🔊 I believe that for his escape he took advantage of the migration of a flock of wild birds. On the morning of his departure he put his planet in perfect order. He carefully cleaned out his active volcanoes. He possessed two active volcanoes; and they were very convenient for heating his breakfast in the morning. He also had one volcano that was extinct. But, as he said, "One never knows!" So he cleaned out the extinct volcano, too. If they are well cleaned out, volcanoes burn slowly and steadily, without any eruptions. Volcanic eruptions are like fires in a chimney.

I think he used the movement of a group of wild birds to escape. On the morning he left, he made his planet very neat. He carefully cleaned his active volcanoes. He had two active volcanoes; they were very useful for warming his breakfast in the morning. He also had one volcano that was dead. But, as he said, "You never know!" So he cleaned the dead volcano too. If volcanoes are cleaned well, they burn slowly and steadily, without any explosions. Volcanic explosions are like fires in a chimney.

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migration /maɪˈɡreɪʃən/

n. the movement of people or animals from one place to another➕

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departure /dɪˈpɑːtʃə(r)/

n. the act of leaving a place➕

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active volcanoes /ˈæktɪv vɒlˈkeɪnəʊz/

n. phrase. volcanoes that are currently erupting or have erupted recently➕

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possessed /pəˈzest/

v. owned or had as a property➕

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extinct /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/

adj. no longer in existence; having died out➕

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eruptions /ɪˈrʌpʃənz/

n. sudden outbreaks, especially of volcanoes or violence➕

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volcanic /vɒlˈkænɪk/

adj. relating to or produced by a volcano➕

🔊 On our earth we are obviously much too small to clean out our volcanoes. That is why they bring no end of trouble upon us.

On Earth, we are clearly too small to clean our volcanoes. That's why they cause endless trouble for us.

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obviously /ˈɒbviəsli/

adv. in a way that is easily perceived or understood; clearly➕

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no end of /nəʊ end əv/

phrase. a great deal of; very much➕

🔊 The little prince also pulled up, with a certain sense of dejection, the last little shoots of the baobabs. He believed that he would never want to return. But on this last morning all these familiar tasks seemed very precious to him. And when he watered the flower for the last time, and prepared to place her under the shelter of her glass globe, he realized that he was very close to tears.

The little prince also pulled out the last small shoots of the baobab trees, feeling a bit sad. He thought he would never want to come back. But on this last morning, all these usual jobs felt very special to him. When he watered the flower for the last time and was ready to put her under the cover of her glass globe, he felt like he might cry.

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dejection /dɪˈdʒekʃən/

n. a sad and depressed state; low spirits➕

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baobabs /ˈbeɪəʊbæbz/

n. large trees with thick trunks, native to Africa and Australia➕

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precious /ˈpreʃəs/

adj. of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly➕

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shelter /ˈʃeltə(r)/

n. a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger➕

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glass globe /ɡlɑːs ɡləʊb/

n. phrase. a spherical container made of glass➕

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close to tears /kləʊs tə tɪəz/

phrase. nearly crying; on the verge of weeping➕

🔊 "Goodbye," he said to the flower.

"Goodbye," he said to the flower.

🔊 But she made no answer.

But she did not reply.

🔊 "Goodbye," he said again.

"Goodbye," he said again.

🔊 The flower coughed. But it was not because she had a cold.

The flower coughed. But it wasn't because she was sick.

🔊 "I have been silly," she said to him, at last. "I ask your forgiveness. Try to be happy . . ."

"I have been foolish," she said to him finally. "I ask for your forgiveness. Try to be happy..."

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forgiveness /fəˈɡɪvnəs/

n. the action of forgiving or being forgiven➕

🔊 He was surprised by this absence of reproaches. He stood there all bewildered, the glass globe held arrested in mid-air. He did not understand this quiet sweetness.

He was surprised that she didn't blame him. He stood there confused, holding the glass globe in the air. He didn't understand this gentle kindness.

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absence /ˈæbsəns/

n. the state of being away or not present➕

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reproaches /rɪˈprəʊtʃɪz/

n. expressions of disapproval or criticism➕

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bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd/

adj. completely puzzled or confused➕

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mid-air /ˌmɪd ˈeə(r)/

n. the middle of the air; not on the ground➕

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quiet sweetness /ˈkwaɪət ˈswiːtnəs/

n. phrase. a gentle and pleasant quality that is not loud or obvious➕

🔊 "Of course I love you," the flower said to him. "It is my fault that you have not known it all the while. That is of no importance. But you—you have been just as foolish as I. Try to be happy . . . Let the glass globe be. I don't want it any more."

"Of course I love you," the flower said to him. "It's my fault that you didn't know it all along. That doesn't matter. But you—you have been as foolish as me. Try to be happy... Leave the glass globe alone. I don't need it anymore."

🔊 "But the wind-" "My cold is not so bad as all that. . . The cool night air will do me good. I am a flower." "But the animals-" "Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies. It seems that they are very beautiful. And if not the butterflies-and the caterpillars—who will call upon me? You will be far away ... As for the large animals—I am not at all afraid of any of them. I have my claws."

"But the wind—" "My sickness isn't that bad... The cool night air will help me. I am a flower." "But the animals—" "Well, I must bear having two or three caterpillars if I want to meet the butterflies. They seem very beautiful. And if not the butterflies and the caterpillars, who will visit me? You will be far away... As for big animals—I'm not afraid of any of them. I have my thorns."

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endure /ɪnˈdjʊə(r)/

v. to suffer patiently or to last for a long time➕

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presence /ˈprezns/

n. the state of being present; existence in a place➕

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caterpillars /ˈkætəpɪləz/

n. the larval stage of butterflies and moths➕

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acquainted /əˈkweɪntɪd/

adj. familiar with or knowing someone or something➕

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call upon /kɔːl əˈpɒn/

phrase. to visit someone or to ask someone to do something➕

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claws /klɔːz/

n. sharp curved nails on the feet of animals or birds➕

🔊 And, naively, she showed her four thorns. Then she added: "Don't linger like this. You have decided to go away. Now go!"

And, innocently, she showed her four thorns. Then she said: "Don't stay like this. You have decided to leave. Now go!"

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naively /naɪˈiːvli/

adv. in a way that shows lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment➕

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thorns /θɔːnz/

n. sharp pointed growths on the stems of plants➕

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linger /ˈlɪŋɡə(r)/

v. to stay in a place longer than necessary➕

🔊 For she did not want him to see her crying. She was such a proud flower . . .

Because she didn't want him to see her cry. She was a very proud flower...

Chapter nine