By Antoine de Saint-Exupery
作者:安东尼·德·圣-埃克苏佩里
To Leon Werth
I ask the indulgence of the children who may read this book for dedicating it to a grown-up.
I have a serious reason: he is the best friend I have in the world.
I have another reason: this grown-up understands everything, even books about children.
I have a third reason: he lives in France where he is hungry and cold. He needs cheering up.
If all these reasons are not enough, I will dedicate the book to the child from whom this grown-up grew.
All grown-ups were once children-- although few of them remember it.
And so I correct my dedication:
To Leon Werth when he was a little boy
译文:献给列翁·维尔特
请孩子们原谅我把这本书献给了一个大人。
我有一个正当的理由:这个大人是我在世界上最好的朋友。
我另有一个理由:这个大人什么都懂,即使写给孩子们看的书也懂。
我还有第三个理由:这个大人住在法国,忍冻挨饿,他很需要有人安慰。
要是这些理由还不够充分,我愿意把这本书献给童年时代的他。
每个大人曾经都是孩子,然而,记得这事的又有几个呢?
因此,我把献词改为:
献给童年时代的列翁·维尔特