英中英45_the song of the pulley_林_乐明无念

[ Chapter 25 ] - finding a well, the narratorand the little prince discuss his return to hisplanet       "Men," said the little prince, "set out on their way inexpress trains, but they do not know what they are looking for. Then they rushabout, and get excited, and turn round and round..."And he added:"It is not worth the trouble..."The well that we had come to was not like the wells of the Sahara. Thewells of the Sahara are mere holes dug in the sand. This one was like a well ina village. But there was no village here, and I thought I must be dreaming..."It is strange," I said to the little prince. "Everythingis ready for use: the pulley, the bucket, the rope..."He laughed, touched the rope, and set the pulley to working. And thepulley moaned, like an old weathervane which the wind has long since forgotten."Do you hear?" said the little prince. "We have wakened thewell, and it is singing..."I did not want him to tire himself with the rope."Leave it to me," I said. "It is too heavy for you."I hoisted the bucket slowly to the edge of the well and set it there--happy, tired as I was, over my achievement. The song of the pulley was still inmy ears, and I could see the sunlight shimmer in the still trembling water."I am thirsty for this water," said the little prince."Give me some of it to drink..."And I understood what he had been looking for.Iraised the bucket to his lips. He drank, his eyes closed. It was as sweet assome special festival treat. This water was indeed a different thing fromordinary nourishment. Its sweetness was born of the walk under the stars, thesong of the pulley, the effort of my arms. It was good for the heart, like apresent. When I was a little boy, the lights of the Christmas tree, the musicof the Midnight Mass, the tenderness of smiling faces, used to make up, so, theradiance of the gifts I received.