189'

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.
这样的话，你跟他们说：“小王子很有魅力，他笑了，还想要一只羊，这就是他存在的证据。想要羊就是存在的证据。”告诉他们这个有什么用呢？他们只会耸耸肩，把你当孩子看。但如果你说：“他来自B-612小行星”，他们就会相信你，不再问你问题了。

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.
他们就是这样。不用抓着这点不放。孩子们一定要记得包容大人。
不过当然，对于我们这种理解生活的人，数字并没什么意义。我应该用童话的方式给这个故事开头。我应该说：“很久很久以前，有个小王子，他生活的星球比他大不了多少，他想要一只羊…”
对于理解生活的人，这才更能还原故事的真相。

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 become like the grown-ups who are no longer interested in anything but figures . . .
我不希望大家草草地读我的书。我回忆这些故事花了好大力气。我的朋友，小王子和他的羊离开我六年了。我在这里尽力描述他，是希望我不要忘了他。忘记朋友太悲伤了。不是每个人都有朋友的。如果我忘了他，我就变得像只关心数字的大人们一样了。

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 little prince's 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.
所以我才带着一盒油彩和几根铅笔。
到了我这个岁数，没法再重拾绘画了，因为我六岁起，就只画过蟒蛇的内部和外观。我会尽可能保证画像的还原度。但不一定能画好。一幅画可能还可以，另一幅就完全不像了。我也会画错小王子的身高，有的画里太高，有的太矮。他衣服的颜色我也不确定。所以我尽力画着，有好有坏，希望总体上能达到平均水平。

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 the walls of boxes. Perhaps I am a little like the grown-ups. I have had to grow old.
当然，某些细节我还是会弄错。但这不是我的错。我的朋友从没跟我解释过什么。他大概觉得我像他一样。但可惜，我不知道怎么透过盒子看到羊。可能我也有点像大人们了。我不得不长大。