小王子 第38期:什么叫短暫

Why is that? The flower is the most beautiful thing on my planet!

這是為什么?花是最美麗的東西。

"We do not record them," said the geographer, "because they are ephemeral."

我們不記載花卉是因為花卉是短暫的。

What does that mean "ephemeral'?

什么叫短暫?

"Geographies," said the geographer, are the books which, of all books, are most concerned with matters of consequence.

“地理學書籍是所有書中最嚴肅的書。”地理學家說道，

They never become old-fashioned.

這類書是從不會過時的。

It is very rarely that a mountain changes its position.

很少會發(fā)生一座山變換了位置，

It is very rarely that an ocean empties itself of its waters.

很少會出現(xiàn)一個海洋干涸的現(xiàn)象。

We write of eternal things.

我們要寫永恒的東西。

"But extinct volcanoes may come to life again," the little prince interrupted.

“但是熄滅的火山也可能會再復蘇的。”小王子打斷了地理學家。

What does that mean "ephemeral'?

什么叫短暫?

"Whether volcanoes are extinct or alive, it comes to the same thing for us," said the geographer.

“火山是熄滅了的也好，蘇醒的也好，這對我們這些人來講都是一回事。”地理學家說，

The thing that matters to us is the mountain. It does not change.

對我們來說，重要的是山。山是不會變換位置的。

"But what does that mean'ephemeral'?" repeated the little prince,

“但是，‘短暫’是什么意思?”小王子再三地問道。

who never in his life had let go of a question, once he had asked it.

他一旦提出一個問題是從不放過的。

It means, which is in danger of speedy disappearance.

意思就是：有很快就會消失的危險。

Is my flower in danger of speedy disappearance?

我的花是很快就會消失的嗎?

Certainly it is.

那當然。

"My flower is ephemeral," the little prince said to himself, and she has only four thorns to defend herself against the world.

小王子自言自語地說：“我的花是短暫的，而且她只有四根刺來防御外侮!”

And I have left her on my planet, all alone!

可我還把她獨自留在家里!

That was his first moment of regret. But he took courage once more.

這是他第一次產(chǎn)生了后悔，但他又重新振作起來，

"What place would you advise me to visit now?" he asked.

“您是否能建議我去看些什么?”小王子問道。

"The planet Earth," replied the geographer. "It has a good reputation."

“地球這顆行星，”地理學家回答他說，“它的名望很高。”

And the little prince went away, thinking of his flower.

于是小王子就走了，他一邊走一邊想著他的花。