<小王子>Chapter 4

I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: this was that the planetthe little prince came from was scarcely any larger than a house! But that did not really surprise me much. I knew very well thatin addition to the great planets-- such as the Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Venus-- towhich we have given names, there are also hundreds of others, some of which areso small that one has a hard time seeing them through the telescope. When an astronomerdiscovers one of these he does not give it a name, but only a number. He mightcall it, for example, "Asteroid 325." I have serious reason to believe that the planet from which the little prince cameis the asteroid known as B-612. This asteroid has only once been seen through the telescope. Thatwas by a Turkish astronomer, in 1909. On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International AstronomicalCongress, in a great demonstration. But he was in Turkish costume, and so nobodywould believe what he said. Grown-ups are like that... Fortunately, however, for the reputation of Asteroid B-612, a Turkishdictator made a law that his subjects, under pain of death, should change to Europeancostume. So in 1920 the astronomer gave his demonstration all over again, dressedwith impressive style and elegance. And this time everybody accepted his report. If I have told you these details about the asteroid, and made anote of its number for you, it is on account of the grown-ups and their ways. Whenyou tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questionsabout 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 moneydoes his father make?" Only from these figures do they think they have learnedanything about him. If you were to say to the grown-ups: "I saw a beautiful house madeof rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof," they wouldnot 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 prettyhouse that is!" Just so, you might say to them: "The proof that the little princeexisted is that he was charming, that he laughed, and that he was looking for asheep. If anybody wants a sheep, that is a proof that he exists." And what goodwould it do to tell them that? They would shrug their shoulders, and treat youlike 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. Childrenshould always show great forbearance toward grown-up people. But certainly, for us who understand life, figures are a matterof indifference. I should have liked to begin this story in the fashion of thefairy-tales. I should have like to say: "Once upon a time there was a little princewho lived on a planet that was scarcely any bigger than himself, and who had needof a sheep..." To those who understand life, that would have given a much greaterair of truth to my story. For I do not want any one to read my book carelessly. I have sufferedtoo much grief in setting down these memories. Six years have already passed sincemy friend went away from me, with his sheep. If I try to describe him here, itis to make sure that I shall not forget him. To forget a friend is sad. Not everyone has had a friend. And if I forget him, I may become like the grown-ups whoare no longer interested in anything  but figures... 微信公众订阅号: 车兔 It is for that purpose, again, that I have bought a box of paintsand some pencils. It is hard to take up drawing again at my age, when I have nevermade any pictures except those of the boa constrictor from the outside and theboa constrictor from the inside, since I was six. I shall certainly try to makemy 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 prince's height: in one place he is tootall 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 somethingthat 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 throught he walls of boxes. Perhaps I am a little like the grown-ups. I have had to growold. 想学习更多语音知识！ 欢迎下载手机APP口语侠！ 找到我跟我一对一进行学习喔～