| lpp_1943.515 |
English |
" If I ordered a general , " he would say , by way of example , " if I ordered a general to change himself into a sea bird , and if the general did not obey me , that would not be the fault of the general . |
| lpp_1943.516 |
English |
It would be my fault . " |
| lpp_1943.517 |
English |
" May I sit down ? " came now a timid inquiry from the little prince . |
| lpp_1943.518 |
English |
" I order you to do so , " the king answered him , and majestically gathered in a fold of his ermine mantle . |
| lpp_1943.519 |
English |
But the little prince was wondering ... |
| lpp_1943.520 |
English |
The planet was tiny . |
| lpp_1943.521 |
English |
Over what could this king really rule ? |
| lpp_1943.522 |
English |
" Sire , " he said to him , " I beg that you will excuse my asking you a question - - " |
| lpp_1943.523 |
English |
" I order you to ask me a question , " the king hastened to assure him . |
| lpp_1943.524 |
English |
" Sire - - over what do you rule ? " |
| lpp_1943.525 |
English |
" Over everything , " said the king , with magnificent simplicity . |
| lpp_1943.526 |
English |
" Over everything ? " |
| lpp_1943.527 |
English |
The king made a gesture , which took in his planet , the other planets , and all the stars . |
| lpp_1943.528 |
English |
" Over all that ? " asked the little prince . |
| lpp_1943.529 |
English |
" Over all that , " the king answered . |
| lpp_1943.530 |
English |
For his rule was not only absolute : it was also universal . |
| lpp_1943.531 |
English |
" And the stars obey you ? " |
| lpp_1943.532 |
English |
" Certainly they do , " the king said . |
| lpp_1943.533 |
English |
" They obey instantly . |
| lpp_1943.534 |
English |
I do not permit insubordination . " |
| lpp_1943.535 |
English |
Such power was a thing for the little prince to marvel at . |
| lpp_1943.536 |
English |
If he had been master of such complete authority , he would have been able to watch the sunset , not forty - four times in one day , but seventy - two , or even a hundred , or even two hundred times , without ever having to move his chair . |
| lpp_1943.537 |
English |
And because he felt a bit sad as he remembered his little planet which he had forsaken , he plucked up his courage to ask the king a favor : " I should like to see a sunset ... do me that kindness ... |
| lpp_1943.538 |
English |
Order the sun to set ... " |
| lpp_1943.539 |
English |
" If I ordered a general to fly from one flower to another like a butterfly , or to write a tragic drama , or to change himself into a sea bird , and if the general did not carry out the order that he had received , which one of us would be in the wrong ? " the king demanded . |