"But extinct volcanoes may come to life again," the little prince interrupted. "What does that mean-- 'ephemeral'?"
“但是熄灭的火山也可能会再复苏的。”小王子打断了地理学家。“什么叫短暂?”
"Whether volcanoes are extinct or alive, it comes to the same thing for us," said the geographer. "The thing that matters to us is the mountain. It does not change."
“火山是熄灭了的也好,苏醒的也好,这对我们这些人来讲都是一回事。”?地理学家说,“对我们来说,重要的是山。山是不会变换位置的。”
"But what does that mean-- 'ephemeral'?" repeated the little prince, who never in his life had let go of a question, once he had asked it.
“但是,‘短暂’是什么意思?”小王子再三地问道。他一旦提出一个问题是从不放过的。
"It means, 'which is in danger of speedy disappearance.'"
“意思就是:有很快就会消失的危险。”
"Is my flower in danger of speedy disappearance?"
“我的花是很快就会消失的吗?”
"Certainly it is."
“那当然。”
"My flower is ephemeral," the little prince said to himself, "and she has only four thorns to defend herself against the world. And I have left her on my planet, all alone!"
小王子自言自语地说:“我的花是短暂的,而且她只有四根刺来防御外侮!可我还把她独自留在家里!”
That was his first moment of regret. But he took courage once more.
这是他第一次产生了后悔,但他又重新振作起来:
"What place would you advise me to visit now?" he asked.
“您是否能建议我去看些什么?”小王子问道。
"The planet Earth," replied the geographer. "It has a good reputation."
“地球这颗行星,”地理学家回答他说,“它的名望很高…”
And the little prince went away, thinking of his flower.
于是小王子就走了,他一边走一边想着他的花。