Little Prince Episode 2 (英语版磨耳朵)

大人们劝我不要再画大蟒蛇了，还是专心学地理、历史、算术和语法吧。就这样，我六岁时放弃了画家生涯。

Thegrown­ups‘ response, this time, was to advise me to lay aside my drawings ofboa constrictors, whether from the inside or the outside, and devote myselfinstead to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar.That is why, at the ageof six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter.

画作第1号和第2号的挫折，让我泄了气。大人们自己什么也弄不懂，却要孩子们一遍一遍地解释，真够累人的……

Ihad been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my DrawingNumber Two. Grown­ups never understand anything by themselves, and it istiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.

我只好另选职业。我学会了驾驶飞机。世界各地，我差不多都去过。的确，地理对我很有用。只要看一眼，我就能认出，哪里是中国，哪里是亚利桑那。如果夜里迷航了，这很管用。

Sothen I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown alittle over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been veryuseful to me. At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one getslost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.

 在我的生活中，我同很多严肃的人打过很多的交道。在大人们中间，我经历了很多。我就近观察他们。不过，我对他们的印象，没有多大改变。

Inthe course of this life I have had a great many encounters with a great manypeople who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived agreat deal among grown­ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. Andthat hasn‘t much improved my opinion of them.

碰到稍微聪明一点的大人，我会拿出一直保存着的画作第1号给他看。我想知道他能不能看懂。但大人总是这么回答我：“这是一顶帽子。” 

WheneverI met one of them who seemed to me at all clear­sighted, I tried the experimentof showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try tofind out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was,he, or she, would always say:"That is a hat."

所以，我就懒得跟他说大蟒蛇、原始森林或者星星了。我只好说一些他能懂的事情。我跟他说桥、高尔夫、政治或者领带。大人就挺满意，觉得认识了一个正常人……

Then I would nevertalk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. Iwould bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, andgolf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown­up would be greatly pleased tohave met such a sensible man.