flatland(弗莱特兰)-第3节
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boundless hopefulness of the human mind。 Art also comes to the aid of
Law and Order。 It is generally found possibleby a little artificial
compression or expansion on the part of the State physiciansto make
some of the more intelligent leaders of a rebellion perfectly Regular； and
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to admit them at once into the privileged classes； a much larger number；
who are still below the standard； allured by the prospect of being
ultimately ennobled； are induced to enter the State Hospitals； where they
are kept in honourable confinement for life； one or two alone of the most
obstinate； foolish； and hopelessly irregular are led to execution。
Then the wretched rabble of the Isosceles； planless and leaderless； are
ether transfixed without resistance by the small body of their brethren
whom the Chief Circle keeps in pay for emergencies of this kind； or else
more often； by means of jealousies and suspicious skillfully fomented
among them by the Circular party； they are stirred to mutual warfare； and
perish by one another's angles。 No less than one hundred and twenty
rebellions are recorded in our annals； besides minor outbreaks numbered
at two hundred and thirty…five； and they have all ended thus。
Footnote 1。 〃What need of a certificate？〃 a Spaceland critic may ask：
〃Is not the procreation of a Square Son a certificate from Nature herself；
proving the Equal…sidedness of the Father？〃 I reply that no Lady of any
position will mary an uncertified Triangle。 Square offspring has sometimes
resulted from a slightly Irregular Triangle； but in almost every such case
the Irregularity of the first generation is visited on the third； which either
fails to attain the Pentagonal rank； or relapses to the Triangular。
SECTION 4 Concerning the Women
If our highly pointed Triangles of the Soldier class are formidable； it
may be readily inferred that far more formidable are our Women。 For； if a
Soldier is a wedge； a Woman is a needle； being； so to speak； ALL point； at
least at the two extremities。 Add to this the power of making herself
practically invisible at will； and you will perceive that a Female； in
Flatland； is a creature by no means to be trifled with。
But here； perhaps； some of my younger Readers may ask HOW a
woman in Flatland can make herself invisible。 This ought； I think； to be
apparent without any explanation。 However； a few words will make it
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clear to the most unreflecting。
Place a needle on the table。 Then； with your eye on the level of the
table； look at it side…ways； and you see the whole length of it； but look at it
end…ways； and you see nothing but a point； it has become practically
invisible。 Just so is it with one of our Women。 When her side is turned
towards us； we see her as a straight line； when the end containing her eye
or mouthfor with us these two organs are identicalis the part that meets
our eye； then we see nothing but a highly lustrous point； but when the
back is presented to our view； thenbeing only sub…lustrous； and； indeed；
almost as dim as an inanimate objecther hinder extremity serves her as a
kind of Invisible Cap。
The dangers to which we are exposed from our Women must now be
manifest to the meanest capacity of Spaceland。 If even the angle of a
respectable Triangle in the middle class is not without its dangers； if to run
against a Working Man involves a gash； if collision with an Officer of the
military class necessitates a serious wound； if a mere touch from the
vertex of a Private Soldier brings with it danger of death； what can it be
to run against a woman； except absolute and immediate destruction？ And
when a Woman is invisible； or visible only as a dim sub…lustrous point；
how difficult must it be； even for the most cautious； always to avoid
collision！
Many are the enactments made at different times in the different States
of Flatland； in order to minimize this peril； and in the Southern and less
temperate climates； where the force of gravitation is greater； and human
beings more liable to casual and involuntary motions； the Laws
concerning Women are naturally much more stringent。 But a general view
of the Code may be obtained from the following summary：
1。 Every house shall have one entrance on the Eastern side； for the use
of Females only； by which all females shall enter 〃in a becoming and
respectful manner〃 （footnote 1） and not by the Men's or Western door。
2。 No Female shall walk in any public place without continually
keeping up her Peace…cry； under penalty of death。
3。 Any Female； duly certified to be suffering from St。 Vitus's Dance；
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fits； chronic cold accompanied by violent sneezing； or any disease
necessitating involuntary motions； shall be instantly destroyed。
In some of the States there is an additional Law forbidding Females；
under penalty of death； from walking or standing in any public place
without moving their backs constantly from right to left so as to indicate
their presence to those behind them； other oblige a Woman； when
travelling； to be followed by one of her sons； or servants； or by her
husband； others confine Women altogether in their houses except during
the religious festivals。 But it has been found by the wisest of our Circles or
Statesmen that the multiplication of restrictions on Females tends not only
to the debilitation and diminution of the race； but also to the increase of
domestic murders to such an extent that a State loses more than it gains by
a too prohibitive Code。
For whenever the temper of the Women is thus exasperated by
confinement at home or hampering regulations abroad； they are apt to vent
their spleen upon their husbands and children； and in the less temperate
climates the whole male population of a village has been sometimes
destroyed in one or two hours of a simultaneous female outbreak。 Hence
the Three Laws； mentioned above； suffice for the better regulated States；
and may be accepted as a rough exemplification of our Female Code。
After all； our principal safeguard is found； not in Legislature； but in the
interests of the Women themselves。 For； although they can inflict
instantaneous death by a retrograde movement； yet unless they can at once
disengage their stinging extremity from the struggling body of their victim；
their own frail bodies are liable to be shattered。
The power of Fashion is also on our side。 I pointed out that in some
less civilized States no female is suffered to stand in any public place
without swaying her back from right to left。 This practice has been
universal among ladies of any pretensions to breeding in all well…governed
States； as far back as the memory of Figures can reach。 It is considered a
disgrace to any state that legislation should have to enforce what ought to
be； and is in every respectable female； a natural instinct。 The rhythmical
and； if I may so say； well…modulated undulation of the back in our ladies
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of Circular rank is envied and imitated by the wife of a common
Equilateral； who can achieve nothing beyond a mere monotonous swing；
like the ticking of a pendulum； and the regular tick of the Equilateral is no
less admired and copied by the wife of the progressive and aspiring
Isosceles； in the females of whose family no 〃back…motion〃 of any kind
has become as yet a necessity of life。 Hence； in every family of position
and consideration； 〃back motion〃 is as prevalent as time itself； and the
husbands and sons in
