the coming race(一个即临种族)-第6节
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in another handwriting a word strange to me beneath it。
Said the host； 〃Thus we began； and my daughter Zee； who belongs to
the College of Sages； has been your instructress and ours too。〃
Zee then placed before me other metallic sheets； on which； in my
writing； words first； and then sentences； were inscribed。 Under each
word and each sentence strange characters in another hand。 Rallying my
senses； I comprehended that thus a rude dictionary had been effected。
Had it been done while I was dreaming？ 〃That is enough now；〃 said Zee；
in a tone of command。 〃Repose and take food。〃
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CHAPTER VII。
A room to myself was assigned to me in this vast edifice。 It was
prettily and fantastically arranged； but without any of the splendour of
metal…work or gems which was displayed in the more public apartments。
The walls were hung with a variegated matting made from the stalks and
fibers of plants； and the floor carpeted with the same。
The bed was without curtains； its supports of iron resting on balls of
crystal； the coverings； of a thin white substance resembling cotton。
There were sundry shelves containing books。 24A curtained recess
communicated with an aviary filled with singing… birds； of which I did not
recognise one resembling those I have seen on earth； except a beautiful
species of dove； though this was distinguished from our doves by a tall
crest of bluish plumes。 All these birds had been trained to sing in artful
tunes； and greatly exceeded the skill of our piping bullfinches； which can
rarely achieve more than two tunes； and cannot； I believe； sing those in
concert。 One might have supposed one's self at an opera in listening to
the voices in my aviary。 There were duets and trios； and quartetts and
choruses； all arranged as in one piece of music。 Did I want silence from
the birds？ I had but to draw a curtain over the aviary； and their song
hushed as they found themselves left in the dark。 Another opening
formed a window； not glazed； but on touching a spring； a shutter ascended
from the floor； formed of some substance less transparent than glass； but
still sufficiently pellucid to allow a softened view of the scene without。
To this window was attached a balcony； or rather hanging garden； wherein
grew many graceful plants and brilliant flowers。 The apartment and its
appurtenances had thus a character； if strange in detail； still familiar； as a
whole； to modern notions of luxury； and would have excited admiration if
found attached to the apartments of an English duchess or a fashionable
French author。 Before I arrived this was Zee's chamber； she had
hospitably assigned it to me。
Some hours after the waking up which is described in my last chapter；
I was lying alone on my couch trying to fix my thoughts on conjecture as
to the nature and genus of the people amongst whom I was thrown； when
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The Coming Race
my host and his daughter Zee entered the room。 My host； still speaking
my native language； inquired with much politeness； whether it would be
agreeable to me to converse； or if I preferred solitude。 I replied； that I
should feel much honoured and obliged by the opportunity offered me to
express my gratitude for the hospitality and civilities I had received in a
country to which I was a stranger； 25and to learn enough of its customs
and manners not to offend through ignorance。
As I spoke； I had of course risen from my couch： but Zee； much to my
confusion； curtly ordered me to lie down again； and there was something
in her voice and eye； gentle as both were； that compelled my obedience。
She then seated herself unconcernedly at the foot of my bed； while her
father took his place on a divan a few feet distant。
〃But what part of the world do you come from？〃 asked my host；
〃that we should appear so strange to you and you to us？ I have seen
individual specimens of nearly all the races differing from our own； except
the primeval savages who dwell in the most desolate and remote recesses
of uncultivated nature； unacquainted with other light than that they obtain
from volcanic fires； and contented to grope their way in the dark； as do
many creeping； crawling and flying things。 But certainly you cannot be a
member of those barbarous tribes； nor； on the other hand； do you seem to
belong to any civilised people。〃
I was somewhat nettled at this last observation； and replied that I had
the honour to belong to one of the most civilised nations of the earth； and
that； so far as light was concerned； while I admired the ingenuity and
disregard of expense with which my host and his fellow…citizens had
contrived to illumine the regions unpenetrated by the rays of the sun； yet I
could not conceive how any who had once beheld the orbs of heaven
could compare to their lustre the artificial lights invented by the
necessities of man。 But my host said he had seen specimens of most of
the races differing from his own； save the wretched barbarians he had
mentioned。 Now； was it possible that he had never been on the surface of
the earth； or could he only be referring to communities buried within its
entrails？
My host was for some moments silent； his countenance showed a
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degree of surprise which the people of that race very rarely 26manifest
under any circumstances； howsoever extraordinary。 But Zee was more
intelligent； and exclaimed； 〃So you see； my father； that there is truth in the
old tradition； there always is truth in every tradition commonly believed in
all times and by all tribes。〃
〃Zee；〃 said my host mildly； 〃you belong to the College of Sages； and
ought to be wiser than I am； but； as chief of the Light…preserving Council；
it is my duty to take nothing for granted till it is proved to the evidence of
my own senses。〃 Then； turning to me； he asked me several questions about
the surface of the earth and the heavenly bodies； upon which； though I
answered him to the best of my knowledge； my answers seemed not to
satisfy nor convince him。 He shook his head quietly； and； changing the
subject rather abruptly； asked how I had come down from what he was
pleased to call one world to the other。 I answered； that under the surface
of the earth there were mines containing minerals； or metals； essential to
our wants and our progress in all arts and industries； and I then briefly
explained the manner in which； while exploring one of those mines； I and
my ill…fated friend had obtained a glimpse of the regions into which we
had descended； and how the descent had cost him his life； appealing to the
rope and grappling… hooks that the child had brought to the house in which
I had been at first received； as a witness of the truthfulness of my story。
My host then proceeded to question me as to the habits and modes of
life among the races on the upper earth； more especially among those
considered to be the most advanced in that civilisation which he was
pleased to define 〃the art of diffusing throughout a community the tranquil
happiness which belongs to a virtuous and well…ordered household。〃
Naturally desiring to represent in the most favourable colours the world
from which I came； I touched but slightly； though indulgently； on the
antiquated and decaying institutions of Europe； in order 27to expatiate on
the present grandeur and prospective pre…eminence of that glorious
American Republic； in which Europe enviously seeks its model and
tremblingly foresees it
