flatland(弗莱特兰)-第10节
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society at the time of the Colour revolt； add too the certainty that Woman
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would speedily learn to shade off their extremities so as to imitate the
Circles； it must then be surely obvious to you； my dear Reader； that the
Colour Bill placed us under a great danger of confounding a Priest with a
young Woman。
How attractive this prospect must have been to the Frail Sex may
readily be imagined。 They anticipated with delight the confusion that
would ensue。 At home they might hear political and ecclesiastical secrets
intended not for them but for their husbands and brothers； and might even
issue some commands in the name of a priestly Circle； out of doors the
striking combination of red and green without addition of any other
colours； would be sure to lead the common people into endless mistakes；
and the Woman would gain whatever the Circles lost； in the deference of
the passers by。 As for the scandal that would befall the Circular Class if
the frivolous and unseemly conduct of the Women were imputed to them；
and as to the consequent subversion of the Constitution； the Female Sex
could not be expected to give a thought to these considerations。 Even in
the households of the Circles； the Women were all in favour of the
Universal Colour Bill。
The second object aimed at by the Bill was the gradual demoralization
of the Circles themselves。 In the general intellectual decay they still
preserved their pristine clearness and strength of understanding。 From
their earliest childhood； familiarized in their Circular households with the
total absence of Colour； the Nobles alone preserved the Sacred Art of
Sight Recognition； with all the advantages that result from that admirable
training of the intellect。 Hence； up to the date of the introduction of the
Universal Colour Bill； the Circles had not only held their own； but even
increased their lead of the other classes by abstinence from the popular
fashion。
Now therefore the artful Irregular whom I described above as the real
author of this diabolical Bill； determined at one blow to lower the status of
the Hierarchy by forcing them to submit to the pollution of Colour； and at
the same time to destroy their domestic opportunities of training in the Art
of Sight Recognition； so as to enfeeble their intellects by depriving them
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of their pure and colourless homes。 Once subjected to the chromatic taint；
every parental and every childish Circle would demoralize each other。
Only in discerning between the Father and the Mother would the Circular
infant find problems for the exercise of his understandingproblems too
often likely to be corrupted by maternal impostures with the result of
shaking the child's faith in all logical conclusions。 Thus by degrees the
intellectual lustre of the Priestly Order would wane； and the road would
then lie open for a total destruction of all Aristocratic Legislature and for
the subversion of our Privileged Classes。
SECTION 10 Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition
The agitation for the Universal Colour Bill continued for three years；
and up to the last moment of that period it seemed as though Anarchy were
destined to triumph。
A whole army of Polygons； who turned out to fight as private soldiers；
was utterly annihilated by a superior force of Isosceles Triangles the
Squares and Pentagons meanwhile remaining neutral。
Worse than all； some of the ablest Circles fell a prey to conjugal fury。
Infuriated by political animosity； the wives in many a noble household
wearied their lords with prayers to give up their opposition to the Colour
Bill； and some； finding their entreaties fruitless； fell on and slaughtered
their innocent children and husband； perishing themselves in the act of
carnage。 It is recorded that during that triennial agitation no less than
twenty…three Circles perished in domestic discord。
Great indeed was the peril。 It seemed as though the Priests had no
choice between submission and extermination； when suddenly the course
of events was completely changed by one of those picturesque incidents
which Statesmen ought never to neglect； often to anticipate； and
sometimes perhaps to originate； because of the absurdly disproportionate
power with which they appeal to the sympathies of the populace。
It happened that an Isosceles of a low type； with a brain little if at all
above four degreesaccidentally dabbling in the colours of some
Tradesman whose shop he had plunderedpainted himself； or caused
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himself to be painted （for the story varies） with the twelve colours of a
Dodecagon。 Going into the Market Place he accosted in a feigned voice a
maiden； the orphan daughter of a noble Polygon； whose affection in
former days he had sought in vain； and by a series of deceptionsaided； on
the one side； by a string of lucky accidents too long to relate； and； on the
other； by an almost inconceivable fatuity and neglect of ordinary
precautions on the part of the relations of the bridehe succeeded in
consummating the marriage。 The unhappy girl committed suicide on
discovering the fraud to which she had been subjected。
When the news of this catastrophe spread from State to State the minds
of the Women were violently agitated。 Sympathy with the miserable
victim and anticipations of similar deceptions for themselves； their sisters；
and their daughters； made them now regard the Colour Bill in an entirely
new aspect。 Not a few openly avowed themselves converted to antagonism；
the rest needed only a slight stimulus to make a similar avowal。 Seizing
this favourable opportunity； the Circles hastily convened an extraordinary
Assembly of the States； and besides the usual guard of Convicts； they
secured the attendance of a large number of reactionary Women。
Amidst an unprecedented concourse； the Chief Circle of those days
by name Pantocyclusarose to find himself hissed and hooted by a
hundred and twenty thousand Isosceles。 But he secured silence by
declaring that henceforth the Circles would enter on a policy of
Concession； yielding to the wishes of the majority； they would accept the
Colour Bill。 The uproar being at once converted to applause； he invited
Chromatistes； the leader of the Sedition； into the centre of the hall； to
receive in the name of his followers the submission of the Hierarchy。 Then
followed a speech； a masterpiece of rhetoric； which occupied nearly a day
in the delivery； and to which no summary can do justice。
With a grave appearance of impartiality he declared that as they were
now finally committing themselves to Reform or Innovation； it was
desirable that they should take one last view of the perimeter of the whole
subject； its defects as well as its advantages。 Gradually introduction the
mention of the dangers to the Tradesmen； the Professional Classes and the
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Gentlemen； he silenced the rising murmurs of the Isosceles by reminding
them that； in spite of all these defects； he was willing to accept the Bill if it
was approved by the majority。 But it was manifest that all； except the
Isosceles； were moved by his words and were either neutral or averse to
the Bill。
Turning now to the Workmen he asserted that their interests must not
be neglected； and that； if they intended to accept the Colour Bill； they
ought at least to do so with full view of the consequences。 Many of them；
he said； were on the point of being admitted to the
