"Sire(A formal term of address for a king or other monarch. [saɪər])," he said to him(Indicates that someone is speaking to the king. [hi sɛd tɪ ɪm]), "I beg(To ask someone earnestly or humbly for something. [aɪ bɛg]) that(Used to introduce a subordinate clause. [ðət]) you will excuse(To pardon or forgive someone for something. [ju wɪl ɪkˈskjuz]) my asking you a question(The act of requesting information from someone. [maɪ ˈæskɪŋ ju ə kˈwɛʃən]) — "
"I order you to ask me a question(A command or instruction to perform an action. 'I' refers to the speaker, 'order' means to give a command, 'you' refers to the person being addressed, 'to ask me a question' refers to the action previously mentioned. [aɪ ˈɔrdər ju tɪ æsk mi ə kˈwɛʃən])," the king(Refers to the king being discussed. [ðə kɪŋ]) hastened(To be quick to do something. [ˈheɪsənd]) to assure him(To remove someone's doubts or fears. [tɪ əˈʃʊr ɪm]).
"Sire(A formal term of address for a king or other monarch. [saɪər]) (Indicates a pause or break in speech.)— over what(About what. [ˈoʊvər wət]) do you rule(To exercise dominion or power over. [du ju rul])?"
"Over everything(Having power or control over all things. [ˈoʊvər ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ])," said the king(Indicates that the king is speaking. [sɛd ðə kɪŋ]), with magnificent simplicity(In a grand and impressive manner, but in a straightforward way. [wɪθ mægˈnɪfɪsənt sɪmˈplɪsɪti]).
"Over everything(A question expressing surprise or inquiry about having control or authority over everything. [ˈoʊvər ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ])?"
The king(The male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth. [ðə kɪŋ]) made a gesture(performed a movement of the body, typically the hand or head, to express an idea or meaning. [meɪd ə ˈʤɛsʧər]), which took in(which included or encompassed. [wɪʧ tʊk ɪn]) his planet(the planet belonging to the king. [hɪz ˈplænət]), the other planets(planets other than the king's planet. [ðə ˈəðər ˈplænəts]), and all the stars(every star in the sky. [ənd ɔl ðə stɑrz]).
"Over all that(Questioning whether the king has authority over everything mentioned previously. [ˈoʊvər ɔl ðət])?" asked(Inquired or posed a question. [æst]) the little prince(The young royal character. [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]).
"Over all that(Affirming authority over everything previously mentioned. [ˈoʊvər ɔl ðət])," the king(The male ruler. [ðə kɪŋ]) answered(Responded to the question. [ˈænsərd]).
For(Introducing the reason or explanation for the previous statement. [fər]) his rule(The king's governance or authority. [hɪz rul]) was not only absolute(was not just complete and without limitations. [wɑz nɑt ˈoʊnli ˈæbsəˌlut]): it was also universal(it extended to everything and everyone. [ɪt wɑz ˈɔlsoʊ ˌjunəˈvərsəl]).
"And the stars obey you(Questioning whether the stars follow the king's commands. [ənd ðə stɑrz oʊˈbeɪ ju])?"
"Certainly they do(Affirming that the stars indeed obey him. [ˈsərtənli ðeɪ du])," the king(The male ruler. [ðə kɪŋ]) said(Stated or spoke. [sɛd]). "They obey instantly(They follow commands without delay. [ðeɪ oʊˈbeɪ ˈɪnstəntli]). I do not permit insubordination(I do not allow disobedience or defiance of authority. [aɪ du nɑt ˈpərˌmɪt ˌɪnsəˌbɔrdəˈneɪʃən])."
Such power(This kind of authority or control. [səʧ paʊər]) was a thing(was something. [wɑz ə θɪŋ]) for the little prince(in the opinion of the little prince. [fər ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]) to marvel at(to be amazed or astonished by. [tɪ ˈmɑrvəl æt]). If he had been master(If he had been in control. [ɪf hi hæd bɪn ˈmæstər]) of such complete authority(of such total power. [əv səʧ kəmˈplit əˈθɔrəti]), he would have been able(he would have had the ability. [hi wʊd hæv bɪn ˈeɪbəl]) to watch the sunset(to observe the sun going below the horizon. [tɪ wɔʧ ðə ˈsənˌsɛt]), not forty-four times(not just forty-four times. [nɑt forty-four taɪmz]) in one day(within a single day. [ɪn wən deɪ]), but seventy-two(but rather seventy-two. [bət seventy-two]), or even a hundred(or perhaps one hundred. [ər ˈivɪn ə ˈhənərd]), or even two hundred times(or possibly two hundred times. [ər ˈivɪn tu ˈhənərd taɪmz]), without ever having(without needing. [wɪˈθaʊt ˈɛvər ˈhævɪŋ]) to move his chair(to change his location. [tɪ muv hɪz ʧɛr]). And because(Due to the fact that. [ənd bɪˈkəz]) he felt a bit sad(he experienced some sadness. [hi fɛlt ə bɪt sæd]) as he remembered(while thinking about. [ɛz hi rɪˈmɛmbərd]) his little planet(the small planet belonging to him. [hɪz ˈlɪtəl ˈplænət]) which he had forsaken(which he had abandoned or left behind. [wɪʧ hi hæd fɔrˈseɪkən]), he plucked up his courage(he gathered his bravery. [hi pləkt əp hɪz kərɪʤ]) to ask the king a favor(to request a kindness or special request from the king. [tɪ æsk ðə kɪŋ ə ˈfeɪvər]):
"I(The speaker, in this case, the little prince [aɪ]) should like(A polite way of saying 'would like'; expresses a desire or wish [ʃʊd laɪk]) to see(To witness or observe something [tɪ si]) a sunset(The daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon, often associated with beautiful colors in the sky [ə ˈsənˌsɛt])... Do(Used for emphasis in a request [du]) me(Referring to the speaker [mi]) that kindness(That favor or act of consideration [ðət ˈkaɪndnəs])... Order(To command or instruct someone to do something [ˈɔrdər]) the sun(The star that provides light and warmth to the Earth [ðə sən]) to set(To descend below the horizon [tɪ sɛt])..."
"If(Introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]) I ordered(If I gave a command [aɪ ˈɔrdərd]) a general(A high-ranking officer in the military [ə ˈʤɛnərəl]) to fly(To move through the air [tɪ flaɪ]) from one flower(From one blossom [frəm wən flaʊər]) to another(To a different blossom [tɪ əˈnəðər]) like a butterfly(In the manner of a butterfly, known for its fluttering flight [laɪk ə ˈbətərˌflaɪ]), or(Used to introduce an alternative [ər]) to write(To compose or create written work [tɪ raɪt]) a tragic drama(A play with a sad or disastrous ending [ə ˈtræʤɪk ˈdrɑmə]), or(Used to introduce another alternative [ər]) to change himself(To transform into something else [tɪ ʧeɪnʤ hɪmˈsɛlf]) into a sea bird(Into a bird that lives near or on the sea [ˈɪntu ə si bərd]), and if(Continuing the conditional clause [ənd ɪf]) the general(The military officer [ðə ˈʤɛnərəl]) did not carry out(Did not fulfill or execute [dɪd nɑt ˈkɛri aʊt]) the order(The command given [ðə ˈɔrdər]) that he had received(That the general had been given [ðət hi hæd rɪˈsivd]), which one of us(Which of the people involved [wɪʧ wən əv ˈjuˈɛs]) would be(Would exist in a certain state [wʊd bi]) in the wrong(At fault or responsible for an error [ɪn ðə rɔŋ])?" (End of the question)the king(The ruler of the kingdom [ðə kɪŋ]) demanded(Asked forcefully or assertively [dɪˈmændɪd]). "The general(Referring to the military officer [ðə ˈʤɛnərəl]), or(Used to present an alternative [ər]) myself(Referring to the king [ˌmaɪˈsɛlf])?"
"You(Referring to the king [ju])," said(Spoke [sɛd]) the little prince(The young royal character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]) firmly(In a resolute and unwavering manner [ˈfərmli]).
"Exactly(Precisely; that is correct. [ɪgˈzæktli]). One(A person; people in general [wən]) must require(Should demand or expect [məst ˌrikˈwaɪər]) from each one(From every individual [frəm iʧ wən]) the duty(The obligation or task [ðə ˈduti]) which each one(That every individual [wɪʧ iʧ wən]) can perform(Is capable of doing [kən pərˈfɔrm])," (Continuing the statement)the king(The ruler [ðə kɪŋ]) went on(Continued speaking [wɛnt ɔn]). "Accepted authority(Authority that is recognized and respected [ækˈsɛptɪd əˈθɔrəti]) rests(Is based or founded [rɛsts]) first of all(Primarily; above all else [fərst əv ɔl]) on reason(On logical and rational thought [ɔn ˈrizən]). If(Introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]) you ordered(If you commanded [ju ˈɔrdərd]) your people(The citizens of your kingdom [jʊr ˈpipəl]) to go(To move or travel [tɪ goʊ]) and throw themselves(And hurl themselves [ənd θroʊ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]) into the sea(Into the ocean [ˈɪntu ðə si]), they(Referring to the people [ðeɪ]) would rise up(Would revolt or rebel [wʊd raɪz əp]) in revolution(In an uprising against authority [ɪn ˌrɛvəˈluʃən]). I have(I possess [aɪ hæv]) the right(The moral or legal entitlement [ðə raɪt]) to require(To demand [tɪ ˌrikˈwaɪər]) obedience(Compliance with commands [oʊˈbidiəns]) because(For the reason that [bɪˈkəz]) my orders(The commands I give [maɪ ˈɔrdərz]) are reasonable(Are logical and justifiable [ər ˈrizənəbəl])."
"Then(at that time; after that [ðɛn]) my sunset(the sunset that the speaker wants to see [maɪ ˈsənˌsɛt])?" the little prince(referring to the character in the story [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]) reminded(caused (someone) to remember something [riˈmaɪndɪd]) him(referring to someone previously mentioned [ɪm]): for(because [fər]) he(referring to the little prince [hi]) never forgot(did not ever forget [ˈnɛvər fərˈgɑt]) a question(a sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information [ə kˈwɛʃən]) once(as soon as [wəns]) he had asked it(referring to the question that the little prince had previously asked [hi hæd æst ɪt]).
"You shall have(You will have; a more formal way of saying 'you will have' [ju ʃæl hæv]) your sunset(the sunset that the speaker wants to see [jʊr ˈsənˌsɛt]). I shall command(I will order; a more formal way of saying 'I will command' [aɪ ʃæl kəˈmænd]) it(referring to the sunset [ɪt]). But(however [bət]), according to(as stated by [əˈkɔrdɪŋ tɪ]) my science of government(my understanding and principles of governing [maɪ saɪəns əv ˈgəvərnmənt]), I shall wait(I will wait; a more formal way of saying 'I will wait' [aɪ ʃæl weɪt]) until(up to the time that [ənˈtɪl]) conditions(the circumstances affecting the way in which people live or work [kənˈdɪʃənz]) are favorable(are advantageous or likely to give a successful result [ər ˈfeɪvərəbəl])."