flatland(弗莱特兰)-第22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！
any number short of Infinity。 Away then with all personal considerations！
Let me continue to the end； as I began； without further digressions or
anticipations； pursuing the plain path of dispassionate History。 The exact
facts； the exact words；and they are burnt in upon my brain； shall be set
down without alteration of an iota； and let my Readers judge between me
and Destiny。
The Sphere would willingly have continued his lessons by
indoctrinating me in the conformation of all regular Solids； Cylinders；
Cones； Pyramids； Pentahedrons； Hexahedrons； Dodecahedrons； and
Spheres： but I ventured to interrupt him。 Not that I was wearied of
75
… Page 76…
Flatland
knowledge。 On the contrary； I thirsted for yet deeper and fuller draughts
than he was offering to me。
〃Pardon me；〃 said I； 〃O Thou Whom I must no longer address as the
Perfection of all Beauty； but let me beg thee to vouchsafe thy servant a
slight of thine interior。〃
Sphere。 My what？
I。 Thine interior： thy stomach； thy intestines。
Sphere。 Whence this ill…timed impertinent request？ And what mean
you by saying that I am no longer the Perfection of all Beauty？
I。 My Lord； your own wisdom has taught me to aspire to One even
more great； more beautiful； and more closely approximate to Perfection
than yourself。 As you yourself； superior to all Flatland forms； combine
many Circles in One； so doubtless there is One above you who combines
many Spheres in One Supreme Existence； surpassing even the Solids of
Spaceland。 And even as we； who are now in Space； look down on Flatland
and see the insides of all things； so of a certainty there is yet above us
some higher； purer region； whither thou dost surely purpose to lead meO
Thou Whom I shall always call； everywhere and in all Dimensions； my
Priest； Philosopher； and Friendsome yet more spacious Space； some
more dimensionable Dimensionality； from the vantage…ground of which
we shall look down together upon the revealed insides of Solid things； and
where thine own intestines； and those of thy kindred Spheres； will lie
exposed to the view of the poor wandering exile from Flatland； to whom
so much has already been vouchsafed。
Sphere。 Pooh！ Stuff！ Enough of this trifling！ The time is short； and
much remains to be done before you are fit to proclaim the Gospel of
Three Dimensions to your blind benighted countrymen in Flatland。
I。 Nay； gracious Teacher； deny me not what I know it is in thy power to
reform。 Grant me but one glimpse of thine interior； and I am satisfied for
ever； remaining henceforth thy docile pupil； thy unemacipable slave； ready
to receive all thy teachings and to feed upon the words that fall from thy
lips。
Sphere。 Well； then； to content and silence you； let me say at once； I
76
… Page 77…
Flatland
would shew you what you wish if I could； but I cannot。 Would you have
me turn my stomach inside out to oblige you？
I。 But my Lord has shewn me the intestines of all my countrymen in
the Land of Two Dimensions by taking me with him into the Land of
Three。 What therefore more easy than now to take his servant on a second
journey into the blessed region of the Fourth Dimension； where I shall
look down with him once more upon this land of Three Dimensions； and
see the inside of every three…dimensioned house； the secrets of the solid
earth； the treasures of the mines of Spaceland； and the intestines of every
solid living creature； even the noble and adorable Spheres。
Sphere。 But where is this land of Four Dimensions？
I。 I know not： but doubtless my Teacher knows。
Sphere。 Not I。 There is no such land。 The very idea of it is utterly
inconceivable。
I。 Not inconceivable； my Lord； to me； and therefore still less
inconceivable to my Master。 Nay； I despair not that； even here； in this
region of Three Dimensions； your Lordship's art may make the Fourth
Dimension visible to me； just as in the Land of Two Dimensions my
Teacher's skill would fain have opened the eyes of his blind servant to the
invisible presence of a Third Dimension； though I saw it not。
Let me recall the past。 Was I not taught below that when I saw a Line
and inferred a Plane； I in reality saw a Third unrecognized Dimension； not
the same as brightness； called 〃height〃？ And does it not now follow that；
in this region； when I see a Plane and infer a Solid； I really see a Fourth
unrecognized Dimension； not the same as colour； but existent； though
infinitesimal and incapable of measurement？
And besides this； there is the Argument from Analogy of Figures。
Sphere。 Analogy！ Nonsense： what analogy？
I。 Your Lordship tempts his servant to see whether he remembers the
revelations imparted to him。 Trifle not with me； my Lord； I crave； I thirst；
for more knowledge。 Doubtless we cannot SEE that other higher
Spaceland now； because we have no eye in our stomachs。 But； just as there
WAS the realm of Flatland； though that poor puny Lineland Monarch
77
… Page 78…
Flatland
could neither turn to left nor right to discern it； and just as there WAS
close at hand； and touching my frame； the land of Three Dimensions；
though I； blind senseless wretch； had no power to touch it； no eye in my
interior to discern it； so of a surety there is a Fourth Dimension； which my
Lord perceives with the inner eye of thought。 And that it must exist my
Lord himself has taught me。 Or can he have forgotten what he himself
imparted to his servant？
In One Dimension； did not a moving Point produce a Line with TWO
terminal points？
In Two Dimensions； did not a moving Line produce a Square with
FOUR terminal points？
In Three Dimensions； did not a moving Square producedid not this
eye of mine behold itthat blessed Being； a Cube； with EIGHT terminal
points？
And in Four Dimensions shall not a moving Cubealas； for Analogy；
and alas for the Progress of Truth； if it be not soshall not； I say； the
motion of a divine Cube result in a still more divine Organization with
SIXTEEN terminal points？
Behold the infallible confirmation of the Series； 2； 4； 8； 16： is not this
a Geometrical Progression？ Is not thisif I might quote my Lord's own
words〃strictly according to Analogy〃？
Again； was I not taught by my Lord that as in a Line there are TWO
bounding Points； and in a Square there are FOUR bounding Lines； so in a
Cube there must be SIX bounding Squares？ Behold once more the
confirming Series； 2； 4； 6： is not this an Arithmetical Progression？ And
consequently does it not of necessity follow that the more divine offspring
of the divine Cube in the Land of Four Dimensions； must have 8 bounding
Cubes： and is not this also； as my Lord has taught me to believe； 〃strictly
according to Analogy〃？ O； my Lord； my Lord； behold； I cast myself in
faith upon conjecture； not knowing the facts； and I appeal to your
Lordship to confirm or deny my logical anticipations。 If I am wrong； I
yield； and will no longer demand a Fourth Dimension； but； if I am right；
my Lord will listen to reason。
78
… Page 79…
Flatland
I ask therefore； is it； or is it not； the fact； that ere now your countrymen
also have witnessed the descent of Beings of a higher order than their own；
entering closed rooms； even as your Lordship entered mine； without the
opening of doors or windows； and appearing and vanishing at will？ On the
reply to this question I am ready to stake everything。 Deny it； and I am
