the coming race(一个即临种族)-第9节
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diligently than any other member of my host's family； this fluid is capable
of being raised and disciplined into the mightiest agency over all forms of
matter； animate or inanimate。 It can destroy like the flash of lightning；
yet； differently applied； it can replenish or invigorate life； heal； and
preserve； and on it they chiefly rely for the cure of disease； or rather for
enabling the physical organisation to re…establish the due equilibrium of its
natural powers； and thereby to cure itself。 By this agency they rend way
through the most solid substances； and open valleys for culture through the
rocks of their subterranean wilderness。 From it they extract the light
which supplies their lamps； finding it steadier； softer； and healthier than
the other inflammable materials they had formerly used。
But the effects of the alleged discovery of the means to direct the more
terrible force of vril were chiefly remarkable in their influence upon social
polity。 As these effects became familiarly known and skillfully
administered； war between the vril…discoverers ceased； for they brought
the art of destruction to such perfection as to annul all superiority in
numbers； discipline； or military skill。 The fire lodged in the hollow of a
rod directed by the hand of a child could shatter the strongest fortress； or
cleave its burning way from the van to the rear of an embattled host。 If
army met army； and both had command of this agency； it could be but to
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the annihilation of each。 The age of war was therefore gone； but with the
35cessation of war other effects bearing upon the social state soon became
apparent。 Man was so completely at the mercy of man； each whom he
encountered being able； if so willing； to slay him on the instant； that all
notions of government by force gradually vanished from political systems
and forms of law。 It is only by force that vast communities； dispersed
through great distances of space； can be kept together； but now there was
no longer either the necessity of self…preservation or the pride of
aggrandisement to make one state desire to preponderate in population
over another。
The Vril…discoverers thus； in the course of a few generations；
peacefully split into communities of moderate size。 The tribe amongst
which I had fallen was limited to 12；000 families。 Each tribe occupied a
territory sufficient for all its wants； and at stated periods the surplus
population departed to seek a realm of its own。 There appeared no
necessity for any arbitrary selection of these emigrants； there was always a
sufficient number who volunteered to depart。
These subdivided states； petty if we regard either territory or
population；… all appertained to one vast general family。 They spoke the
same language； though the dialects might slightly differ。 They
intermarried； They maintained the same general laws and customs； and so
important a bond between these several communities was the knowledge
of vril and the practice of its agencies； that the word A…Vril was
synonymous with civilisation； and Vril…ya； signifying 〃The Civilised
Nations；〃 was the common name by which the communities employing
the uses of vril distinguished themselves from such of the Ana as were yet
in a state of barbarism。
The government of the tribe of Vril…ya I am treating of was apparently
very complicated； really very simple。 It was based upon a principle
recognised in theory； though little carried out in practice； above ground…
viz。； that the object of all systems of philosophical thought tends to the
attainment of unity； or the ascent through all intervening labyrinths to the
simplicity of a single first cause or principle。 Thus in 36politics； even
republican writers have agreed that a benevolent autocracy would insure
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The Coming Race
the best administration； if there were any guarantees for its continuance； or
against its gradual abuse of the powers accorded to it。 This singular
community elected therefore a single supreme magistrate styled Tur； he
held his office nominally for life； but he could seldom be induced to retain
it after the first approach of old age。 There was indeed in this society
nothing to induce any of its members to covet the cares of office。 No
honours； no insignia of higher rank； were assigned to it。 The supreme
magistrate was not distinguished from the rest by superior habitation or
revenue。 On the other hand； the duties awarded to him were
marvellously light and easy； requiring no preponderant degree of energy or
intelligence。 There being no apprehensions of war； there were no armies
to maintain； there being no government of force； there was no police to
appoint and direct。 What we call crime was utterly unknown to the Vril…
ya； and there were no courts of criminal justice。 The rare instances of
civil disputes were referred for arbitration to friends chosen by either party；
or decided by the Council of Sages； which will be described later。 There
were no professional lawyers； and indeed their laws were but amicable
conventions； for there was no power to enforce laws against an offender
who carried in his staff the power to destroy his judges。 There were
customs and regulations to compliance with which； for several ages； the
people had tacitly habituated themselves； or if in any instance an
individual felt such compliance hard； he quitted the community and went
elsewhere。 There was； in fact； quietly established amid this state； much
the same compact that is found in our private families； in which we
virtually say to any independent grown…up member of the family whom
we receive to entertain； 〃Stay or go； according as our habits and
regulations suit or displease you。〃 But though there were no laws such as
we call laws； no race above ground is so 37law…observing。 Obedience to
the rule adopted by the community has become as much an instinct as if it
were implanted by nature。 Even in every household the head of it makes
a regulation for its guidance； which is never resisted nor even cavilled at
by those who belong to the family。 They have a proverb； the pithiness of
which is much lost in this paraphrase； 〃No happiness without order； no
order without authority； no authority without unity。〃 The mildness of all
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government among them； civil or domestic； may be signalised by their
idiomatic expressions for such terms as illegal or forbidden… viz。； 〃It is
requested not to do so and so。〃 Poverty among the Ana is as unknown as
crime； not that property is held in common； or that all are equals in the
extent of their possessions or the size and luxury of their habitations： but
there being no difference of rank or position between the grades of wealth
or the choice of occupations； each pursues his own inclinations without
creating envy or vying； some like a modest； some a more splendid kind of
life； each makes himself happy in his own way。 Owing to this absence of
competition； and the limit placed on the population； it is difficult for a
family to fall into distress； there are no hazardous speculations； no
emulators striving for superior wealth and rank。 No doubt； in each
settlement all originally had the same proportions of land dealt out to them；
but some； more adven
