flatland(弗莱特兰)-第2节
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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
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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the country； the pentagonal construction has superseded every other。 It is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
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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 increase of their third side or base； and a
shrinkage of the two other sides。 Intermarriages （arranged by the Priests）
between the sons and daughters of these more intellectual members of the
lower classes generally result in an offspring approximating still more to
the type of the Equal…Sided Triangle。
Rarelyin proportion to the vast numbers of Isosceles births is a
genuine and certifiable Equal…Sided Triangle produced from Isosceles
parents （footnote 1）。 Such a birth requires； as its antecedents； not only a
series of carefully arranged intermarriages； but also a long…continued
exercise of frugality and self…control on the part of the would…be ancestors
of the coming Equilateral； and a patient； systematic； and continuous
development of the Isosceles intellect through many generations。
The birth of a True Equilateral Triangle from Isosceles parents is the
subject of rejoicing in our country for many furlongs round。 After a strict
examination conducted by the Sanitary and Social Board； the infant； if
certified as Regular； is with solemn ceremonial admitted into the class of
Equilaterals。 He is then immediately taken from his proud yet sorrowing
parents and adopted by some childless Equilateral； who is bound by oath
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never to permit the child henceforth to enter his former home or so much
as to look upon his relations again； for fear lest the freshly developed
organism may； by force of unconscious imitation； fall back again into his
hereditary level。
The occasional emergence of an Equilateral from the ranks of his serf…
born ancestors is welcomed； not only by the poor serfs themselves； as a
gleam of light and hope shed upon the monotonous squalor of their
existence； but also by the Aristocracy at large； for all the higher classes are
well aware that these rare phenomena； while they do little or nothing to
vulgarize their own privileges； serve as almost useful barrier against
revolution from below。
Had the acute…angled rabble been all； without exception； absolutely
destitute of hope and of ambition； they might have found leaders in some
of their many seditious outbreaks； so able as to render their superior
numbers and strength too much even for the wisdom of the Circles。 But a
wise ordinance of Nature has decreed that in proportion as the working…
classes increase in intelligence； knowledge； and all virtue； in that same
proportion their acute angle （which makes them physically terrible） shall
increase also and approximate to their comparatively harmless angle of the
Equilateral Triangle。 Thus； in the most brutal and formidable off the
soldier class creatures almost on a level with women in their lack of
intelligence it is found that； as they wax in the mental ability necessary
to employ their tremendous penetrating power to advantage； so do they
wane in the power of penetration itself。
How admirable is the Law of Compensation！ And how perfect a proof
of the natural fitness and； I may almost say； the divine origin of the
aristocratic constitution of the States of Flatland！ By a judicious use of this
Law of Nature； the Polygons and Circles are almost always able to stifle
sedition in its very cradle； taking advantage of the irrepressible and
boundless hopefulness of the human mind。 Art also comes to the aid of
Law
