此時(shí)，跑來(lái)了一只狐貍。
“你好?！焙傉f(shuō)。
“你好?！毙⊥踝雍苡卸Y貌地回答。他轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身，卻什么也沒(méi)見(jiàn)到。
“我在這兒，我是說(shuō)，蘋果樹下?！?br/>
“你是誰(shuí)？”小王子說(shuō)，“你很漂亮。”
“我是一只狐貍?！焙傉f(shuō)。
“來(lái)和我一起玩吧？”小王子建議，“我是如此的悲傷……”
“我不能和你一起玩，”狐貍說(shuō)，“我還沒(méi)有被馴服呢?！?br/>
“??！真對(duì)不起?！毙⊥踝诱f(shuō)。
思索了一會(huì)兒，他又說(shuō)道：
“什么叫‘馴服’呀？”
“你不是這里人?！焙傉f(shuō)，“你來(lái)尋找什么？”
“我來(lái)找人?！毙⊥踝诱f(shuō)，“什么叫‘馴服’呢？”
“人，”狐貍說(shuō)，“他們有槍，他們還打獵，這真礙事！他們也飼養(yǎng)雞，這些就是他們?nèi)颗d趣，你是來(lái)尋找雞的嗎？”
“不，”小王子說(shuō)，“我是來(lái)找朋友的。什么叫‘馴服’呢？”
“這是常常被忽略的事情，”狐貍說(shuō)，“它的意思就是‘建立聯(lián)系’。”
“建立聯(lián)系？”
“一點(diǎn)不錯(cuò)，”狐貍說(shuō)，“對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，你無(wú)非是個(gè)小男孩，就和其他千萬(wàn)個(gè)小男孩一樣。我不需要你，你也同樣不需要我。對(duì)你來(lái)說(shuō)，我也不過(guò)是一只狐貍，和其他千萬(wàn)只狐貍一樣。但是，如果你馴服了我，我們就互相不可缺少了。對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，你就是世界上唯一的了，我對(duì)你來(lái)說(shuō)也是世界上唯一的了?！?br/>
“我有點(diǎn)明白了?！毙⊥踝诱f(shuō)，“有一朵花……我想，她把我馴服了……”
“這是可能的。”狐貍說(shuō)，“地球上什么樣的事都可能看到……”
“哦，這不是在地球上的事?！毙⊥踝诱f(shuō)。
狐貍感到迷惑，但卻十分好奇。
“在另一個(gè)星球上？”
“是的?！?br/>
“在那個(gè)星球上，有獵人嗎？”
“沒(méi)有?！?br/>
“這很有意思。那么，有雞嗎？”
“沒(méi)有。”
“沒(méi)有十全十美的。”狐貍嘆息地說(shuō)道。
狐貍又把話題拉回來(lái)：
“我的生活很單調(diào)。我捕捉雞，而人又獵殺我。所有的雞全都一樣，所有的人也全都一樣。因此，我感到有些厭煩了。但是，如果你要是馴服了我，我的生活將充滿陽(yáng)光。我會(huì)辨認(rèn)出一種與眾不同的腳步聲。別人的腳步聲會(huì)使我躲到地下去，而你的腳步聲就會(huì)像音樂(lè)一樣讓我從洞里走出來(lái)。再說(shuō)，你看！你看到那邊的麥田嗎？我不吃面包，麥子對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，一點(diǎn)用也沒(méi)有。麥田不會(huì)讓我有任何感想。而這真使人掃興。但是，你有金黃色的頭發(fā)。那么，一旦你馴服了我，這就會(huì)十分美妙。麥子是金黃色的，它就會(huì)使我想起你。到時(shí)，我甚至?xí)矚g那風(fēng)吹麥浪的聲音……”
狐貍久久地看著小王子。
“請(qǐng)你馴服我吧！”他說(shuō)。
“我是很愿意的?！毙⊥踝踊卮鸬?，“可我的時(shí)間不多了。我還要去尋找朋友，還有許多事物要了解?！?br/>
“只有被馴服了的事物，才會(huì)被了解?！焙傉f(shuō)，“人再也不會(huì)花時(shí)間去了解任何東西的。他們總是到商店那里去購(gòu)買現(xiàn)成的東西。因?yàn)槭澜缟线€沒(méi)有購(gòu)買朋友的商店，所以人也就沒(méi)有朋友。如果你想要一個(gè)朋友，那就馴服我吧！”
“那么我應(yīng)當(dāng)做些什么呢？”小王子說(shuō)。
“首先要耐心。”狐貍回答道，“開(kāi)始你就這樣坐在離我稍微遠(yuǎn)些的草叢中。我用眼角偷偷看著你，你什么也不要說(shuō)。語(yǔ)言是誤會(huì)的根源。但是，每天，你要坐得靠我更近些……”
第二天，小王子又來(lái)了。
“最好是在相同的那個(gè)時(shí)間來(lái)?！焙傉f(shuō)，“比如說(shuō)，你下午四點(diǎn)鐘來(lái)，那么從三點(diǎn)鐘起，我就開(kāi)始感到幸福。時(shí)間越臨近，我就越感到幸福。到了四點(diǎn)鐘的時(shí)候，我就會(huì)坐立不安；我應(yīng)該向你展示我有多么開(kāi)心。但是，如果你隨便什么時(shí)候來(lái)，我就不知道在什么時(shí)候該準(zhǔn)備好我的心情……應(yīng)當(dāng)有一定的儀式?！?br/>
“儀式是什么？”小王子問(wèn)道。
“這也是一種常常被忽略的事?！焙傉f(shuō)，“它就是使某一天與其他日子不同，使某一時(shí)刻與其他時(shí)刻不同。比如說(shuō)，那些獵人就有一種儀式。他們每星期四都和村子里的姑娘們跳舞。于是，星期四就是一個(gè)美好的日子！我可以一直散步到葡萄園去。如果獵人們不在固定的時(shí)間跳舞，天天又全都一樣，那么我也就沒(méi)有假日了?！?br/>
就這樣，小王子馴服了狐貍，可是轉(zhuǎn)眼就要分離。
“啊！”狐貍說(shuō)，“我一定會(huì)哭的?！?br/>
“這是你的過(guò)錯(cuò)，”小王子說(shuō)，“我本來(lái)并不想帶給你任何痛苦，可你卻要我馴服你……”
“是的，就是這樣的。”狐貍說(shuō)。
“你還要哭??！”小王子說(shuō)。
“當(dāng)然?！焙傉f(shuō)。
“可是你什么好處也沒(méi)得到。”
“由于麥子的顏色，我得到了好處?！焙傉f(shuō)。
然后，他又接著說(shuō)：
“再去看看那些玫瑰花吧。你一定會(huì)明白，你的那朵是世界上獨(dú)一無(wú)二的玫瑰。你回來(lái)和我告別時(shí)，我再贈(zèng)送給你一個(gè)秘密?！?br/>
于是小王子又去看那些玫瑰。
“你們一點(diǎn)也不像我的那朵玫瑰，你們現(xiàn)在什么都不是呢！”小王子對(duì)她們說(shuō)，“沒(méi)有人馴服過(guò)你們，你們也沒(méi)有馴服過(guò)任何人。你們就像我的狐貍過(guò)去那樣，他那時(shí)只是和千萬(wàn)只別的狐貍一樣的一只狐貍。但是，我和他成了朋友，于是他現(xiàn)在就是世界上獨(dú)一無(wú)二的了?！?br/>
這時(shí)，那些玫瑰花顯得十分難堪。
“你們很美，但你們是空虛的?！毙⊥踝尤匀辉趯?duì)她們說(shuō)，“沒(méi)有人能為你們?nèi)ニ?。?dāng)然，我的那朵玫瑰花，一個(gè)普通的過(guò)路人以為她和你們一樣。可是，她比你們?nèi)考悠饋?lái)更重要，因?yàn)樗俏覞补嗟模驗(yàn)樗俏曳旁诨ㄕ种械?。因?yàn)樗俏矣闷溜L(fēng)保護(hù)起來(lái)的，因?yàn)樗砩系拿x（除了留下兩三只為了變蝴蝶而外）是我除滅的，因?yàn)槲覂A聽(tīng)過(guò)她的怨艾和自詡，甚至有時(shí)我聆聽(tīng)著她的沉默，因?yàn)樗俏业拿倒?。?br/>
他又回到了狐貍身邊。
“再見(jiàn)了。”小王子說(shuō)道。
“再見(jiàn)。”狐貍說(shuō)，“喏，這就是我的秘密。很簡(jiǎn)單：只有用心才能看得清。重要的東西，用眼睛是看不見(jiàn)的?！?br/>
“重要的東西，用眼睛是看不見(jiàn)的?！毙⊥踝又貜?fù)著這句話，以便能把它記在心間。
“正因?yàn)槟銥槟愕拿倒寤ㄙM(fèi)了時(shí)間，這才使你的玫瑰變得如此重要?！?br/>
“正因?yàn)槲覟槲业拿倒寤ㄙM(fèi)了時(shí)間……”小王子又重復(fù)著，要使自己記住這些。
“人們已經(jīng)忘記了這個(gè)道理，”狐貍說(shuō)，“可是，你不應(yīng)該忘記它。你現(xiàn)在要對(duì)你馴服過(guò)的一切負(fù)責(zé)到底。你要對(duì)你的玫瑰負(fù)責(zé)……”
“我要對(duì)我的玫瑰負(fù)責(zé)……”小王子又重復(fù)著……
chapter 21
it was then that the fox appeared.
"good morning," said the fox.
"good morning," the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.
"i am right here," the voice said, "under the apple tree.""who are you" asked the little prince, and added, "you are very pretty to look at.""i am a fox," said the fox.
"come and play with me," proposed the little prince. "i am so unhappy.""i cannot play with you," the fox said. "i am not tamed.""ah! please excuse me," said the little prince.
but, after some thought, he added: "what does that mean— ‘tame'""you do not live here," said the fox. "what is it that you are looking for""i am looking for men," said the little prince. "what does that mean— ‘tame'""men," said the fox. "they have guns, and they hunt. it is very disturbing. they also raise chickens. these are their only interests. are you looking for chickens""no," said the little prince. "i am looking for friends. what does that mean— ‘tame'""it is an act too often neglected," said the fox. it means to establish ties.""to establish ties"
"just that," said the fox. "to me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. and i have no need of you. and you, on your part, have no need of me. to you, i am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. but if you tame me, then we shall need each other. to me, you will be unique in all the world. to you, i shall be unique in all the world...""i am beginning to understand," said the little prince. "there is a flower... i think that she has tamed me...""it is possible," said the fox. "on the earth one sees all sorts of things.""oh, but this is not on the earth!" said the little prince.
the fox seemed perplexed, and very curious.
"on another planet"
"yes."
"are there hunters on this planet""no."
"ah, that is interesting! are there chickens""no."
"nothing is perfect," sighed the fox.
but he came back to his idea.
"my life is very monotonous," the fox said. "i hunt chickens; men hunt me. all the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. and, in consequence, i am a little bored. but if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. i shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. and then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder i do not ea t bread. wheat is of no use to me. the wheat fields have nothing to say to me. and that is sad. but you have hair that is the colour of gold. think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! the grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. and i shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat..."the fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time.
"please— tame me!" he said.
"i want to, very much," the little prince replied. "but i have not much time. i have friends to discover, and a great many things to understand.""one only understands the things that one tames," said the fox. "men have no more time to understand anything. they buy things all ready made at the shops. but there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, 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 you will sit a little closer to me, every day..."the next day the little prince came back.
"it would have been better to come back at the same hour," said the fox. "if, for example, you come 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 come 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 come 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 become 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 forgotten this truth," said the fox. "but you must not forget it. you become 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.