sad。 not every one has had a friend。 and if i forget him； i may bee like the grown…ups who are no longer interested in anything but figures。。。
it is for that purpose； again； that i have bought a box of paints and some pencils。 it is hard to take up drawing again at my age； when i have never made any pictures except those of the boa constrictor from the outside and the boa constrictor from the inside； since i was six。 i shall certainly try to make my portraits as true to life as possible。 but i am not at all sure of success。 one drawing goes along all right； and another has no resemblance to its subject。 i make some errors； too； in the littl e princes height： in one place he is too tall and in another too short。 and i feel some doubts about the color of his costume。 so i fumble along as best i can； now good； now bad； and i hope generally fair…to…middling。
in certain more important details i shall make mistakes； also。 but that is something that will not be my fault。 my friend never explained anything to me。 he thought； perhaps； that i was like himself。 but i； alas； do not know how to see sheep through t he walls of boxes。 perhaps i am a little like the grown…ups。 i have had to grow old。
．．
第五篇
Ⅴ
每天我都了解到一些关于小王子的星球，他的出走和旅行等事情。这些都是偶然从各种反应中慢慢得到的。就这样，第三天我就了解到关于猴面包树的悲剧。
这一次又是因为羊的事情，突然小王子好象是非常担心地问我道：
“羊吃小灌木，这是真的吗？”
“是的，是真的。”
“啊，我真高兴。”
我不明白羊吃小灌木这件事为什么如此重要。可小王子又说道：
“因此，它们也吃猴面包树罗？”
我对小王子说，猴面包树可不是小灌木，而是象教堂那么大的大树；即便是带回一群大象，也啃不了一棵猴面包树。
一群大象这种想法使小王子发笑：
“那可得把这些大象一只叠一只地垒起来。”
他很有见识地说：
“猴面包树在长大之前，开始也是小小的。”
“不错。可是为什么你想叫你的羊去吃小猴面包树呢？”
他回答我道：“唉！这还用说！”似乎这是不言而喻的。可是我自己要费很大的心劲才能弄懂这个问题。
原来，在小王子的星球上就象其他所有星球上一样，有好草和坏草；因此，也就有益草的草籽和毒草的草籽，可是草籽是看不见的。它们沉睡在泥土里，直到其�