pp. 44-46
----------------
I believed that he wasn’t going to return ever.  But all of these daily workers looked extremely pleasant that morning.  And when he watered for the last time the flower, and he began to put it protected from his world, he discovered that he had wishes to weep over.

“Good-bye,” he said to the flower.

But the flower did not answer him.

“Good-bye,” he repeated.

The flower coughed.  But not because of the cold.

“I have been foolish,” he said finally.  “I beg pardon, I strive to be happy.”

He remained surprised by the absence of reproaches.  He stayed there, baffled, with the globe in his hand.  He didn’t understand that gentle tranquillity.

“But, yes, I love you,” said the flower.  “You have learned nothing, by my fault.  It’s not important.  But you have been too foolish like me.  I strive to be happy. . . Abandon the world in peace.  I do not want it any more.”

“But the wind. . .”

“I am as cold as for . . . The brisk night air will make me well.  I am a flower.”

“But the animals. . .”

“It’s necessary that it support two or three caterpillars if I want to know the butterflies.  It seems that it is so beautiful!  If not, who will have visited me?  You will be far.  As for the large animals, I do not fear them.  I have my thorns.”

And he ingenuously showed his four thorns.  Afterwards he added, “Do not detain yourself any more, it is disturbing.  You have decided to part.  Go.”

Then it didn’t want him to see it crying.  It was a very proud flower.

10

He found himself in the region of the 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, and 330th asteroids.  He started, then, to visit them in order to look for an occupation and in order to instruct himself.

The first was inhabited by a king.  The king, dressed in purple and ermine, was seated in a very simple but nevertheless majestic throne.

“Ah!  There is a subject here,” exclaimed the king when he saw the little prince.

And the little prince questioned him, “How can you recognize me if you have never seen me before?”

He didn’t know that, for kings, the world is very simplified.  All men are subjects.

“Come closer so that I can see you better,” said the king who was proud to finally be the king of someone.

The prince looked with a glance for a place where to sit, but the planet was totally covered by the magnificent cloak of ermine.  He remained, then, standing and as if he war tired, yawned.

“It’s contrary to protocol to yawn in the presence of a king,” said the monarch, “I prohibit it.”

“I can’t stop it,” responded the confused little prince.  “I have made a long trip and have not slept. . .”

“Then,” said the king, “I order you to yawn.  I have not seen anyone yawn in years.  Yawns are a curiosity for me.  Let’s go! Yawn again.  It’s an order.”

“That intimidates me. . . I can’t,” said the little prince turning red.

“Hum!  Hum!”  replied the king.  “Then I order you yawn or don’t ya?”

He sputtered a bit and looked irritated.

The king essentially demanded his authority was respected.  And he didn’t tolerate disobedience.  He was an absolute monarch.  But, like a very good one, he gave reasonable orders.

“If I order, “he said commonly, “if I order a general to transform into a sea bird and if the general does not obey, it is not the fault of the general.  It is my own fault.”
------------