ApproachingoneofthelargestofwhatIthoughttobeWomen,Iaccostedher,butreceivednoanswer。Asecondandathirdappealonmypartwereequallyineffectual。Losingpatienceatwhatappearedtomeintolerablerudeness,Ibroughtmymouthintoapositionfullinfrontofhermouthsoastointercepthermotion,andloudlyrepeatedmyquestion,\"Woman,whatsignifiesthisconcourse,andthisstrangeandconfusedchirping,andthismonotonousmotiontoandfroinoneandthesameStraightLine?\"
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TheKING’SeyesmuchlargerthantherealityshewingthatHISMAJESTY
couldseenothingbutapoint。
\"IamnoWoman,\"repliedthesmallLine。\"IamtheMonarchoftheworld。Butthou,whenceintrudestthouintomyrealmofLineland?\"Receivingthisabruptreply,IbeggedpardonifIhadinanywaystartledormolestedhisRoyalHighness;
anddescribingmyselfasastrangerIbesoughttheKingtogivemesomeaccountofhisdominions。ButIhadthegreatestpossibledifficultyinobtaininganyinformationonpointsthatreallyinterestedme;fortheMonarchcouldnotrefrainfromconstantlyassumingthatwhateverwasfamiliartohimmustalsobeknowntomeandthatIwassimulatingignoranceinjest。However,byperseveringquestionsIelicitedthefollowingfacts:
ItseemedthatthispoorignorantMonarch——ashecalledhimself——
waspersuadedthattheStraightLinewhichhecalledhisKingdom,andinwhichhepassedhisexistence,constitutedthewholeoftheworld,andindeedthewholeofSpace。Notbeingableeithertomoveortosee,saveinhisStraightLine,hehadnoconceptionofanythingoutofit。ThoughhehadheardmyvoicewhenIfirstaddressedhim,thesoundshadcometohiminamannersocontrarytohisexperiencethathehadmadenoanswer,\"seeingnoman\",asheexpressedit,\"andhearingavoiceasitwerefrommyownintestines。\"UntilthemomentwhenIplacedmymouthinhisWorld,hehadneitherseenme,norheardanythingexceptconfusedsoundsbeatingagainst——whatIcalledhisside,butwhathecalledhisINSIDEorSTOMACH;norhadheevennowtheleastconceptionoftheregionfromwhichIhadcome。
OutsidehisWorld,orLine,allwasablanktohim;nay,notevenablank,forablankimpliesSpace;say,rather,allwasnon-existent。
Hissubjects——ofwhomthesmallLinesweremenandthePointsWomen——wereallalikeconfinedinmotionandeye-sighttothatsingleStraightLine,whichwastheirWorld。ItneedscarcelybeaddedthatthewholeoftheirhorizonwaslimitedtoaPoint;norcouldanyoneeverseeanythingbutaPoint。Man,woman,child,thing——eachwasaPointtotheeyeofaLinelander。Onlybythesoundofthevoicecouldsexoragebedistinguished。Moreover,aseachindividualoccupiedthewholeofthenarrowpath,sotospeak,whichconstitutedhisUniverse,andnoonecouldmovetotherightorlefttomakewayforpassersby,itfollowedthatnoLinelandercouldeverpassanother。Onceneighbours,alwaysneighbours。
Neighbourhoodwiththemwaslikemarriagewithus。
Neighboursremainedneighbourstilldeathdidthempart。
Suchalife,withallvisionlimitedtoaPoint,andallmotiontoaStraightLine,seemedtomeinexpressiblydreary;andIwassurprisedtonotethevivacityandcheerfulnessoftheKing。
Wonderingwhetheritwaspossible,amidcircumstancessounfavourabletodomesticrelations,toenjoythepleasuresofconjugalunion,IhesitatedforsometimetoquestionhisRoyalHighnessonsodelicateasubject;butatlastIplungedintoitbyabruptlyinquiringastothehealthofhisfamily。
\"Mywivesandchildren,\"hereplied,\"arewellandhappy。\"
Staggeredatthisanswer——forintheimmediateproximityoftheMonarch(asIhadnotedinmydreambeforeIenteredLineland)
therewerenonebutMen——Iventuredtoreply,\"Pardonme,butIcannotimaginehowyourRoyalHighnesscanatanytimeeitherseeorapproachtheirMajesties,whenthereareatleasthalfadozeninterveningindividuals,whomyoucanneitherseethrough,norpassby?IsitpossiblethatinLinelandproximityisnotnecessaryformarriageandforthegenerationofchildren?\"
\"Howcanyouasksoabsurdaquestion?\"repliedtheMonarch。
\"Ifitwereindeedasyousuggest,theUniversewouldsoonbedepopulated。No,no;neighbourhoodisneedlessfortheunionofhearts;andthebirthofchildrenistooimportantamattertohavebeenallowedtodependuponsuchanaccidentasproximity。
Youcannotbeignorantofthis。Yetsinceyouarepleasedtoaffectignorance,IwillinstructyouasifyouweretheveriestbabyinLineland。Know,then,thatmarriagesareconsummatedbymeansofthefacultyofsoundandthesenseofhearing。
\"YouareofcourseawarethateveryManhastwomouthsorvoices——aswellastwoeyes——abassatoneandatenorattheotherofhisextremities。Ishouldnotmentionthis,butthatIhavebeenunabletodistinguishyourtenorinthecourseofourconversation。\"
IrepliedthatIhadbutonevoice,andthatIhadnotbeenawarethathisRoyalHighnesshadtwo。\"Thatconfirmsmyimpression,\"
saidtheKing,\"thatyouarenotaMan,butafeminineMonstrositywithabassvoice,andanutterlyuneducatedear。Buttocontinue。
\"NaturehavingherselfordainedthateveryManshouldwedtwowives——\"
\"Whytwo?\"askedI。\"Youcarryyouraffectedsimplicitytoofar\",hecried。\"HowcantherebeacompletelyharmoniousunionwithoutthecombinationoftheFourinOne,viz。theBassandTenoroftheManandtheSopranoandContraltoofthetwoWomen?\"
\"Butsupposing,\"saidI,\"thatamanshouldpreferonewifeorthree?\"
\"Itisimpossible,\"hesaid;\"itisasinconceivableasthattwoandoneshouldmakefive,orthatthehumaneyeshouldseeaStraightLine。\"Iwouldhaveinterruptedhim;butheproceededasfollows:
\"OnceinthemiddleofeachweekaLawofNaturecompelsustomovetoandfrowitharhythmicmotionofmorethanusualviolence,whichcontinuesforthetimeyouwouldtaketocountahundredandone。Inthemidstofthischoraldance,atthefifty-firstpulsation,theinhabitantsoftheUniversepauseinfullcareer,andeachindividualsendsforthhisrichest,fullest,sweeteststrain。Itisinthisdecisivemomentthatallourmarriagesaremade。SoexquisiteistheadaptationofBasstoTreble,ofTenortoContralto,thatoftentimestheLovedOnes,thoughtwentythousandleaguesaway,recognizeatoncetheresponsivenoteoftheirdestinedLover;and,penetratingthepaltryobstaclesofdistance,Loveunitesthethree。
ThemarriageinthatinstantconsummatedresultsinathreefoldMaleandFemaleoffspringwhichtakesitsplaceinLineland。\"
\"What!Alwaysthreefold?\"saidI。\"Mustonewifethenalwayshavetwins?\"
\"Bass-voicedMonstrosity!yes,\"repliedtheKing。\"HowelsecouldthebalanceoftheSexesbemaintained,iftwogirlswerenotbornforeveryboy?WouldyouignoretheveryAlphabetofNature?\"
Heceased,speechlessforfury;andsometimeelapsedbeforeIcouldinducehimtoresumehisnarrative。
\"Youwillnot,ofcourse,supposethateverybacheloramongusfindshismatesatthefirstwooinginthisuniversalMarriageChorus。
Onthecontrary,theprocessisbymostofusmanytimesrepeated。
Fewaretheheartswhosehappylotitisatoncetorecognizeineachother’svoicesthepartnerintendedforthembyProvidence,andtoflyintoareciprocalandperfectlyharmoniousembrace。
Withmostofusthecourtshipisoflongduration。TheWooer’svoicesmayperhapsaccordwithoneofthefuturewives,butnotwithboth;
ornot,atfirst,witheither;ortheSopranoandContraltomaynotquiteharmonize。InsuchcasesNaturehasprovidedthateveryweeklyChorusshallbringthethreeLoversintocloserharmony。
Eachtrialofvoice,eachfreshdiscoveryofdiscord,almostimperceptiblyinducesthelessperfecttomodifyhisorhervocalutterancesoastoapproximatetothemoreperfect。
Andaftermanytrialsandmanyapproximations,theresultisatlastachieved。Therecomesadayatlast,when,whilethewontedMarriageChorusgoesforthfromuniversalLineland,thethreefar-offLoverssuddenlyfindthemselvesinexactharmony,and,beforetheyareawake,theweddedTripletisraptvocallyintoaduplicateembrace;andNaturerejoicesoveronemoremarriageandoverthreemorebirths。\"
Section14。HowIvainlytriedtoexplainthenatureofFlatlandThinkingthatitwastimetobringdowntheMonarchfromhisrapturestothelevelofcommonsense,Ideterminedtoendeavourtoopenuptohimsomeglimpsesofthetruth,thatistosayofthenatureofthingsinFlatland。SoIbeganthus:
\"HowdoesyourRoyalHighnessdistinguishtheshapesandpositionsofhissubjects?Iformypartnoticedbythesenseofsight,beforeIenteredyourKingdom,thatsomeofyourpeopleareLinesandothersPoints,andthatsomeoftheLinesarelarger——\"
\"Youspeakofanimpossibility,\"interruptedtheKing;
\"youmusthaveseenavision;fortodetectthedifferencebetweenaLineandaPointbythesenseofsightis,aseveryoneknows,inthenatureofthings,impossible;butitcanbedetectedbythesenseofhearing,andbythesamemeansmyshapecanbeexactlyascertained。Beholdme——IamaLine,thelongestinLineland,oversixinchesofSpace——\"\"OfLength\",Iventuredtosuggest。\"Fool,\"saidhe,\"SpaceisLength。
Interruptmeagain,andIhavedone。\"
Iapologized;buthecontinuedscornfully,\"Sinceyouareimpervioustoargument,youshallhearwithyourearshowbymeansofmytwovoicesIrevealmyshapetomyWives,whoareatthismomentsixthousandmilesseventyyardstwofeeteightinchesaway,theonetotheNorth,theothertotheSouth。Listen,Icalltothem。\"
Hechirruped,andthencomplacentlycontinued:\"Mywivesatthismomentreceivingthesoundofoneofmyvoices,closelyfollowedbytheother,andperceivingthatthelatterreachesthemafteranintervalinwhichsoundcantraverse6。457inches,inferthatoneofmymouthsis6。457inchesfurtherfromthemthantheother,andaccordinglyknowmyshapetobe6。457inches。Butyouwillofcourseunderstandthatmywivesdonotmakethiscalculationeverytimetheyhearmytwovoices。Theymadeit,onceforall,beforeweweremarried。ButtheyCOULDmakeitatanytime。
AndinthesamewayIcanestimatetheshapeofanyofmyMalesubjectsbythesenseofsound。\"
\"Buthow,\"saidI,\"ifaManfeignsaWoman’svoicewithoneofhistwovoices,orsodisguiseshisSouthernvoicethatitcannotberecognizedastheechooftheNorthern?Maynotsuchdeceptionscausegreatinconvenience?Andhaveyounomeansofcheckingfraudsofthiskindbycommandingyourneighbouringsubjectstofeeloneanother?\"Thisofcoursewasaverystupidquestion,forfeelingcouldnothaveansweredthepurpose;butIaskedwiththeviewofirritatingtheMonarch,andIsucceededperfectly。
\"What!\"criedheinhorror,\"explainyourmeaning。\"\"Feel,touch,comeintocontact,\"Ireplied。\"IfyoumeanbyFEELING,\"
saidtheKing,\"approachingsocloseastoleavenospacebetweentwoindividuals,know,Stranger,thatthisoffenceispunishableinmydominionsbydeath。Andthereasonisobvious。
ThefrailformofaWoman,beingliabletobeshatteredbysuchanapproximation,mustbepreservedbytheState;
butsinceWomencannotbedistinguishedbythesenseofsightfromMen,theLawordainsuniversallythatneitherMannorWomanshallbeapproachedsocloselyastodestroytheintervalbetweentheapproximatorandtheapproximated。
\"AndindeedwhatpossiblepurposewouldbeservedbythisillegalandunnaturalexcessofapproximationwhichyoucallTOUCHING,whenalltheendsofsobrutalandcoarseaprocessareattainedatoncemoreeasilyandmoreexactlybythesenseofhearing?
Astoyoursuggesteddangerofdeception,itisnon-existent:
fortheVoice,beingtheessenceofone’sBeing,cannotbethuschangedatwill。Butcome,supposethatIhadthepowerofpassingthroughsolidthings,sothatIcouldpenetratemysubjects,oneafteranother,eventothenumberofabillion,verifyingthesizeanddistanceofeachbythesenseofFEELING:howmuchtimeandenergywouldbewastedinthisclumsyandinaccuratemethod!
Whereasnow,inonemomentofaudition,Itakeasitwerethecensusandstatistics,local,corporeal,mentalandspiritual,ofeverylivingbeinginLineland。Hark,onlyhark!\"
Sosayinghepausedandlistened,asifinanecstasy,toasoundwhichseemedtomenobetterthanatinychirpingfromaninnumerablemultitudeoflilliputiangrasshoppers。
\"Truly,\"repliedI,\"yoursenseofhearingservesyouingoodstead,andfillsupmanyofyourdeficiencies。ButpermitmetopointoutthatyourlifeinLinelandmustbedeplorablydull。ToseenothingbutaPoint!NoteventobeabletocontemplateaStraightLine!
Nay,noteventoknowwhataStraightLineis!Tosee,yetbecutofffromthoseLinearprospectswhicharevouchsafedtousinFlatland!
Bettersurelytohavenosenseofsightatallthantoseesolittle!
IgrantyouIhavenotyourdiscriminativefacultyofhearing;
fortheconcertofallLinelandwhichgivesyousuchintensepleasure,istomenobetterthanamultitudinoustwitteringorchirping。
ButatleastIcandiscern,bysight,aLinefromaPoint。
Andletmeproveit。JustbeforeIcameintoyourkingdom,Isawyoudancingfromlefttoright,andthenfromrighttoleft,withSevenMenandaWomaninyourimmediateproximityontheleft,andeightMenandtwoWomenonyourright。Isnotthiscorrect?\"
\"Itiscorrect,\"saidtheKing,\"sofarasthenumbersandsexesareconcerned,thoughIknownotwhatyoumeanby’right’and’left’。
ButIdenythatyousawthesethings。ForhowcouldyouseetheLine,thatistosaytheinside,ofanyMan?Butyoumusthaveheardthesethings,andthendreamedthatyousawthem。
Andletmeaskwhatyoumeanbythosewords’left’and’right’。
IsupposeitisyourwayofsayingNorthwardandSouthward。\"
\"Notso,\"repliedI;\"besidesyourmotionofNorthwardandSouthward,thereisanothermotionwhichIcallfromrighttoleft。\"
KING。Exhibittome,ifyouplease,thismotionfromlefttoright。
I。Nay,thatIcannotdo,unlessyoucouldstepoutofyourLinealtogether。
KING。OutofmyLine?Doyoumeanoutoftheworld?OutofSpace?
I。Well,yes。OutofYOURWorld。OutofYOURSpace。
ForyourSpaceisnotthetrueSpace。TrueSpaceisaPlane;
butyourSpaceisonlyaLine。
KING。Ifyoucannotindicatethismotionfromlefttorightbyyourselfmovinginit,thenIbegyoutodescribeittomeinwords。
I。Ifyoucannottellyourrightsidefromyourleft,Ifearthatnowordsofminecanmakemymeaningcleartoyou。
Butsurelyyoucannotbeignorantofsosimpleadistinction。
KING。Idonotintheleastunderstandyou。
I。Alas!HowshallImakeitclear?Whenyoumovestraighton,doesitnotsometimesoccurtoyouthatyouCOULDmoveinsomeotherway,turningyoureyeroundsoastolookinthedirectiontowardswhichyoursideisnowfronting?
Inotherwords,insteadofalwaysmovinginthedirectionofoneofyourextremities,doyouneverfeeladesiretomoveinthedirection,sotospeak,ofyourside?
KING。Never。Andwhatdoyoumean?Howcanaman’sinside\"front\"inanydirection?Orhowcanamanmoveinthedirectionofhisinside?
I。Wellthen,sincewordscannotexplainthematter,Iwilltrydeeds,andwillmovegraduallyoutofLinelandinthedirectionwhichIdesiretoindicatetoyou。
AtthewordIbegantomovemybodyoutofLineland。
Aslongasanypartofmeremainedinhisdominionandinhisview,theKingkeptexclaiming,\"Iseeyou,Iseeyoustill;
youarenotmoving。\"ButwhenIhadatlastmovedmyselfoutofhisLine,hecriedinhisshrillestvoice,\"Sheisvanished;
sheisdead。\"\"Iamnotdead,\"repliedI;\"IamsimplyoutofLineland,thatistosay,outoftheStraightLinewhichyoucallSpace,andinthetrueSpace,whereIcanseethingsastheyare。AndatthismomentIcanseeyourLine,orside——
orinsideasyouarepleasedtocallit;andIcanseealsotheMenandWomenontheNorthandSouthofyou,whomIwillnowenumerate,describingtheirorder,theirsize,andtheintervalbetweeneach。\"
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WhenIhaddonethisatgreatlength,Icriedtriumphantly,\"Doesthatatlastconvinceyou?\"And,withthat,IoncemoreenteredLineland,takingupthesamepositionasbefore。
ButtheMonarchreplied,\"IfyouwereaManofsense——though,asyouappeartohaveonlyonevoiceIhavelittledoubtyouarenotaManbutaWoman——but,ifyouhadaparticleofsense,youwouldlistentoreason。YouaskmetobelievethatthereisanotherLinebesidesthatwhichmysensesindicate,andanothermotionbesidesthatofwhichIamdailyconscious。I,inreturn,askyoutodescribeinwordsorindicatebymotionthatotherLineofwhichyouspeak。Insteadofmoving,youmerelyexercisesomemagicartofvanishingandreturningtosight;andinsteadofanyluciddescriptionofyournewWorld,yousimplytellmethenumbersandsizesofsomefortyofmyretinue,factsknowntoanychildinmycapital。Cananythingbemoreirrationaloraudacious?Acknowledgeyourfollyordepartfrommydominions。\"
Furiousathisperversity,andespeciallyindignantthatheprofessedtobeignorantofmysex,Iretortedinnomeasuredterms,\"BesottedBeing!Youthinkyourselftheperfectionofexistence,whileyouareinrealitythemostimperfectandimbecile。
Youprofesstosee,whereasyoucanseenothingbutaPoint!
YouplumeyourselfoninferringtheexistenceofaStraightLine;
butICANSEEStraightLines,andinfertheexistenceofAngles,Triangles,Squares,Pentagons,Hexagons,andevenCircles。
Whywastemorewords?SufficeitthatIamthecompletionofyourincompleteself。YouareaLine,butIamaLineofLines,calledinmycountryaSquare:andevenI,infinitelysuperiorthoughIamtoyou,amoflittleaccountamongthegreatnoblesofFlatland,whenceIhavecometovisityou,inthehopeofenlighteningyourignorance。\"
HearingthesewordstheKingadvancedtowardsmewithamenacingcryasiftopiercemethroughthediagonal;andinthatsamemomenttherearosefrommyriadsofhissubjectsamultitudinouswar-cry,increasinginvehemencetillatlastmethoughtitrivalledtheroarofanarmyofahundredthousandIsosceles,andtheartilleryofathousandPentagons。Spell-boundandmotionless,Icouldneitherspeaknormovetoaverttheimpendingdestruction;
andstillthenoisegrewlouder,andtheKingcamecloser,whenIawoketofindthebreakfast-bellrecallingmetotherealitiesofFlatland。
Section15。ConcerningaStrangerfromSpacelandFromdreamsIproceedtofacts。
Itwasthelastdayofthe1999thyearofourera。
Thepatteringoftherainhadlongagoannouncednightfall;
andIwassittinginthecompanyofmywife,musingontheeventsofthepastandtheprospectsofthecomingyear,thecomingcentury,thecomingMillennium。
[Note:WhenIsay\"sitting\",ofcourseIdonotmeananychangeofattitudesuchasyouinSpacelandsignifybythatword;
foraswehavenofeet,wecannomore\"sit\"nor\"stand\"
(inyoursenseoftheword)thanoneofyoursolesorflounders。
Nevertheless,weperfectlywellrecognizethedifferentmentalstatesofvolitionimpliedin\"lying\",\"sitting\",and\"standing\",whicharetosomeextentindicatedtoabeholderbyaslightincreaseoflustrecorrespondingtotheincreaseofvolition。
Butonthis,andathousandotherkindredsubjects,timeforbidsmetodwell。]
MyfourSonsandtwoorphanGrandchildrenhadretiredtotheirseveralapartments;andmywifealoneremainedwithmetoseetheoldMillenniumoutandthenewonein。
Iwasraptinthought,ponderinginmymindsomewordsthathadcasuallyissuedfromthemouthofmyyoungestGrandson,amostpromisingyoungHexagonofunusualbrilliancyandperfectangularity。HisunclesandIhadbeengivinghimhisusualpracticallessoninSightRecognition,turningourselvesuponourcentres,nowrapidly,nowmoreslowly,andquestioninghimastoourpositions;andhisanswershadbeensosatisfactorythatIhadbeeninducedtorewardhimbygivinghimafewhintsonArithmetic,asappliedtoGeometry。
TakingnineSquares,eachanincheveryway,IhadputthemtogethersoastomakeonelargeSquare,withasideofthreeinches,andIhadhenceprovedtomylittleGrandsonthat——thoughitwasimpossibleforustoSEEtheinsideoftheSquare——
yetwemightascertainthenumberofsquareinchesinaSquarebysimplysquaringthenumberofinchesintheside:\"andthus,\"
saidI,\"weknowthat3^2,or9,representsthenumberofsquareinchesinaSquarewhosesideis3incheslong。\"
ThelittleHexagonmeditatedonthisawhileandthensaidtome;
\"Butyouhavebeenteachingmetoraisenumberstothethirdpower:
Isuppose3^3mustmeansomethinginGeometry;whatdoesitmean?\"
\"Nothingatall,\"repliedI,\"notatleastinGeometry;
forGeometryhasonlyTwoDimensions。\"AndthenIbegantoshewtheboyhowaPointbymovingthroughalengthofthreeinchesmakesaLineofthreeinches,whichmayberepresentedby3;
andhowaLineofthreeinches,movingparalleltoitselfthroughalengthofthreeinches,makesaSquareofthreeincheseveryway,whichmayberepresentedby3^2。
Uponthis,myGrandson,againreturningtohisformersuggestion,tookmeuprathersuddenlyandexclaimed,\"Well,then,ifaPointbymovingthreeinches,makesaLineofthreeinchesrepresentedby3;andifastraightLineofthreeinches,movingparalleltoitself,makesaSquareofthreeincheseveryway,representedby3^2;itmustbethataSquareofthreeincheseveryway,movingsomehowparalleltoitself(butIdon’tseehow)
mustmakeSomethingelse(butIdon’tseewhat)ofthreeincheseveryway——andthismustberepresentedby3^3。\"
\"Gotobed,\"saidI,alittleruffledbythisinterruption:
\"ifyouwouldtalklessnonsense,youwouldremembermoresense。\"
SomyGrandsonhaddisappearedindisgrace;andthereIsatbymyWife’sside,endeavouringtoformaretrospectoftheyear1999
andofthepossibilitiesoftheyear2000,butnotquiteabletoshakeoffthethoughtssuggestedbytheprattleofmybrightlittleHexagon。Onlyafewsandsnowremainedinthehalf-hourglass。
RousingmyselffrommyreverieIturnedtheglassNorthwardforthelasttimeintheoldMillennium;andintheact,Iexclaimedaloud,\"Theboyisafool。\"
StraightwayIbecameconsciousofaPresenceintheroom,andachillingbreaththrilledthroughmyverybeing。
\"Heisnosuchthing,\"criedmyWife,\"andyouarebreakingtheCommandmentsinthusdishonouringyourownGrandson。\"
ButItooknonoticeofher。LookingroundineverydirectionIcouldseenothing;yetstillIFELTaPresence,andshiveredasthecoldwhispercameagain。Istartedup。\"Whatisthematter?\"
saidmyWife,\"thereisnodraught;whatareyoulookingfor?
Thereisnothing。\"Therewasnothing;andIresumedmyseat,againexclaiming,\"Theboyisafool,Isay;3^3canhavenomeaninginGeometry。\"Atoncetherecameadistinctlyaudiblereply,\"Theboyisnotafool;and3^3hasanobviousGeometricalmeaning。\"
MyWifeaswellasmyselfheardthewords,althoughshedidnotunderstandtheirmeaning,andbothofussprangforwardinthedirectionofthesound。WhatwasourhorrorwhenwesawbeforeusaFigure!AtthefirstglanceitappearedtobeaWoman,seensideways;butamoment’sobservationshewedmethattheextremitiespassedintodimnesstoorapidlytorepresentoneoftheFemaleSex;andIshouldhavethoughtitaCircle,onlythatitseemedtochangeitssizeinamannerimpossibleforaCircleorforanyregularFigureofwhichIhadhadexperience。
ButmyWifehadnotmyexperience,northecoolnessnecessarytonotethesecharacteristics。WiththeusualhastinessandunreasoningjealousyofherSex,sheflewatoncetotheconclusionthataWomanhadenteredthehousethroughsomesmallaperture。
\"Howcomesthispersonhere?\"sheexclaimed,\"youpromisedme,mydear,thatthereshouldbenoventilatorsinournewhouse。\"
\"Norarethereany,\"saidI;\"butwhatmakesyouthinkthatthestrangerisaWoman?IseebymypowerofSightRecognition————\"
\"Oh,IhavenopatiencewithyourSightRecognition,\"repliedshe,\"’Feelingisbelieving’and’AStraightLinetothetouchisworthaCircletothesight’\"——twoProverbs,verycommonwiththeFrailerSexinFlatland。
\"Well,\"saidI,forIwasafraidofirritatingher,\"ifitmustbeso,demandanintroduction。\"Assuminghermostgraciousmanner,myWifeadvancedtowardstheStranger,\"Permitme,Madam,tofeelandbefeltby————\"then,suddenlyrecoiling,\"Oh!
itisnotaWoman,andtherearenoangleseither,notatraceofone。
CanitbethatIhavesomisbehavedtoaperfectCircle?\"
\"Iamindeed,inacertainsenseaCircle,\"repliedtheVoice,\"andamoreperfectCirclethananyinFlatland;buttospeakmoreaccurately,IammanyCirclesinone。\"Thenheaddedmoremildly,\"Ihaveamessage,dearMadam,toyourhusband,whichImustnotdeliverinyourpresence;and,ifyouwouldsufferustoretireforafewminutes————\"ButmyWifewouldnotlistentotheproposalthatouraugustVisitorshouldsoincommodehimself,andassuringtheCirclethatthehourofherownretirementhadlongpassed,withmanyreiteratedapologiesforherrecentindiscretion,sheatlastretreatedtoherapartment。
Iglancedatthehalf-hourglass。Thelastsandshadfallen。
ThethirdMillenniumhadbegun。
Section16。HowtheStrangervainlyendeavouredtorevealtomeinwordsthemysteriesofSpacelandAssoonasthesoundofthePeace-cryofmydepartingWifehaddiedaway,IbegantoapproachtheStrangerwiththeintentionoftakinganearerviewandofbiddinghimbeseated:
buthisappearancestruckmedumbandmotionlesswithastonishment。
WithouttheslightestsymptomsofangularityheneverthelessvariedeveryinstantwithgradationsofsizeandbrightnessscarcelypossibleforanyFigurewithinthescopeofmyexperience。ThethoughtflashedacrossmethatImighthavebeforemeaburglarorcut-throat,somemonstrousIrregularIsosceles,who,byfeigningthevoiceofaCircle,hadobtainedadmissionsomehowintothehouse,andwasnowpreparingtostabmewithhisacuteangle。
Inasitting-room,theabsenceofFog(andtheseasonhappenedtoberemarkablydry),madeitdifficultformetotrusttoSightRecognition,especiallyattheshortdistanceatwhichIwasstanding。Desperatewithfear,Irushedforwardwithanunceremonious,\"Youmustpermitme,Sir——\"andfelthim。
MyWifewasright。Therewasnotthetraceofanangle,nottheslightestroughnessorinequality:neverinmylifehadImetwithamoreperfectCircle。HeremainedmotionlesswhileIwalkedroundhim,beginningfromhiseyeandreturningtoitagain。
Circularhewasthroughout,aperfectlysatisfactoryCircle;
therecouldnotbeadoubtofit。Thenfollowedadialogue,whichIwillendeavourtosetdownasnearasIcanrecollectit,omittingonlysomeofmyprofuseapologies——forIwascoveredwithshameandhumiliationthatI,aSquare,shouldhavebeenguiltyoftheimpertinenceoffeelingaCircle。ItwascommencedbytheStrangerwithsomeimpatienceatthelengthinessofmyintroductoryprocess。
STRANGER。Haveyoufeltmeenoughbythistime?Areyounotintroducedtomeyet?
I。MostillustriousSir,excusemyawkwardness,whicharisesnotfromignoranceoftheusagesofpolitesociety,butfromalittlesurpriseandnervousness,consequentonthissomewhatunexpectedvisit。AndIbeseechyoutorevealmyindiscretiontonoone,andespeciallynottomyWife。ButbeforeyourLordshipentersintofurthercommunications,wouldhedeigntosatisfythecuriosityofonewhowouldgladlyknowwhencehisVisitorcame?
STRANGER。FromSpace,fromSpace,Sir:whenceelse?
I。Pardonme,myLord,butisnotyourLordshipalreadyinSpace,yourLordshipandhishumbleservant,evenatthismoment?
STRANGER。Pooh!whatdoyouknowofSpace?DefineSpace。
I。Space,myLord,isheightandbreadthindefinitelyprolonged。
STRANGER。Exactly:youseeyoudonotevenknowwhatSpaceis。
YouthinkitisofTwoDimensionsonly;butIhavecometoannouncetoyouaThird——height,breadth,andlength。
I。YourLordshipispleasedtobemerry。Wealsospeakoflengthandheight,orbreadthandthickness,thusdenotingTwoDimensionsbyfournames。
STRANGER。ButImeannotonlythreenames,butThreeDimensions。
I。WouldyourLordshipindicateorexplaintomeinwhatdirectionistheThirdDimension,unknowntome?
STRANGER。Icamefromit。Itisupaboveanddownbelow。
I。MyLordmeansseeminglythatitisNorthwardandSouthward。
STRANGER。Imeannothingofthekind。Imeanadirectioninwhichyoucannotlook,becauseyouhavenoeyeinyourside。
I。Pardonme,myLord,amoment’sinspectionwillconvinceyourLordshipthatIhaveaperfectluminaryatthejunctureoftwoofmysides。
STRANGER。Yes:butinordertoseeintoSpaceyououghttohaveaneye,notonyourPerimeter,butonyourside,thatis,onwhatyouwouldprobablycallyourinside;butweinSpacelandshouldcallityourside。
I。Aneyeinmyinside!Aneyeinmystomach!YourLordshipjests。
STRANGER。Iaminnojestinghumour。ItellyouthatIcomefromSpace,or,sinceyouwillnotunderstandwhatSpacemeans,fromtheLandofThreeDimensionswhenceIbutlatelylookeddownuponyourPlanewhichyoucallSpaceforsooth。FromthatpositionofadvantageIdiscernedallthatyouspeakofasSOLID
(bywhichyoumean\"enclosedonfoursides\"),yourhouses,yourchurches,yourverychestsandsafes,yesevenyourinsidesandstomachs,alllyingopenandexposedtomyview。
I。Suchassertionsareeasilymade,myLord。
STRANGER。Butnoteasilyproved,youmean。ButImeantoprovemine。
WhenIdescendedhere,IsawyourfourSons,thePentagons,eachinhisapartment,andyourtwoGrandsonstheHexagons;
IsawyouryoungestHexagonremainawhilewithyouandthenretiretohisroom,leavingyouandyourWifealone。
IsawyourIsoscelesservants,threeinnumber,inthekitchenatsupper,andthelittlePageinthescullery。ThenIcamehere,andhowdoyouthinkIcame?
I。Throughtheroof,Isuppose。
STRANGER。Notso。Yourroof,asyouknowverywell,hasbeenrecentlyrepaired,andhasnoaperturebywhichevenaWomancouldpenetrate。ItellyouIcomefromSpace。AreyounotconvincedbywhatIhavetoldyouofyourchildrenandhousehold?
I。YourLordshipmustbeawarethatsuchfactstouchingthebelongingsofhishumbleservantmightbeeasilyascertainedbyanyoneintheneighbourhoodpossessingyourLordship’samplemeansofobtaininginformation。
STRANGER。(TOHIMSELF。)WhatmustIdo?Stay;onemoreargumentsuggestsitselftome。WhenyouseeaStraightLine——yourwife,forexample——howmanyDimensionsdoyouattributetoher?
I。YourLordshipwouldtreatmeasifIwereoneofthevulgarwho,beingignorantofMathematics,supposethataWomanisreallyaStraightLine,andonlyofOneDimension。No,no,myLord;
weSquaresarebetteradvised,andareaswellawareasyourLordshipthataWoman,thoughpopularlycalledaStraightLine,is,reallyandscientifically,averythinParallelogram,possessingTwoDimensions,liketherestofus,viz。,lengthandbreadth(orthickness)。
STRANGER。ButtheveryfactthataLineisvisibleimpliesthatitpossessesyetanotherDimension。
I。MyLord,IhavejustacknowledgedthataWomanisbroadaswellaslong。Weseeherlength,weinferherbreadth;
which,thoughveryslight,iscapableofmeasurement。
STRANGER。Youdonotunderstandme。ImeanthatwhenyouseeaWoman,youought——besidesinferringherbreadth——
toseeherlength,andtoSEEwhatwecallherHEIGHT;
althoughthatlastDimensionisinfinitesimalinyourcountry。
IfaLineweremerelengthwithout\"height\",itwouldceasetooccupySpaceandwouldbecomeinvisible。Surelyyoumustrecognizethis?
I。ImustindeedconfessthatIdonotintheleastunderstandyourLordship。WhenweinFlatlandseeaLine,weseelengthandBRIGHTNESS。Ifthebrightnessdisappears,theLineisextinguished,and,asyousay,ceasestooccupySpace。
ButamItosupposethatyourLordshipgivestobrightnessthetitleofaDimension,andthatwhatwecall\"bright\"youcall\"high\"?
STRANGER。No,indeed。By\"height\"ImeanaDimensionlikeyourlength:only,withyou,\"height\"isnotsoeasilyperceptible,beingextremelysmall。
I。MyLord,yourassertioniseasilyputtothetest。
YousayIhaveaThirdDimension,whichyoucall\"height\"。
Now,Dimensionimpliesdirectionandmeasurement。Dobutmeasuremy\"height\",ormerelyindicatetomethedirectioninwhichmy\"height\"extends,andIwillbecomeyourconvert。Otherwise,yourLordship’sownunderstandingmustholdmeexcused。
STRANGER。(TOHIMSELF。)Icandoneither。HowshallI
convincehim?Surelyaplainstatementoffactsfollowedbyoculardemonstrationoughttosuffice。——Now,Sir;listentome。
YouarelivingonaPlane。WhatyoustyleFlatlandisthevastlevelsurfaceofwhatImaycallafluid,on,orin,thetopofwhichyouandyourcountrymenmoveabout,withoutrisingaboveitorfallingbelowit。
IamnotaplaneFigure,butaSolid。YoucallmeaCircle;
butinrealityIamnotaCircle,butaninfinitenumberofCircles,ofsizevaryingfromaPointtoaCircleofthirteeninchesindiameter,oneplacedonthetopoftheother。WhenIcutthroughyourplaneasIamnowdoing,Imakeinyourplaneasectionwhichyou,veryrightly,callaCircle。ForevenaSphere——
whichismypropernameinmyowncountry——ifhemanifesthimselfatalltoaninhabitantofFlatland——mustneedsmanifesthimselfasaCircle。
Doyounotremember——forI,whoseeallthings,discernedlastnightthephantasmalvisionofLinelandwrittenuponyourbrain——
doyounotremember,Isay,how,whenyouenteredtherealmofLineland,youwerecompelledtomanifestyourselftotheKing,notasaSquare,butasaLine,becausethatLinearRealmhadnotDimensionsenoughtorepresentthewholeofyou,butonlyasliceorsectionofyou?Inpreciselythesameway,yourcountryofTwoDimensionsisnotspaciousenoughtorepresentme,abeingofThree,butcanonlyexhibitasliceorsectionofme,whichiswhatyoucallaCircle。
Thediminishedbrightnessofyoureyeindicatesincredulity。Butnowpreparetoreceiveproofpositiveofthetruthofmyassertions。
Youcannotindeedseemorethanoneofmysections,orCircles,atatime;foryouhavenopowertoraiseyoureyeoutoftheplaneofFlatland;butyoucanatleastseethat,asIriseinSpace,somysectionsbecomesmaller。Seenow,Iwillrise;andtheeffectuponyoureyewillbethatmyCirclewillbecomesmallerandsmallertillitdwindlestoapointandfinallyvanishes。
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Therewasno\"rising\"thatIcouldsee;buthediminishedandfinallyvanished。IwinkedonceortwicetomakesurethatIwasnotdreaming。Butitwasnodream。Forfromthedepthsofnowherecameforthahollowvoice——closetomyheartitseemed——
\"AmIquitegone?Areyouconvincednow?Well,nowIwillgraduallyreturntoFlatlandandyoushallseemysectionbecomelargerandlarger。\"
EveryreaderinSpacelandwilleasilyunderstandthatmymysteriousGuestwasspeakingthelanguageoftruthandevenofsimplicity。Buttome,proficientthoughIwasinFlatlandMathematics,itwasbynomeansasimplematter。
TheroughdiagramgivenabovewillmakeitcleartoanySpacelandchildthattheSphere,ascendinginthethreepositionsindicatedthere,mustneedshavemanifestedhimselftome,ortoanyFlatlander,asaCircle,atfirstoffullsize,thensmall,andatlastverysmallindeed,approachingtoaPoint。Buttome,althoughIsawthefactsbeforeme,thecauseswereasdarkasever。
AllthatIcouldcomprehendwas,thattheCirclehadmadehimselfsmallerandvanished,andthathehadnowreappearedandwasrapidlymakinghimselflarger。
Whenheregainedhisoriginalsize,heheavedadeepsigh;
forheperceivedbymysilencethatIhadaltogetherfailedtocomprehendhim。AndindeedIwasnowincliningtothebeliefthathemustbenoCircleatall,butsomeextremelycleverjuggler;
orelsethattheoldwives’talesweretrue,andthatafterallthereweresuchpeopleasEnchantersandMagicians。
Afteralongpausehemutteredtohimself,\"Oneresourcealoneremains,ifIamnottoresorttoaction。ImusttrythemethodofAnalogy。\"
Thenfollowedastilllongersilence,afterwhichhecontinuedourdialogue。
SPHERE。Tellme,Mr。Mathematician;ifaPointmovesNorthward,andleavesaluminouswake,whatnamewouldyougivetothewake?
I。AstraightLine。
SPHERE。AndastraightLinehashowmanyextremities?
I。Two。
SPHERE。NowconceivetheNorthwardstraightLinemovingparalleltoitself,EastandWest,sothateverypointinitleavesbehinditthewakeofastraightLine。WhatnamewillyougivetotheFiguretherebyformed?WewillsupposethatitmovesthroughadistanceequaltotheoriginalstraightLine。——Whatname,Isay?
I。ASquare。
SPHERE。AndhowmanysideshasaSquare?Howmanyangles?
I。Foursidesandfourangles。
SPHERE。Nowstretchyourimaginationalittle,andconceiveaSquareinFlatland,movingparalleltoitselfupward。
I。What?Northward?
SPHERE。No,notNorthward;upward;outofFlatlandaltogether。
IfitmovedNorthward,theSouthernpointsintheSquarewouldhavetomovethroughthepositionspreviouslyoccupiedbytheNorthernpoints。
Butthatisnotmymeaning。
ImeanthateveryPointinyou——foryouareaSquareandwillservethepurposeofmyillustration——everyPointinyou,thatistosayinwhatyoucallyourinside,istopassupwardsthroughSpaceinsuchawaythatnoPointshallpassthroughthepositionpreviouslyoccupiedbyanyotherPoint;buteachPointshalldescribeastraightLineofitsown。ThisisallinaccordancewithAnalogy;
surelyitmustbecleartoyou。
Restrainingmyimpatience——forIwasnowunderastrongtemptationtorushblindlyatmyVisitorandtoprecipitatehimintoSpace,oroutofFlatland,anywhere,sothatIcouldgetridofhim——
Ireplied:——
\"AndwhatmaybethenatureoftheFigurewhichIamtoshapeoutbythismotionwhichyouarepleasedtodenotebytheword’upward’?
IpresumeitisdescribableinthelanguageofFlatland。\"
SPHERE。Oh,certainly。Itisallplainandsimple,andinstrictaccordancewithAnalogy——only,bytheway,youmustnotspeakoftheresultasbeingaFigure,butasaSolid。
ButIwilldescribeittoyou。OrrathernotI,butAnalogy。
WebeganwithasinglePoint,whichofcourse——beingitselfaPoint——hasonlyONEterminalPoint。
OnePointproducesaLinewithTWOterminalPoints。
OneLineproducesaSquarewithFOURterminalPoints。
Nowyoucangiveyourselftheanswertoyourownquestion:1,2,4,areevidentlyinGeometricalProgression。Whatisthenextnumber?
I。Eight。
SPHERE。Exactly。TheoneSquareproducesaSOMETHING-WHICH-
YOU-DO-NOT-AS-YET-KNOW-A-NAME-FOR-BUT-WHICH-WE-CALL-A-CUBE
withEIGHTterminalPoints。Nowareyouconvinced?
I。AndhasthisCreaturesides,aswellasanglesorwhatyoucall\"terminalPoints\"?
SPHERE。Ofcourse;andallaccordingtoAnalogy。But,bytheway,notwhatYOUcallsides,butwhatWEcallsides。
YouwouldcallthemSOLIDS。
I。AndhowmanysolidsorsideswillappertaintothisBeingwhomIamtogeneratebythemotionofmyinsideinan\"upward\"direction,andwhomyoucallaCube?
SPHERE。Howcanyouask?Andyouamathematician!
Thesideofanythingisalways,ifImaysosay,oneDimensionbehindthething。Consequently,asthereisnoDimensionbehindaPoint,aPointhas0sides;aLine,ifImaysay,has2sides(forthePointsofaLinemaybecalledbycourtesy,itssides);
aSquarehas4sides;0,2,4;whatProgressiondoyoucallthat?
I。Arithmetical。