16.The little prince

The seventh planet, then, was Earth.
Earth is no ordinary planet! It has on it one hundred and eleven kings (without, of course, leaving out
black kings), seven thousand geographers, nine hundred thousand industrialists, seven and a half million drunkards, three hundred and
One million vain lovers, that is to say, about two billion adults.
To give you an idea of the size of the earth, I want to tell you that before the invention of electricity, on
six continents, it was necessary to maintain a real army of four hundred and sixty-two million five hundred and eleven people in order to light the street lamps.
a large army.
From a little distance, it gives the impression of magnificent splendour. This army moves like
The movements of this army were as methodical as the ballet movements of an opera house. First to appear were the New Zealand and Australian lamplighters
The lamplighters. The lights were lit and then they went to bed. Then it was the turn of the Chinese and Siberian lamplighters to come on stage.
On stage. Then they too went behind the curtain. Then it was the turn of the Russian and Indian lamplighters
Then it was the turn of the Russian and Indian lamplighters. Then it was Africa and Europe. Then came the South American ones, and then the North American ones. They never get
They never get the order of their appearance wrong. It's remarkable.
There is only one street lamp at the North Pole and one at the South Pole; only the lamplighter at the North Pole and his counterpart at the South Pole lead an idle, lazy life: they only work twice a year.
译文：
第七个行星，于是就是地球了。
地球可不是一颗普通的行星！它上面有一百一十一个国王（当然，没有漏掉
黑人国王），七千个地理学家，九十万个实业家，七百五十万个酒鬼，三亿一千
一百万个爱虚荣的人，也就是说，大约有二十亿的大人。
为了使你们对地球的大小有一个概念，我想要告诉你们：在发明电之前，在
六的大洲上，为了点路灯，需要维持一支为数四十六万二千五百一十一人的真正
大军。
从稍远的地方看过去，它给人以一种壮丽辉煌的印象。这支军队的行动就象
歌剧院的芭蕾舞动作一样，那么有条不紊。首先出现的是新西兰和澳大利亚的点
灯人。点着了灯，随后他们就去睡觉了。于是就轮到中国和西伯利亚的点灯人走
上舞台。随后，他们也藏到幕布后面去了。于是就又轮到俄罗斯和印度的点灯人
了。然后就是非洲和欧洲的。接着是南美的，再就是北美的。他们从来也不会搞
错他们上场的次序。真了不起。
北极仅有一盏路灯，南极也只有一盏；唯独北极的点灯人和他南极的同行，过着闲逸、懒散的生活：他们每年只工作两次。