flatland(弗莱特兰)-第21节
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I recognized the General Assembly Hall of the States of Flatland；
surrounded by dense lines of Pentagonal buildings at right angles to each
other； which I knew to be streets； and I perceived that I was approaching
the great Metropolis。
〃Here we descend；〃 said my Guide。 It was now morning； the first hour
of the first day of the two thousandth year of our era。 Acting； as was their
wont； in strict accordance with precedent； the highest Circles of the realm
were meeting in solemn conclave； as they had met on the first hour of the
first day of the year 1000； and also on the first hour of the first day of the
year 0。
The minutes of the previous meetings were now read by one whom I at
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once recognized as my brother； a perfectly Symmetrical Square； and the
Chief Clerk of the High Council。 It was found recorded on each occasion
that： 〃Whereas the States had been troubled by divers ill…intentioned
persons pretending to have received revelations from another World； and
professing to produce demonstrations whereby they had instigated to
frenzy both themselves and others； it had been for this cause unanimously
resolved by the Grand Council that on the first day of each millenary；
special injunctions be sent to the Prefects in the several districts of
Flatland； to make strict search for such misguided persons； and without
formality of mathematical examination； to destroy all such as were
Isosceles of any degree； to scourge and imprison any regular Triangle； to
cause any Square or Pentagon to be sent to the district Asylum； and to
arrest any one of higher rank； sending him straightway to the Capital to be
examined and judged by the Council。〃
〃You hear your fate；〃 said the Sphere to me； while the Council was
passing for the third time the formal resolution。 〃Death or imprisonment
awaits the Apostle of the Gospel of Three Dimensions。〃 〃Not so；〃 replied I；
〃the matter is now so clear to me； the nature of real space so palpable； that
methinks I could make a child understand it。 Permit me but to descend at
this moment and enlighten them。〃 〃Not yet；〃 said my Guide； 〃the time will
come for that。 Meantime I must perform my mission。 Stay thou there in
thy place。〃 Saying these words； he leaped with great dexterity into the sea
（if I may so call it） of Flatland； right in the midst of the ring of Counsellors。
〃I come；〃 said he； 〃to proclaim that there is a land of Three Dimensions。〃
I could see many of the younger Counsellors start back in manifest
horror； as the Sphere's circularSECTION widened before them。 But on a
sign from the presiding Circlewho shewed not the slightest alarm or
surprise six Isosceles of a low type from six different quarters rushed
upon the Sphere。 〃We have him；〃 they cried； 〃No； yes； we have him still！
he's going！ he's gone！〃
〃My Lords；〃 said the President to the Junior Circles of the Council；
〃there is not the slightest need for surprise； the secret archives； to which I
alone have access； tell me that a similar occurrence happened on the last
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Flatland
two millennial commencements。 You will； of course； say nothing of these
trifles outside the Cabinet。〃
Raising his voice； he now summoned the guards。 〃Arrest the
policemen； gag them。 You know your duty。〃 After he had consigned to
their fate the wretched policemenill…fated and unwilling witnesses of a
State…secret which they were not to be permitted to reveal he again
addressed the Counsellors。 〃My Lords； the business of the Council being
concluded； I have only to wish you a happy New Year。〃 Before departing；
he expressed； at some length； to the Clerk； my excellent but most
unfortunate brother； his sincere regret that； in accordance with precedent
and for the sake of secrecy； he must condemn him to perpetual
imprisonment； but added his satisfaction that； unless some mention were
made by him of that day's incident； his life would be spared。
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Flatland
SECTION 19 How； though the Sphere shewed me
other mysteries of Spaceland； I still
desire more； and what came of it
When I saw my poor brother led away to imprisonment； I attempted
to leap down into the Council Chamber； desiring to intercede on his behalf；
or at least bid him farewell。 But I found that I had no motion of my own。 I
absolutely depended on the volition of my Guide； who said in gloomy
tones； 〃Heed not thy brother； haply thou shalt have ample time hereafter to
condole with him。 Follow me。〃
Once more we ascended into space。 〃Hitherto；〃 said the Sphere； 〃I
have shewn you naught save Plane Figures and their interiors。 Now I must
introduce you to Solids； and reveal to you the plan upon which they are
constructed。 Behold this multitude of moveable square cards。 See； I put
one on another； not； as you supposed； Northward of the other； but ON the
other。 Now a second； now a third。 See； I am building up a Solid by a
multitude of Squares parallel to one another。 Now the Solid is complete；
being as high as it is long and broad； and we call it a Cube。〃
〃Pardon me； my Lord；〃 replied I； 〃but to my eye the appearance is as
of an Irregular Figure whose inside is laid open to view； in other words；
methinks I see no Solid； but a Plane such as we infer in Flatland； only of
an Irregularity which betokens some monstrous criminal； so that the very
sight of it is painful to my eyes。〃
〃True；〃 said the Sphere； 〃it appears to you a Plane； because you are not
accustomed to light and shade and perspective； just as in Flatland a
Hexagon would appear a Straight Line to one who has not the Art of Sight
Recognition。 But in reality it is a Solid； as you shall learn by the sense of
Feeling。〃
He then introduced me to the Cube； and I found that this marvellous
Being was indeed no Plane； but a Solid； and that he was endowed with six
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plane sides and eight terminal points called solid angles； and I
remembered the saying of the Sphere that just such a Creature as this
would be formed by the Square moving； in Space； parallel to himself： and
I rejoiced to think that so insignificant a Creature as I could in some sense
be called the Progenitor of so illustrious an offspring。
But still I could not fully understand the meaning of what my Teacher
had told me concerning 〃light〃 and 〃shade〃 and 〃perspective〃； and I did
not hesitate to put my difficulties before him。
Were I to give the Sphere's explanation of these matters； succinct and
clear though it was； it would be tedious to an inhabitant of Space； who
knows these things already。 Suffice it； that by his lucid statements； and by
changing the position of objects and lights； and by allowing me to feel the
several objects and even his own sacred Person； he at last made all things
clear to me； so that I could now readily distinguish between a Circle and a
Sphere； a Plane Figure and a Solid。
This was the Climax； the Paradise； of my strange eventful History。
Henceforth I have to relate the story of my miserable Fall：most
miserable； yet surely most undeserved！ For why should the thirst for
knowledge be aroused； only to be disappointed and punished？ My volition
shrinks from the painful task of recalling my humiliation； yet； like a
second Prometheus； I will endure this and worse； if by any means I may
arouse in the interiors of Plane and Solid Humanity a spirit of rebellion
against the Conceit which would limit our Dimensions to Two or Three or
any number short of Infinity。 Away then with all personal considerations！
Let me continue to the end； as I b
