"What is a rite?" asked the little prince.
“仪式是什么?”小王子问道。
"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.
“这也是一种早已被人忘却了的事。”狐狸说,“它就是使某一天与其他日子不同,使某一时刻与其他时刻不同。
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.
比如说,我的那些猎人就有一种仪式。他们每星期四都和村子里的姑娘们跳舞。于是,星期四就是一个美好的日子!我可以一直散步到葡萄园去。
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."
如果猎人们什么时候都跳舞,天天又全都一样,那么我也就没有假日了。”
So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near--
就这样,小王子驯服了狐狸。当出发的时刻就快要来到时:
"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."
“啊!”狐狸说,“我一定会哭的。”
"It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you..."
“这是你的过错,”小王子说,“我本来并不想给你任何痛苦,可你却要我驯服你…”
"Yes, that is so," said the fox.
“是这样的。”狐狸说。
"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.
“你可就要哭了!”小王子说。
"Yes, that is so," said the fox.
“当然罗。”狐狸说。
"Then it has done you no good at all!"
“那么你什么好处也没得到。”
"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields." And then he added.
“由于麦子颜色的缘故,我还是得到了好处。”狐狸说。 然后,他又接着说。