Beside the well there was the ruin of an old stone wall.
井边是古老的石墙遗迹。
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.And I heard him say:
第二天傍晚，当我从工作中回来时，我从远处看到我的小王子坐在墙上，双脚悬空。我听到他说：
"Then you don't remember. This is not the exact spot."
“那么你不记得了。这不是确切的地点。”
Another voice must have answered him, for he replied to it:
一定是另一个人回答了他，因为他回复道：
"Yes, yes! It is the right day, but this is not the place."
“是的，是的！今天是正确的日子，但这不是地方。”
I continued my walk toward the wall.At no time did I see or hear anyone.The little prince, however, replied once again:"--Exactly.You will see where my track begins, in the sand.
我继续朝墙走去。我始终没有看到或听到任何人。然而，小王子再次回答说：“——完全正确。”你会在沙子里看到我的足迹从哪里开始。
You have nothing to do but wait for me there.I shall be there tonight."
你只需要在那里等我。我今晚会在那里。”
I was only twenty meters from the wall, and I still saw nothing.
我离墙只有二十米了，但我仍然什么也没看见。
After a silence the little prince spoke again:
沉默之后，小王子再次说道：
"You have good poison? You are sure that it will not make me suffer too long?"
“你有好的毒药吗？你确定它不会让我痛苦太久吗？”
I stopped in my tracks, my heart torn asunder; but still I did not understand.
我停下了脚步，我的心都碎了；但我仍然不明白。
"Now go away," said the little prince. "I want to get down from the wall."
“现在走开，”小王子说。“我想从墙上下来。”
I dropped my eyes, then, to the foot of the wall--and I leaped into the air.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.Even as I was digging into my pocked to get out my revolver I made a running step back.
我随即垂下眼帘，看向墙脚——然后我跳到了空中。就在我面前，面对着小王子，是那些黄色的蛇中的一条，它们只需三十秒就能结束你的生命。就在我伸手进口袋掏出左轮手枪的时候，我后退了一步。
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.
但是，因为我发出的声音，那条蛇像喷泉中垂死的浪花一样，轻松地在沙地上流动，并且毫不慌张地消失在石头堆里，发出轻微的金属声。
I reached the wall just in time to catch my little man in my arms; his face was white as snow.
我及时赶到墙边，一把抱住了我的小人儿；他的脸色像雪一样苍白。
"What does this mean?""Why are you talking with snakes?"
“这是什么意思？”“你为什么和蛇说话？”
I had loosened the golden muffler that he always wore.I had moistened his temples, and had given him some water to drink.And now I did not dare ask him any more questions.He looked at me very gravely, and put his arms around my neck.I felt his heart beating like the heart of a dying bird, shot with someone's rifle . . .
我解开了他一直戴着的金色围巾。我润湿了他的太阳穴，并给他喝了些水。现在我不敢再问他任何问题了。他非常严肃地看着我，把胳膊搂在我的脖子上。我感到他的心脏像一只垂死的鸟的心脏一样跳动，被某人的步枪击中...
"I am glad that you have found what was the matter with your engine," he said. "Now you can go back home--"
“我很高兴你找到了你的发动机出了什么问题，”他说。“现在你可以回家了——”
"How do you know about that?"
“你怎么知道的？”
I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyond anything that I had dared to hope.
我正要告诉他我的工作已经成功了，超出了我敢于希望的任何事情。
He made no answer to my question, but he added:
他没有回答我的问题，但他补充说：
"I, too, am going back home today . . ."
“我也今天要回家了……”
Then, sadly--
然后，悲伤地——
"It is much farther . . . It is much more difficult . . ."
“它要远得多……它要困难得多……”
I realized clearly that something extraordinary was happening.I was holding him close in my arms as if he were a little child; and yet it seemed to me that he was rushing headlong toward an abyss from which I could do nothing to restrain him . . .
我清楚地意识到正在发生一些非同寻常的事情。我把他紧紧地抱在怀里，好像他是个小孩子；但我觉得他正朝着一个深渊猛冲过去，我却无能为力去阻止他……
His look was very serious, like some one lost far away.
他的表情非常严肃，像一个迷失在远方的人。
"I have your sheep. And I have the sheep's box. And I have the muzzle . . ."
“我有你的绵羊。我有绵羊的盒子。我有口套……”
And he gave me a sad smile.
他给了我一个悲伤的微笑。
I waited a long time.I could see that he was reviving little by little.
我等了很久。我看到他一点一点地恢复过来。
"Dear little man," I said to him, "you are afraid . . ."
“亲爱的小家伙，”我对他说，“你害怕了……”
He was afraid, there was no doubt about that.But he laughed lightly.
他很害怕，毫无疑问。但他轻轻地笑了。
"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.And I knew that I could not bear the thought of never hearing that laughter any more.For me, it was like a spring of fresh water in the desert.
我又一次感到自己被某种无法弥补的感觉冻僵了。我知道我无法忍受再也听不到那笑声的想法。对我来说，这就像沙漠里的一股清泉。
"Little man," I said, "I want to hear you laugh again."
“小家伙，”我说，“我想再听你笑一次。”
But he said to me:
但他对我说：
"Tonight, it will be a year . . . My star, then, can be found right above the place where I came to the Earth, a year ago. . ."
“今晚，就满一年了……然后，我的星星，就在一年前我来到地球的地方的正上方……”
"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. . ."
“小家伙，”我说，“告诉我这只是一场噩梦——关于蛇的事情，还有会合地点，还有星星……”
But he did not answer my plea.He said to me, instead:
但他没有回答我的恳求。他反而对我说：
"The thing that is important is the thing that is not seen . .."
“重要的东西是看不见的……”
"Yes, I know . . ."
“是的，我知道……”
"It is just as it is with the flower. If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night. All the stars are a-bloom with flowers . . ."
“花也是如此。如果你爱一朵住在星星上的花，那么在夜晚看天空是甜蜜的。所有的星星都开满了花……”
"Yes, I know . . ."
“是的，我知道……”
"It is just as it is with the water. Because of the pulley, and the rope, what you gave me to drink was like music. You remember--how good it was."
“水也是这样。因为有了滑轮和绳子，你给我喝的东西就像音乐一样。你还记得——它有多好。”
"Yes, I know . . ."
“是的，我知道……”
"And at night you will look up at the stars. Where I live everything is so small that I cannot show you where my star is to be found. It is better, like that. My star will just be one of the stars, for you. And so you will love to watch all the stars in the heavens . . . they will all be your friends. And, besides, I am going to make you a present . . ."
“晚上你将会仰望星星。我住的地方一切都很小，我无法告诉你我的星星在哪里。那样更好。我的星星对你来说只是星星中的一颗。因此，你将会喜欢观看天空中所有的星星……它们都将是你的朋友。而且，我还要送你一份礼物……”
He laughed again.
他又笑了。
"Ah, little prince, dear little prince! I love to hear that laughter!"
“啊，小王子，亲爱的小王子！我喜欢听那笑声！”
"That is my present. Just that. It will be as it was when we drank the water . . ."
“那就是我的礼物。就是这样。它会像我们喝水时一样……”
"What are you trying to say?"
“你想说什么？”
"All men have the stars," he answered, "but they are not the same things for different people.For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides.For others they are no more than little lights in the sky.For others, who are scholars, they are problems.For my businessman they were wealth.
“所有人都有星星，”他回答说，“但对于不同的人来说，它们不是相同的东西。对于一些旅行者来说，星星是向导。对于另一些人来说，它们只不过是天空中的小光点。对于另一些学者来说，它们是难题。对我的商人来说，它们就是财富。
But all these stars are silent.You--you alone--will have the stars as no one else has them--"
但是所有这些星星都是沉默的。你——只有你——才会拥有星星，就像其他人从未拥有过它们一样——"
"What are you trying to say?"
“你想说什么？”
"In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You--only you--will have stars that can laugh!"
“我将生活在其中的一颗星星上。我将在其中的一颗星星上欢笑。因此，当你晚上仰望天空时，所有的星星都会像在欢笑一样……你——只有你——才会拥有会笑的星星！”
And he laughed again.
然后他又笑了。
"And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me.You will always be my friend.You will want to laugh with me.
“当你的悲伤得到慰藉（时间会抚平所有的悲伤）时，你会因为认识我而感到满足。你永远是我的朋友。你会想和我一起笑。
And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure . . .And your friends will be properly astonished to see you laughing as you look up at the sky!Then you will say to them, 'Yes, the stars always make me laugh!'And they will think you are crazy.It will be a very shabby trick that I shall have played on you . . ."
有时你会打开你的窗户，为了那种快乐……你的朋友们会非常惊讶地看到你仰望天空时在欢笑！然后你会对他们说，“是的，星星总是让我发笑！”他们会认为你疯了。这将是我对你耍的一个非常卑鄙的把戏……"
And he laughed again.
然后他又笑了。
"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 . . ."
“那就好像，我没有给你星星，而是给了你许多会笑的小铃铛……”
And he laughed again.
他又笑了。
Then he quickly became serious:
然后他很快变得严肃起来：
"Tonight--you know . . . Do not come."
“今晚——你知道……不要来。”
"I shall not leave you," I said.
“我不会离开你的，”我说。
"I shall look as if I were suffering.I shall look a little as if I were dying.It is like that.Do not come to see that.It is not worth the trouble . . ."
我会看起来好像我在受苦。我会看起来有点像快要死了。就是那样。不要来看那个。不值得费这个事……
"I shall not leave you."
“我不会离开你的。”
But he was worried.
但他很担心。
"I tell you--it is also because of the snake. He must not bite you. Snakes--they are malicious creatures. This one might bite you just for fun . . ."
“我告诉你——这也是因为那条蛇。它一定不能咬你。蛇——它们是恶毒的生物。这条蛇可能只是为了好玩而咬你……”
"I shall not leave you."
“我不会离开你的。”
But a thought came to reassure him:
但是一个想法让他安心：
"It is true that they have no more poison for a second bite."
“的确，它们没有更多的毒液来第二次咬了。”
That night I did not see him set out on his way.He got away from me without making a sound.When I succeeded in catching up with him he was walking along with a quick and resolute step.He said to me merely:
那天晚上我没有看到他出发。他一声不响地离开了。当我成功赶上他时，他正迈着快速而坚决的步伐走着。他只是对我说：
"Ah! You are there . . ."
“啊！你在这儿……”
And he took me by the hand.But he was still worrying.
他握住了我的手。但他仍然很担心。
"It was wrong of you to come. You will suffer. I shall look as if I were dead; and that will not be true . . ."
“你不该来。你会受苦的。我会看起来好像我死了；那将不是真的……”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
"You understand . . . it is too far. I cannot carry this body with me. It is too heavy."
“你明白……太远了。我不能带着这具身体。它太重了。”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
"But it will be like an old abandoned shell. There is nothing sad about old shells . . ."
“但它会像一个被遗弃的旧贝壳。旧贝壳没有什么可悲的……”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
He was a little discouraged.But he made one more effort:
他有点沮丧。但他又做了一次努力：
"You know, it will be very nice. I, too, shall look at the stars. All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley. All the stars will pour out fresh water for me to drink . . ."
“你知道，那会非常好的。我也要看看星星。所有的星星都会是带着生锈滑轮的水井。所有的星星都会倾泻出新鲜的水给我喝……”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
"That will be so amusing!You will have five hundred million little bells, and I shall have five hundred million springs of fresh water . . .
“那会非常有趣的！你将有五亿个小铃铛，我将有五亿个新鲜水源……
And he too said nothing more, becuase he was crying . . .
他也什么也没说，因为他在哭泣……
"Here it is. Let me go on by myself."
“就是这儿了。让我自己走吧。”
And he sat down, because he was afraid.Then he said, again:
他坐了下来，因为他害怕了。然后他又说：
"You know--my flower . . . I am responsible for her. And she is so weak! She is so naïve! She has four thorns, of no use at all, to protect herself against all the world . . ."
“你知道吗——我的花……我得对她负责。她是那么的柔弱！她是那么的天真！她只有四根刺，根本没用，用来保护自己对抗整个世界……”
I too sat down, because I was not able to stand up any longer.
我也坐了下来，因为我再也站不住了。
"There now--that is all . . ."
“好了——就这样吧……”
He still hesitated a little; then he got up.He took one step.
他仍然犹豫了一下；然后他站了起来。他迈出了一步。
I could not move.
我动不了了。
There was nothing but a flash of yellow close to his ankle.
只见一道黄光闪过，靠近他的脚踝。
He remained motionless for an instant.He did not cry out.
他一动不动地站了一会儿。他没有叫喊出来。
He fell as gently as a tree falls.There was not even any sound, because of the sand.
他像树倒下一样轻轻地倒下了。因为有沙子，甚至没有任何声音。
Beside the well there was the ruin of an old stone wall.
井边是古老的石墙遗迹。
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.And I heard him say:
第二天傍晚，当我从工作中回来时，我从远处看到我的小王子坐在墙上，双脚悬空。我听到他说：
"Then you don't remember. This is not the exact spot."
“那么你不记得了。这不是确切的地点。”
Another voice must have answered him, for he replied to it:
一定是另一个人回答了他，因为他回复道：
"Yes, yes! It is the right day, but this is not the place."
“是的，是的！今天是正确的日子，但这不是地方。”
I continued my walk toward the wall.At no time did I see or hear anyone.The little prince, however, replied once again:"--Exactly.You will see where my track begins, in the sand.
我继续朝墙走去。我始终没有看到或听到任何人。然而，小王子再次回答说：“——完全正确。”你会在沙子里看到我的足迹从哪里开始。
You have nothing to do but wait for me there.I shall be there tonight."
你只需要在那里等我。我今晚会在那里。”
I was only twenty meters from the wall, and I still saw nothing.
我离墙只有二十米了，但我仍然什么也没看见。
After a silence the little prince spoke again:
沉默之后，小王子再次说道：
"You have good poison? You are sure that it will not make me suffer too long?"
“你有好的毒药吗？你确定它不会让我痛苦太久吗？”
I stopped in my tracks, my heart torn asunder; but still I did not understand.
我停下了脚步，我的心都碎了；但我仍然不明白。
"Now go away," said the little prince. "I want to get down from the wall."
“现在走开，”小王子说。“我想从墙上下来。”
I dropped my eyes, then, to the foot of the wall--and I leaped into the air.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.Even as I was digging into my pocked to get out my revolver I made a running step back.
我随即垂下眼帘，看向墙脚——然后我跳到了空中。就在我面前，面对着小王子，是那些黄色的蛇中的一条，它们只需三十秒就能结束你的生命。就在我伸手进口袋掏出左轮手枪的时候，我后退了一步。
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.
但是，因为我发出的声音，那条蛇像喷泉中垂死的浪花一样，轻松地在沙地上流动，并且毫不慌张地消失在石头堆里，发出轻微的金属声。
I reached the wall just in time to catch my little man in my arms; his face was white as snow.
我及时赶到墙边，一把抱住了我的小人儿；他的脸色像雪一样苍白。
"What does this mean?""Why are you talking with snakes?"
“这是什么意思？”“你为什么和蛇说话？”
I had loosened the golden muffler that he always wore.I had moistened his temples, and had given him some water to drink.And now I did not dare ask him any more questions.He looked at me very gravely, and put his arms around my neck.I felt his heart beating like the heart of a dying bird, shot with someone's rifle . . .
我解开了他一直戴着的金色围巾。我润湿了他的太阳穴，并给他喝了些水。现在我不敢再问他任何问题了。他非常严肃地看着我，把胳膊搂在我的脖子上。我感到他的心脏像一只垂死的鸟的心脏一样跳动，被某人的步枪击中...
"I am glad that you have found what was the matter with your engine," he said. "Now you can go back home--"
“我很高兴你找到了你的发动机出了什么问题，”他说。“现在你可以回家了——”
"How do you know about that?"
“你怎么知道的？”
I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyond anything that I had dared to hope.
我正要告诉他我的工作已经成功了，超出了我敢于希望的任何事情。
He made no answer to my question, but he added:
他没有回答我的问题，但他补充说：
"I, too, am going back home today . . ."
“我也今天要回家了……”
Then, sadly--
然后，悲伤地——
"It is much farther . . . It is much more difficult . . ."
“它要远得多……它要困难得多……”
I realized clearly that something extraordinary was happening.I was holding him close in my arms as if he were a little child; and yet it seemed to me that he was rushing headlong toward an abyss from which I could do nothing to restrain him . . .
我清楚地意识到正在发生一些非同寻常的事情。我把他紧紧地抱在怀里，好像他是个小孩子；但我觉得他正朝着一个深渊猛冲过去，我却无能为力去阻止他……
His look was very serious, like some one lost far away.
他的表情非常严肃，像一个迷失在远方的人。
"I have your sheep. And I have the sheep's box. And I have the muzzle . . ."
“我有你的绵羊。我有绵羊的盒子。我有口套……”
And he gave me a sad smile.
他给了我一个悲伤的微笑。
I waited a long time.I could see that he was reviving little by little.
我等了很久。我看到他一点一点地恢复过来。
"Dear little man," I said to him, "you are afraid . . ."
“亲爱的小家伙，”我对他说，“你害怕了……”
He was afraid, there was no doubt about that.But he laughed lightly.
他很害怕，毫无疑问。但他轻轻地笑了。
"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.And I knew that I could not bear the thought of never hearing that laughter any more.For me, it was like a spring of fresh water in the desert.
我又一次感到自己被某种无法弥补的感觉冻僵了。我知道我无法忍受再也听不到那笑声的想法。对我来说，这就像沙漠里的一股清泉。
"Little man," I said, "I want to hear you laugh again."
“小家伙，”我说，“我想再听你笑一次。”
But he said to me:
但他对我说：
"Tonight, it will be a year . . . My star, then, can be found right above the place where I came to the Earth, a year ago. . ."
“今晚，就满一年了……然后，我的星星，就在一年前我来到地球的地方的正上方……”
"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. . ."
“小家伙，”我说，“告诉我这只是一场噩梦——关于蛇的事情，还有会合地点，还有星星……”
But he did not answer my plea.He said to me, instead:
但他没有回答我的恳求。他反而对我说：
"The thing that is important is the thing that is not seen . .."
“重要的东西是看不见的……”
"Yes, I know . . ."
“是的，我知道……”
"It is just as it is with the flower. If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night. All the stars are a-bloom with flowers . . ."
“花也是如此。如果你爱一朵住在星星上的花，那么在夜晚看天空是甜蜜的。所有的星星都开满了花……”
"Yes, I know . . ."
“是的，我知道……”
"It is just as it is with the water. Because of the pulley, and the rope, what you gave me to drink was like music. You remember--how good it was."
“水也是这样。因为有了滑轮和绳子，你给我喝的东西就像音乐一样。你还记得——它有多好。”
"Yes, I know . . ."
“是的，我知道……”
"And at night you will look up at the stars. Where I live everything is so small that I cannot show you where my star is to be found. It is better, like that. My star will just be one of the stars, for you. And so you will love to watch all the stars in the heavens . . . they will all be your friends. And, besides, I am going to make you a present . . ."
“晚上你将会仰望星星。我住的地方一切都很小，我无法告诉你我的星星在哪里。那样更好。我的星星对你来说只是星星中的一颗。因此，你将会喜欢观看天空中所有的星星……它们都将是你的朋友。而且，我还要送你一份礼物……”
He laughed again.
他又笑了。
"Ah, little prince, dear little prince! I love to hear that laughter!"
“啊，小王子，亲爱的小王子！我喜欢听那笑声！”
"That is my present. Just that. It will be as it was when we drank the water . . ."
“那就是我的礼物。就是这样。它会像我们喝水时一样……”
"What are you trying to say?"
“你想说什么？”
"All men have the stars," he answered, "but they are not the same things for different people.For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides.For others they are no more than little lights in the sky.For others, who are scholars, they are problems.For my businessman they were wealth.
“所有人都有星星，”他回答说，“但对于不同的人来说，它们不是相同的东西。对于一些旅行者来说，星星是向导。对于另一些人来说，它们只不过是天空中的小光点。对于另一些学者来说，它们是难题。对我的商人来说，它们就是财富。
But all these stars are silent.You--you alone--will have the stars as no one else has them--"
但是所有这些星星都是沉默的。你——只有你——才会拥有星星，就像其他人从未拥有过它们一样——"
"What are you trying to say?"
“你想说什么？”
"In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You--only you--will have stars that can laugh!"
“我将生活在其中的一颗星星上。我将在其中的一颗星星上欢笑。因此，当你晚上仰望天空时，所有的星星都会像在欢笑一样……你——只有你——才会拥有会笑的星星！”
And he laughed again.
然后他又笑了。
"And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me.You will always be my friend.You will want to laugh with me.
“当你的悲伤得到慰藉（时间会抚平所有的悲伤）时，你会因为认识我而感到满足。你永远是我的朋友。你会想和我一起笑。
And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure . . .And your friends will be properly astonished to see you laughing as you look up at the sky!Then you will say to them, 'Yes, the stars always make me laugh!'And they will think you are crazy.It will be a very shabby trick that I shall have played on you . . ."
有时你会打开你的窗户，为了那种快乐……你的朋友们会非常惊讶地看到你仰望天空时在欢笑！然后你会对他们说，“是的，星星总是让我发笑！”他们会认为你疯了。这将是我对你耍的一个非常卑鄙的把戏……"
And he laughed again.
然后他又笑了。
"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 . . ."
“那就好像，我没有给你星星，而是给了你许多会笑的小铃铛……”
And he laughed again.
他又笑了。
Then he quickly became serious:
然后他很快变得严肃起来：
"Tonight--you know . . . Do not come."
“今晚——你知道……不要来。”
"I shall not leave you," I said.
“我不会离开你的，”我说。
"I shall look as if I were suffering.I shall look a little as if I were dying.It is like that.Do not come to see that.It is not worth the trouble . . ."
我会看起来好像我在受苦。我会看起来有点像快要死了。就是那样。不要来看那个。不值得费这个事……
"I shall not leave you."
“我不会离开你的。”
But he was worried.
但他很担心。
"I tell you--it is also because of the snake. He must not bite you. Snakes--they are malicious creatures. This one might bite you just for fun . . ."
“我告诉你——这也是因为那条蛇。它一定不能咬你。蛇——它们是恶毒的生物。这条蛇可能只是为了好玩而咬你……”
"I shall not leave you."
“我不会离开你的。”
But a thought came to reassure him:
但是一个想法让他安心：
"It is true that they have no more poison for a second bite."
“的确，它们没有更多的毒液来第二次咬了。”
That night I did not see him set out on his way.He got away from me without making a sound.When I succeeded in catching up with him he was walking along with a quick and resolute step.He said to me merely:
那天晚上我没有看到他出发。他一声不响地离开了。当我成功赶上他时，他正迈着快速而坚决的步伐走着。他只是对我说：
"Ah! You are there . . ."
“啊！你在这儿……”
And he took me by the hand.But he was still worrying.
他握住了我的手。但他仍然很担心。
"It was wrong of you to come. You will suffer. I shall look as if I were dead; and that will not be true . . ."
“你不该来。你会受苦的。我会看起来好像我死了；那将不是真的……”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
"You understand . . . it is too far. I cannot carry this body with me. It is too heavy."
“你明白……太远了。我不能带着这具身体。它太重了。”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
"But it will be like an old abandoned shell. There is nothing sad about old shells . . ."
“但它会像一个被遗弃的旧贝壳。旧贝壳没有什么可悲的……”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
He was a little discouraged.But he made one more effort:
他有点沮丧。但他又做了一次努力：
"You know, it will be very nice. I, too, shall look at the stars. All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley. All the stars will pour out fresh water for me to drink . . ."
“你知道，那会非常好的。我也要看看星星。所有的星星都会是带着生锈滑轮的水井。所有的星星都会倾泻出新鲜的水给我喝……”
I said nothing.
我什么也没说。
"That will be so amusing!You will have five hundred million little bells, and I shall have five hundred million springs of fresh water . . .
“那会非常有趣的！你将有五亿个小铃铛，我将有五亿个新鲜水源……
And he too said nothing more, becuase he was crying . . .
他也什么也没说，因为他在哭泣……
"Here it is. Let me go on by myself."
“就是这儿了。让我自己走吧。”
And he sat down, because he was afraid.Then he said, again:
他坐了下来，因为他害怕了。然后他又说：
"You know--my flower . . . I am responsible for her. And she is so weak! She is so naïve! She has four thorns, of no use at all, to protect herself against all the world . . ."
“你知道吗——我的花……我得对她负责。她是那么的柔弱！她是那么的天真！她只有四根刺，根本没用，用来保护自己对抗整个世界……”
I too sat down, because I was not able to stand up any longer.
我也坐了下来，因为我再也站不住了。
"There now--that is all . . ."
“好了——就这样吧……”
He still hesitated a little; then he got up.He took one step.
他仍然犹豫了一下；然后他站了起来。他迈出了一步。
I could not move.
我动不了了。
There was nothing but a flash of yellow close to his ankle.
只见一道黄光闪过，靠近他的脚踝。
He remained motionless for an instant.He did not cry out.
他一动不动地站了一会儿。他没有叫喊出来。
He fell as gently as a tree falls.There was not even any sound, because of the sand.
他像树倒下一样轻轻地倒下了。因为有沙子，甚至没有任何声音。