flatland(弗莱特兰)-第26节
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of all the phenomena in Spaceland； and the arguments for the existence of
Solid things derivable from Analogy。 YetI take shame to be forced to
confess it my brother has not yet grasped the nature of Three Dimensions；
and frankly avows his disbelief in the existence of a Sphere。
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Hence I am absolutely destitute of converts； and； for aught that I can
see； the millennial Revelation has been made to me for nothing。
Prometheus up in Spaceland was bound for bringing down fire for mortals；
but Ipoor Flatland Prometheuslie here in prison for bringing down
nothing to my countrymen。 Yet I existing the hope that these memoirs； in
some manner； I know not how； may find their way to the minds of
humanity in Some Dimension； and may stir up a race of rebels who shall
refuse to be confined to limited Dimensionality。
That is the hope of my brighter moments。 Alas； it is not always so。
Heavily weights on me at times the burdensome reflection that I cannot
honestly say I am confident as to the exact shape of the once…seen； oft…
regretted Cube； and in my nightly visions the mysterious precept；
〃Upward； not Northward；〃 haunts me like a soul…devouring Sphinx。 It is
part of the martyrdom which I endure for the cause of Truth that there are
seasons of mental weakness； when Cubes and Spheres flit away into the
background of scarce…possible existences； when the Land of Three
Dimensions seems almost as visionary as the Land of One or None； nay；
when even this hard wall that bars me from my freedom； these very tablets
on which I am writing； and all the substantial realities of Flatland itself；
appear no better than the offspring of a diseased imagination； or the
baseless fabric of a dream。
***
PREFACE TO THE SECOND AND REVISED EDITION； 1884。 BY
THE EDITOR
If my poor Flatland friend retained the vigour of mind which he
enjoyed when he began to compose these Memoirs； I should not now need
to represent him in this preface； in which he desires； fully； to return his
thanks to his readers and critics in Spaceland； whose appreciation has；
with unexpected celerity； required a second edition of this work； secondly；
to apologize for certain errors and misprints （for which； however； he is not
entirely responsible）； and； thirdly； to explain on or two misconceptions。
But he is not the Square he once was。 Years of imprisonment； and the still
heavier burden of general incredulity and mockery； have combined with
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the thoughts and notions； and much also of the terminology； which he
acquired during his short stay in spaceland。 He has； therefore； requested
me to reply in his behalf to two special objections； one of an intellectual；
the other of a moral nature。
The first objection is； that a Flatlander； seeing a Line； sees something
that must be THICK to the eye as well as LONG to the eye （otherwise it
would not be visible； if it had not some thickness）； and consequently he
ought （it is argued） to acknowledge that his countrymen are not only long
and broad； but also （though doubtless to a very slight degree） THICK or
HIGH。 This objection is plausible； and； to Spacelanders； almost irresistible；
so that； I confess； when I first heard it； I knew not what to reply。 But my
poor old friend's answer appears to me completely to meet it。
〃I admit；〃 said hewhen I mentioned to him this objection 〃I admit
the truth of your critic's facts； but I deny his conclusions。 It is true that we
have really in Flatland a Third unrecognized Dimension called ‘height；'
just as it also is true that you have really in Spaceland a Fourth
unrecognized Dimension； called by no name at present； but which I will
call ‘extra…height。' But we can no more take cognizance of our ‘height'
than you can of your ‘extra…height。' Even Iwho have been in Spaceland；
and have had the privilege of understanding for twenty…four hours the
meaning of ‘height'even I cannot now comprehend it； nor realize it by
the sense of sight or by any process of reason； I can but apprehend it by
faith。
〃The reason is obvious。 Dimension implied direction； implies
measurement； implies the more and the less。 Now； all our lines are
EQUALLY and INFINITESIMALLY thick （or high； whichever you like）；
consequently； there is nothing in them to lead our minds to the conception
of that Dimension。 No ‘delicate micrometer'as has been suggested by
one too hasty Spaceland criticwould in the least avail us； for we should
not know WHAT TO MEASURE； NOR IN WHAT DIRECTION。 When
we see a Line； we see something that is long and BRIGHT；
BRIGHTNESS； as well as length； is necessary to the existence of a Line；
if the brightness vanishes； the Line is extinguished。 Hence； all my Flatland
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friendswhen I talk to them about the unrecognized Dimension which is
somehow visible in a Linesay； ‘Ah； you mean BRIGHTNESS'： and when
I reply； ‘No； I mean a real Dimension；' they at once retort； ‘Then measure
it； or tell us in what direction it extends'； and this silences me； for I can do
neither。 Only yesterday； when the Chief Circle （in other words our High
Priest） came to inspect the State Prison and paid me his seventh annual
visit； and when for the seventh time he put me the question； ‘Was I any
better？' I tried to prove to him that he was ‘high；' as well as long and broad；
although he did not know it。 But what was his reply？ ‘You say I am 〃high〃；
measure my 〃high…ness〃 and I will believe you。' What could I do？ How
could I meet his challenge？ I was crushed； and he left the room
triumphant。
〃Does this still seem strange to you？ Then put yourself in asimilar
position。 Suppose a person of the Fourth Dimension； condescending to
visit you； were to say； ‘Whenever you open your eyes； you see a Plane
（which is of Two Dimensions） and you INFER a Solid （which is of Three）；
but in reality you also see （though you do not recognize） a Fourth
Dimension； which is not colour nor brightness nor anything of the kind；
but a true Dimension； although I cannot point out to you its direction； nor
can you possibly measure it。' What would you say to such a visitor？ Would
not you have him locked up？ Well； that is my fate： and it is as natural for
us Flatlanders to lock up a Square for preaching the Third Dimension； as it
is for you Spacelanders to lock up a Cube for preaching the Fourth。 Alas；
how strong a family likeness runs through blind and persecuting humanity
in all Dimensions！ Points； Lines； Squares； Cubes； Extra…Cubes we are all
liable to the same errors； all alike the Slavers of our respective
Dimensional prejudices； as one of our Spaceland poets has said
‘One touch of Nature makes all worlds akin。'〃 （footnote 1）
On this point the defence of the Square seems to me to be
impregnable。 I wish I could say that his answer to the second （or moral）
objection was equally clear and cogent。 It has been objected that he is a
woman…hater； and as this objection has been vehemently urged by those
whom Nature's decree has constituted the somewhat larger half of the
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Spaceland race； I should like to remove it； so far as I can honestly do so。
But the Square is so unaccustomed to the use of the moral terminology of
Spaceland that I should be doing him an injustice if I were literally to
transcribe his defence against this charge。 Acting； therefore； as his
interpreter and summarizer； I gather that in the course of an imprisonment
of seven years he has himself modified his own personal views； both as
regards Women and as regards the Isosceles or Lower Class
