英中英29_My flower is ephemeral_林_乐明无念

"But you-- you come from far away! You are an explorer! You shalldescribe your planet to me!"And, having opened his big register, the geographer sharpened his pencil.The recitals of explorers are put down first in pencil. One waits until theexplorer has furnished proofs, before putting them down in ink."Well?" said the geographer expectantly."Oh, where I live," said the little prince, "it is not veryinteresting. It is all so small. I have three volcanoes. Two volcanoes areactive and the other is extinct. But one never knows.""One never knows," said the geographer."I have also a flower.""We do not record flowers," said the geographer."Why is that? The flower is the most beautiful thing on myplanet!""We do not record them," said the geographer, "because theyare ephemeral.""What does that mean-- 'ephemeral'?""Geographies," said the geographer, "are the books which,of all books, are most concerned with matters of consequence. They never becomeold-fashioned. It is very rarely that a mountain changes its position. It isvery rarely that an ocean empties itself of its waters. We write of eternalthings.""But extinct volcanoes may come to life again," the littleprince interrupted. "What does that mean-- 'ephemeral'?""Whether volcanoes are extinct or alive, it comes to the same thingfor us," said the geographer. "The thing that matters to us is themountain. It does not change.""But what does that mean-- 'ephemeral'?" repeated the littleprince, who never in his life had let go of a question, once he had asked it."It means, 'which is in danger of speedy disappearance.'""Is my flower in danger of speedy disappearance?""Certainly it is.""My flower is ephemeral," the little prince said to himself,"and she has only four thorns to defend herself against the world. And Ihave left her on my planet, all alone!"That was his first moment of regret. But he took courage once more."What place would you advise me to visit now?" he asked."The planet Earth," replied the geographer. "It has a goodreputation."Andthe little prince went away, thinking of his flower.