Ⅻ

小王子所访问的下一个星球上住着一个酒鬼。访问时间非常短，可是它却使小王子非常忧伤。

“你在干什么？”小王子问酒鬼，这个酒鬼默默地坐在那里，面前有一堆酒瓶子，有的装着酒，有的是空的。

“我喝酒。”他阴沉忧郁地回答道。

“你为什么喝酒？”小王子问道。

“为了忘却。”酒鬼回答。

小王子已经有些可怜酒鬼。他问道：“忘却什么呢？”

酒鬼垂下脑袋坦白道：“为了忘却我的羞愧。”

“你羞愧什么呢？”小王子很想救助他。

“我羞愧我喝酒。”酒鬼说完以后就再也不开口了。

小王子迷惑不解地离开了。

在旅途中，他自言自语地说道：“这些大人确实真叫怪。”

[ Chapter 12 ] - the little prince visits the tippler

The next planet was inhabited by a tippler. This was a very short visit, but it plunged the little prince into deep dejection.

"What are you doing there?" he said to the tippler, whom he found settled down in silence before a collection of empty bottles and also a collection of full bottles.

"I am drinking," replied the tippler, with a lugubrious air.

"Why are you drinking?" demanded the little prince.

"So that I may forget," replied the tippler.

"Forget what?" inquired the little prince, who already was sorry for him.

"Forget that I am ashamed," the tippler confessed, hanging his head.

"Ashamed of what?" insisted the little prince, who wanted to help him.

"Ashamed of drinking!" The tippler brought his speech to an end, and shut himself up in an impregnable silence.

And the little prince went away, puzzled.

"The grown-ups are certainly very, very odd," he said to himself, as he continued on his journey.