flatland(弗莱特兰)-第17节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 56…
Flatland
chilling breath thrilled through my very being。 〃He is no such thing；〃 cried
my Wife； 〃and you are breaking the Commandments in thus dishonouring
your own Grandson。〃 But I took no notice of her。 Looking around in every
direction I could see nothing； yet still I FELT a Presence； and shivered as
the cold whisper came again。 I started up。 〃What is the matter？〃 said my
Wife； 〃there is no draught； what are you looking for？ There is nothing。〃
There was nothing； and I resumed my seat； again exclaiming； 〃The boy is
a fool； I say； three… to…the…third can have no meaning in Geometry。〃 At
once there came a distinctly audible reply； 〃The boy is not a fool； and
three…to…the…third has an obvious Geometrical meaning。〃
My Wife as well as myself heard the words； although she did not
understand their meaning； and both of us sprang forward in the direction
of the sound。 What was our horror when we saw before us a Figure！ At the
first glance it appeared to be a Woman； seen sideways； but a moment's
observation shewed me that the extremities passed into dimness too
rapidly to represent one of the Female Sex； and I should have thought it a
Circle； only that it seemed to change its size in a manner impossible for a
Circle or for any regular Figure of which I had had experience。
But my Wife had not my experience； nor the coolness necessary to
note these characteristics。 With the usual hastiness and unreasoning
jealousy of her Sex； she flew at once to the conclusion that a Woman had
entered the house through some small aperture。 〃How comes this person
here？〃 she exclaimed； 〃you promised me； my dear； that there should be no
ventilators in our new house。〃 〃Nor are they any；〃 said I； 〃but what makes
you think that the stranger is a Woman？ I see by my power of Sight
Recognition 〃
〃Oh； I have no patience with your Sight Recognition；〃 replied she；
〃‘Feeling is believing' and ‘A Straight Line to the touch is worth a Circle
to the sight'〃two Proverbs； very common with the Frailer Sex in
Flatland。
〃Well；〃 said I； for I was afraid of irritating her； 〃if it must be so；
demand an introduction。〃 Assuming her most gracious manner； my Wife
advanced towards the Stranger； 〃Permit me； Madam to feel and be felt by…
56
… Page 57…
Flatland
…〃 then； suddenly recoiling； 〃Oh！ it is not a Woman； and there are no
angles either； not a trace of one。 Can it be that I have so misbehaved to a
perfect Circle？〃
〃I am indeed； in a certain sense a Circle；〃 replied the Voice； 〃and a
more perfect Circle than any in Flatland； but to speak more accurately； I
am many Circles in one。〃 Then he added more mildly； 〃I have a message；
dear Madam； to your husband； which I must not deliver in your presence；
and； if you would suffer us to retire for a few minutes 〃 But my wife
would not listen to the proposal that our august Visitor should so
incommode himself； and assuring the Circle that the hour of her own
retirement had long passed； with many reiterated apologies for her recent
indiscretion； she at last retreated to her apartment。
I glanced at the half…hour glass。 The last sands had fallen。 The third
Millennium had begun。
Footnote 3。 When I say 〃sitting；〃 of course I do not mean any change
of attitude such as you in Spaceland signify by that word； for as we have
no feet； we can no more 〃sit〃 nor 〃stand〃 （in your sense of the word） than
one of your soles or flounders。
Nevertheless； we perfectly well recognize the different mental states of
volition implied by 〃lying；〃 〃sitting；〃 and 〃standing；〃 which are to some
extent indicated to a beholder by a slight increase of lustre corresponding
to the increase of volition。
But on this； and a thousand other kindred subjects； time forbids me to
dwell。
57
… Page 58…
Flatland
SECTION 16 How the Stranger vainly
endeavoured to reveal to me in words
the mysteries of Spaceland
As soon as the sound of the Peace…cry of my departing Wife had died
away； I began to approach the Stranger with the intention of taking a
nearer view and of bidding him be seated： but his appearance struck me
dumb and motionless with astonishment。 Without the slightest symptoms
of angularity he nevertheless varied every instant with graduations of size
and brightness scarcely possible for any Figure within the scope of my
experience。 The thought flashed across me that I might have before me a
burglar or cut…throat； some monstrous Irregular Isosceles； who； by
feigning the voice of a Circle； had obtained admission somehow into the
house； and was now preparing to stab me with his acute angle。
In a sitting…room； the absence of Fog （and the season happened to be
remarkably dry）； made it difficult for me to trust to Sight Recognition；
especially at the short distance at which I was standing。 Desperate with
fear； I rushed forward with an unceremonious； 〃You must permit me； Sir
〃 and felt him。 My Wife was right。 There was not the trace of an angle； not
the slightest roughness or inequality： never in my life had I met with a
more perfect Circle。 He remained motionless while I walked around him；
beginning from his eye and returning to it again。 Circular he was
throughout； a perfectly satisfactory Circle； there could not be a doubt of it。
Then followed a dialogue； which I will endeavour to set down as near as I
can recollect it； omitting only some of my profuse apologies for I was
covered with shame and humiliation that I； a Square； should have been
guilty of the impertinence of feeling a Circle。 It was commenced by the
Stranger with some impatience at the lengthiness of my introductory
process。
Stranger。 Have you felt me enough by this time？ Are you not
introduced to me yet？
58
… Page 59…
Flatland
I。 Most illustrious Sir； excuse my awkwardness； which arises not from
ignorance of the usages of polite society； but from a little surprise and
nervousness； consequent on this somewhat unexpected visit。 And I
beseech you to reveal my indiscretion to no one； and especially not to my
Wife。 But before your Lordship enters into further communications； would
he deign to satisfy the curiosity of one who would gladly know whence his
visitor came？
Stranger。 From Space； from Space； Sir： whence else？
I。 Pardon me； my Lord； but is not your Lordship already in Space； your
Lordship and his humble servant； even at this moment？
Stranger。 Pooh！ what do you know of Space？ Define Space。
I。 Space； my Lord； is height and breadth indefinitely prolonged。
Stranger。 Exactly： you see you do not even know what Space is。 You
think it is of Two Dimensions only； but I have come to announce to you a
Thirdheight； breadth； and length。
I。 Your Lordship is pleased to be merry。 We also speak of length and
height； or breadth and thickness； thus denoting Two Dimensions by four
names。
Stranger。 But I mean not only three names； but Three Dimensions。
I。 Would your Lordship indicate or explain to me in what direction is
the Third Dimension； unknown to me？
Stranger。 I came from it。 It is up above and down below。
I。 My Lord means seemingly that it is Northward and Southward。
Stranger。 I mean nothing of the kind。 I mean a direction in which you
cannot look； because you have no eye in your side。
I。 Pardon me； my Lord； a moment's inspection will convince your
Lordship that I have a perfectly luminary at the juncture of my two sides。
Stranger： Yes： but in order to see into Space you ought to have an eye；
not on your Perimeter； but on your side； that is； on what you would
probably call your inside； b
