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ChapterSothentheseventhplanetwastheEarth.TheEarthisnotjustanordinaryplanet!Onecancount,there111kings(notforgetting,tobesure,theNegrokingsamongthem),7,000geographers,900,000businessmen,7,500,000tipplers,311,000,000conceitedmen—thatistosay,about2,000,000,000grown-ups.TogiveyouanideaofthesizeoftheEarth,Iwilllyouthatbeforetheinventionofelectricityitwasnecessarytomaintain,overthewholeofthesixcontinentsaveritable(名副其實的armyof462,511lamplightersforthestreetSeenfromaslightdistance,thatwouldmakeasplendidThemovementsofthisarmywouldberegulatedlikethoseoftheballetintheFirstwouldcometheturnofthelamplightersofNewZealandandAustralia.Havingsettheirlampsalight,thesewouldgoofftosleep.Next,thelamplightersofChinaandSiberiawouldenterfortheirstepsinthedance,andthentheytoowouldbewavedbackintothewings.AfterthatwouldcometheturnofthelamplightersofRussiaandtheIndies;thenthoseofAfricaandEurope,thenthoseofSouthAmerica;thenthoseofNorthAndneverwouldtheymakeamistakeintheorderoftheirentryuponthestage.Itwouldbemagnificent.OnlythemanwhowasinchargeofthesinglelampattheNorthPole,andhiscolleaguewhowasresponsibleforthesinglelampattheSouthPole—onlythesetwowouldlivefreefromtoil(辛苦工作)andcare:theywouldbebusytwiceaWhenonewishestoplaythewit,hesometimeswandersalittlefromtheIhavenotbeenaltogetherhonestinwhatIhavetoldyouabouttheAndIrealizethatIruntheriskofgivingafalseideaofourplanettothosewhodonotknowit.MenoccupyaverysmallplaceupontheIfthetwobillioninhabitantswhopeopleitssurfacewerealltostanduprightandsomewhatcrowdedtogether,astheydoforsomebigpublicassembly,theycouldeasilybeputintoonepublicsquaretwentylongandtwentywide.AllhumanitycouldbepileduponasmallPacificislet(小島Thegrown-ups,tobesure,willnotbelieveyouwhenyoulthemthat.Theyimaginethattheyfillagreatdealofspace.TheyfancythemselvesasimportantastheYoushouldadvisethem,then,tomaketheirowncalculations.Theyadorefigures,andthatwillpleasethem.Butdonotwasteyourtimeonthisextratask.Itisunnecessary.Youhave,Iknow,confidenceinme.WhenthelittleprincearrivedontheEarth,hewasverymuchsurprisednottoseeanypeople.Hewasbeginningtobeafraidhehadcometothewrongplanet,whenacoilofgold,thecolorofthemoonlight,flashedacrossthesand.“Goodevening,”saidthelittleprincecourteously.“Goodevening,”saidthesnake.“WhichplanetisthisonwhichIhavecomedown?”askedthelittleprince.“ThisistheEarth;thisisAfrica,”thesnakeanswered.“Ah!Thentherearenopeopleonthe“Thisisthedesert.Therearenopeopleinthedesert.TheEarthislarge,”saidtheThelittleprincesatdownonastone,andraisedhiseyestowardthe“Iwonder,”hesaid,“whetherthestarsaresetalightinheavensothatonedayeachoneofusmayfindhisownagain...Lookatmyplanet.Itisrightthereaboveus.Buthowfarawayitis!”“Itisbeautiful,”thesnakesaid.“Whathasbroughtyouhere?”“Ihavebeenhavingsometroublewithaflower,”saidthelittleprince.“Ah!”saidthesnake.Andtheywereboth“Wherearethemen?”thelittleprinceatlasttookuptheconversationagain.“Itisalittlelonelyinthedesert...”“Itisalsolonelyamongmen,”thesnakesaid.Thelittleprincegazedathimforalongtime.“Youareafunnyanimal,”hesaidatlast.“Youarenothickerthana“ButIammorepowerfulthanthefingerofaking,”saidthesnake.Thelittleprincesd.“Youarenotverypowerful.Youhaven’tevenanyfeet.Youcannoteven“Icancarryyoufartherthananyshipcouldtakeyou,”saidthesnake.Hetwinedhimselfaroundthelittleprince’sankle,likeagoldenbracelet.“WhomeverItouch,Isendbacktotheearthfromwhence(何處hecamethesnakespokeagain.“Butyouareinnocentandtrue,andyoucomefromastar...”Thelittleprincemadenoreply.“Youmovemetopity—youaresoweakonthisEarthmadeofgranite,”thesnake“Icanhelpyou,s