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！
on delicate Females； the force of attraction tells much more heavily than
on the robust of the Male Sex； so that it is a point of breeding； if you meet
a Lady on the street； always to give her the North side of the wayby no
means an easy thing to do always at short notice when you are in rude
health and in a climate where it is difficult to tell your North from your
South。
Windows there are none in our houses： for the light comes to us alike
4
… Page 5…
Flatland
in our homes and out of them； by day and by night； equally at all times and
in all places； whence we know not。 It was in old days； with our learned
men； an interesting and oft…investigate question； 〃What is the origin of
light？〃 and the solution of it has been repeatedly attempted； with no other
result than to crowd our lunatic asylums with the would…be solvers。 Hence；
after fruitless attempts to suppress such investigations indirectly by
making them liable to a heavy tax； the Legislature； in comparatively recent
times； absolutely prohibited them。 Ialas； I alone in Flatlandknow now
only too well the true solution of this mysterious problem； but my
knowledge cannot be made intelligible to a single one of my countrymen；
and I am mocked at I； the sole possessor of the truths of Space and of the
theory of the introduction of Light from the world of three Dimensionsas
if I were the maddest of the mad！ But a truce to these painful digressions：
let me return to our homes。
The most common form for the construction of a house is five…sided or
pentagonal； as in the annexed figure。 The two Northern sides RO； OF；
constitute the roof； and for the most part have no doors； on the East is a
small door for the Women； on the West a much larger one for the Men； the
South side or floor is usually doorless。
Square and triangular houses are not allowed； and for this reason。 The
angles of a Square （and still more those of an equilateral Triangle；） being
much more pointed than those of a Pentagon； and the lines of inanimate
objects （such as houses） being dimmer than the lines of Men and Women；
it follows that there is no little danger lest the points of a square of
triangular house residence might do serious injury to an inconsiderate or
perhaps absentminded traveller suddenly running against them： and
therefore； as early as the eleventh century of our era； triangular houses
were universally forbidden by Law； the only exceptions being
fortifications； powder…magazines； barracks； and other state buildings；
which is not desirable that the general public should approach without
circumspection。
At this period； square houses were still everywhere permitted； though
discouraged by a special tax。 But； about three centuries afterwards； the
5
… Page 6…
Flatland
Law decided that in all towns containing a population above ten thousand；
the angle of a Pentagon was the smallest house…angle that could be
allowed consistently with the public safety。 The good sense of the
community has seconded the efforts of the Legislature； and now； even in
the country； the pentagonal construction has superseded every other。 It is
only now and then in some very remote and backward agricultural district
that an antiquarian may still discover a square house。
SECTION 3 Concerning the Inhabitants of
Flatland
The greatest length or breadth of a full grown inhabitant of Flatland
may be estimated at about eleven of your inches。 Twelve inches may be
regarded as a maximum。
Our Women are Straight Lines。
Our Soldiers and Lowest Class of Workmen are Triangles with two
equal sides； each about eleven inches long； and a base or third side so
short （often not exceeding half an inch） that they form at their vertices a
very sharp and formidable angle。 Indeed when their bases are of the most
degraded type （not more than the eighth part of an inch in size）； they can
hardly be distinguished from Straight lines or Women； so extremely
pointed are their vertices。 With us； as with you； these Triangles are
distinguished from others by being called Isosceles； and by this name I
shall refer to them in the following pages。
Our Middle Class consists of Equilateral or Equal…Sided Triangles。
Our Professional Men and Gentlemen are Squares （to which class I
myself belong） and Five…Sided Figures or Pentagons。
Next above these come the Nobility； of whom there are several degrees；
beginning at Six…Sided Figures； or Hexagons； and from thence rising in
the number of their sides till they receive the honourable title of Polygonal；
or many…Sided。 Finally when the number of the sides becomes so
numerous； and the sides themselves so small； that the figure cannot be
6
… Page 7…
Flatland
distinguished from a circle； he is included in the Circular or Priestly order；
and this is the highest class of all。
It is a Law of Nature with us that a male child shall have one more
side than his father； so that each generation shall rise （as a rule） one step in
the scale of development and nobility。 Thus the son of a Square is a
Pentagon； the son of a Pentagon； a Hexagon； and so on。
But this rule applies not always to the Tradesman； and still less often
to the Soldiers； and to the Workmen； who indeed can hardly be said to
deserve the name of human Figures； since they have not all their sides
equal。 With them therefore the Law of Nature does not hold； and the son
of an Isosceles （i。e。 a Triangle with two sides equal） remains Isosceles still。
Nevertheless； all hope is not such out； even from the Isosceles； that his
posterity may ultimately rise above his degraded condition。 For； after a
long series of military successes； or diligent and skillful labours； it is
generally found that the more intelligent among the Artisan and Soldier
classes manifest a slight