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〃Whether volcanoes are extinct or alive； it es to the same thing for us；〃 said the geographer。 〃The thing that matters to us is the mountain。 It does not change。〃
〃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。
〃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 I have left her on my pla； 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 pla Earth；〃 replied the geographer。 〃It has a good reputation。〃
And the little prince went away； thinking of his flower。
＇ Chapter 16 ＇
the narrator discusses the Earth‘s lamplighters
So then the seventh pla was the Earth。
The Earth is not just an ordinary pla！ One can count； there 111 kings （not fetting； to be sure； the Negro kings among them）； 7000 geographers； 900；000 businessmen； 7；500；000 tipplers； 311；000；000 conceited men that is to say； about 2；000；000；000 grownups。
To give you an idea of the size of the Earth； I will tell you that before the invention of electricity it was necessary to maintain； over the whole of the six continents； a veritable army of 462；511 lamplighters for the street lamps。
Seen from a slight distance； that would make a splendid spectacle。 The movements of this army would be regulated like those of the ballet in the opera。 First would e the turn of the lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia。 Having set their lamps alight； these would go off to sleep。 Next； the lamplighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance； and then they too would be waved back into the wings。 After that would e the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and the Indies； then those of Africa and Europe； then those of South America； then those of South America； then those of North America。 And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage。 It would be magnificent。
Only the man who was in charge of the single lamp at the North Pole； and his colleague who was responsible for the single lamp at the South Pole only these two would live free from toil and care： they would be busy twice a year。
＇ Chapter 17 ＇
the little prince makes the acquaintance of the snake
When one wishes to play the wit； he sometimes wanders a little from the truth。 I have not been altogether honest in what I have told you about the lamplighters。 And I realize that I run the risk of giving a false idea of our pla to those who do not k now it。 Men occupy a very small place upon the Earth。 If the two billion inhabitants who people its surface were all to stand upright and somewhat crowded together； as they do for some big public assembly； they could easily be put into one public square twenty miles long and twenty miles wide。 All humanity could be piled up on a small Pacific islet。
The grownups； to be sure； will not believe you when you tell them that。 They imagine that they fill a great deal of space。 They fancy themselves as important as the baobabs。 You should advise them； then； to make their own calculations。 They adore fig ures； and that will please them。 But do not waste your time on this extra task。 It is unnecessary。 You have； I know； confidence in me。
When the little prince arrived on the Earth； he was very much surprised not to see any people。 He was beginning to be afraid he had e to the wrong pla； when a coil of gold； the color of the moonlight； flashed across the sand。
〃Good evening；〃 said the little prince courteously。
〃Good evening；〃 said the snake。
〃What pla is this on which I have e down？〃 asked the little prince。
〃This is the Earth； this is Africa；〃 the snake answered。
〃Ah！ Then there are no people on the Earth？〃
〃This is the desert。 There are no people in the desert。 The Earth is large；〃 said the snake。
The little prince sat down on a stone； and raised his eyes toward the sky。
〃I wonder；〃 he said； 〃whether the stars are set alight in heaven so that one day each one of us may find his own again。。。 Look at my pla。 It is right there above us。 But how far away it is！〃
〃It is beautiful；〃 the snake said。 〃What has brought you here？〃
〃I have been having some trouble with a flower；〃 said the little prince。
〃Ah！〃 said the snake。
And they were both silent。
〃Where are the men？〃 the little prince at last took up the conversation again。 〃It is a little lonely in the desert。。。〃
〃It is also lonely among men；〃 the snake said。
The little prince gazed at him for a long time。
〃You are a funny animal；〃 he said at last。 〃You are no thicker than a finger。。。〃
〃But I am more powerful than the finger of a king；〃 said the snake。
The little prince smiled。
〃You are not very powerful。 You haven‘t even any feet。 You cannot even travel。。。〃
〃I can carry you farther than any ship could take you；〃 said the snake。
He twined himself around the little prince‘s ankle； like a golden bracelet。
〃Whomever I touch； I send back to the earth from whence he came；〃 the snake spoke again。 〃But you are innocent and true； and you e from a star。。。〃
The little prince made no reply。
〃You move me to pity you are so weak on this Earth made of granite；〃 the snake said。 〃I can help you； some day； if you grow too homesick for your own pla。 I can〃
〃Oh！ I understand you very well；〃 said the little prince。 〃But why do you always speak in riddles？〃
〃I solve them all；〃 said the snake。
And they were both silent。
＇ Chapter 18 ＇
the little prince goes looking for men and meets a flower
The little prince crossed the desert and met with only one flower。 It was a flower with three petals； a flower of no account at all。
〃Good morning；〃 said the little prince。
〃Good morning；〃 said the flower。
〃Where are the men？〃 the little prince asked； politely。
The flower had once seen a caravan passing。
〃Men？〃 she echoed。 〃I think there are six or seven of them in existence。 I saw them； several years ago。 But one never knows where to find them。 The wind blows them away。 They have no roots； and that makes their life very difficult。〃
〃Goodbye；〃 said the little prince。
〃Goodbye；〃 said the flower。
＇ Chapter 19 ＇
the little prince climbs a mountain range
After that； the little prince climbed a high mountain。 The only mountains he had ever known were the three volcanoes； which came up to his knees。 And he used the extinct volcano as a footstool。 〃From a mountain as high as this one；〃 he said to himself； 〃I shall be able to see the whole pla at one glance； and all the people。。。〃
But he saw nothing； save peaks of rock that were sharpened like needles。
〃Good morning；〃 he said courteously。
〃Good morningGood morningGood morning；〃 answered the echo。
〃Who are you？〃 said the little prince。
〃Who are youWho are youWho are you？〃 answered the echo。
〃Be my friends。 I am all alone；〃 he said。
〃I am all aloneall aloneall alone；〃 answered the echo。
〃What a queer pla！〃 he thought。 〃It is altogether dry； and altogether pointed； and altogether harsh and forbidding。 And the people have no imagination。 They repeat whatever one says to them。。。 On my pla I had a flower； she always was the first to speak。。。〃
＇ Chapter 20 ＇
the little prince discovers a garden of roses
But it happened that after walking for a long time through sand； and rocks； and snow； the little prince at last came upon a road。 And all roads lead to the abodes of men。
〃Good morning；〃 he said。
He was standing before a garden； all abloom with roses。
〃Good morning；〃 said the roses。
The little prince gazed at them。 They all looked like his flower。
〃Who are you？〃 he demanded； thunderstruck。
〃We are roses；〃 the roses said。
And he was overe with sadness。 His flower had told him that she was the only one of her kind in all the universe。 And here were five thousand of them； all alike； in one single garden！
〃She would be very much annoyed；〃 he said to himself； 〃if she should see that。。。 she would cough most dreadfully； and she would pretend that she was dying； to avoid being laughed at。 And I should be obliged to pretend that I was nursing her back to life for if I did not do that； to humble myself also； she would really allow herself to die。。。〃
Then he went on with his reflections： 〃I thought that I was rich； with a flower that was unique in all the world； and all I had was a mon rose。 A mon rose； and three volcanoes that e up to my knees and one of them perhaps extinct forever。。。 that doesn‘t make me a very great prince。。。〃
And he lay down in the grass and cried。
＇ Chapter 21 ＇
the little prince befriends the fox
It was then that the fox appeared。
〃Good morning；〃 said the fox。
〃Good morning；〃 the little prince responded politely； although when he turned around he saw nothing。
〃I am right here；〃 the voice said； 〃under the apple tree。〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked the little prince； and added； 〃You are very prett