flatland(弗莱特兰)-第13章
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example； our method of propelling and stopping ourselves； although
destitute of feet； the means by which we give fixity to structures of wood；
stone； or brick； although of course we have no hands； nor can we lay
foundations as you can； nor avail ourselves of the lateral pressure of the
earth； the manner in which the rain originates in the intervals between our
various zones； so that the northern regions do not intercept the moisture
falling on the southern； the nature of our hills and mines； our trees and
vegetables； our seasons and harvests； our Alphabet and method of writing；
adapted to our linear tablets； these and a hundred other details of our
physical existence I must pass over； nor do I mention them now except to
indicate to my readers that their omission proceeds not from forgetfulness
on the part of the author； but from his regard for the time of the Reader。
Yet before I proceed to my legitimate subject some few final remarks
will no doubt be expected by my Readers upon these pillars and mainstays
of the Constitution of Flatland； the controllers of our conduct and shapers
of our destiny； the objects of universal homage and almost of adoration：
need I say that I mean our Circles or Priests？
When I call them Priests； let me not be understood as meaning no
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more than the term denotes with you。 With us； our Priests are
Administrators of all Business； Art； and Science； Directors of Trade；
Commerce； Generalship； Architecture； Engineering； Education；
Statesmanship； Legislature； Morality； Theology； doing nothing themselves；
they are the Causes of everything worth doing； that is done by others。
Although popularly everyone called a Circle is deemed a Circle； yet
among the better educated Classes it is known that no Circle is really a
Circle； but only a Polygon with a very large number of very small sides。
As the number of the sides increases； a Polygon approximates to a Circle；
and； when the number is very great indeed； say for example three or four
hundred； it is extremely difficult for the most delicate touch to feel any
polygonal angles。 Let me say rather it WOULD be difficult： for； as I have
shown above； Recognition by Feeling is unknown among the highest
society； and to FEEL a Circle would be considered a most audacious insult。
This habit of abstention from Feeling in the best society enables a Circle
the more easily to sustain the veil of mystery in which； from his earliest
years； he is wont to enwrap the exact nature of his Perimeter or
Circumference。 Three feet being the average Perimeter it follows that； in a
Polygon of three hundred sides each side will be no more than the
hundredth part of a foot in length； or little more than the tenth part of an
inch； and in a Polygon of six or seven hundred sides the sides are little
larger than the diameter of a Spaceland pin…head。 It is always assumed； by
courtesy； that the Chief Circle for the time being has ten thousand sides。
The ascent of the posterity of the Circles in the social scale is not
restricted； as it is among the lower Regular classes； by the Law of Nature
which limits the increase of sides to one in each generation。 If it were so；
the number of sides in the Circle would be a mere question of pedigree
and arithmetic； and the four hundred and ninety…seventh descendant of an
Equilateral Triangle would necessarily be a polygon with five hundred
sides。 But this is not the case。 Nature's Law prescribes two antagonistic
decrees affecting Circular propagation； first； that as the race climbs higher
in the scale of development； so development shall proceed at an
accelerated pace； second； that in the same proportion； the race shall
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become less fertile。 Consequently in the home of a Polygon of four or five
hundred sides it is rare to find a son； more than one is never seen。 On the
other hand the son of a five…hundred…sided Polygon has been known to
possess five hundred and fifty； or even six hundred sides。
Art also steps in to help the process of higher Evolution。 Our
physicians have discovered that the small and tender sides of an infant
Polygon of the higher class can be fractured； and his whole frame re…set；
with such exactness that a Polygon of two or three hundred sides
sometimesby no means always； for the process is attended with serious
riskbut sometimes overleaps two or three hundred generations； and as it
were double at a stroke； the number of his progenitors and the nobility of
his descent。
Many a promising child is sacrificed in this way。 Scarcely one out of
ten survives。 Yet so strong is the parental ambition among those Polygons
who are； as it were； on the fringe of the Circular class； that it is very rare to
find the Nobleman of that position in society； who has neglected to place
his first…born in the Circular Neo…Therapeutic Gymnasium before he has
attained the age of a month。
One year determines success or failure。 At the end of that time the
child has； in all probability； added one more to the tombstones that crowd
the Neo…Therapeutic Cemetery； but on rare occasional a glad procession
bares back the little one to his exultant parents； no longer a Polygon； but a
Circle； at least by courtesy： and a single instance of so blessed a result
induces multitudes of Polygonal parents to submit to similar domestic
sacrifice； which have a dissimilar issue。
SECTION 12 Of the Doctrine of our Priests
As to the doctrine of the Circles it may briefly be summed up in a
single maxim； 〃Attend to your Configuration。〃 Whether political；
ecclesiastical； or moral； all their teaching has for its object the
improvement of individual and collective Configurationwith special
reference of course to the Configuration of the Circles； to which all other
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objects are subordinated。
It is the merit of the Circles that they have effectually suppressed those
ancient heresies which led men to waste energy and sympathy in the vain
belief that conduct depends upon will； effort； training； encouragement；
praise； or anything else but Configuration。 It was Pantocyclusthe
illustrious Circle mentioned above； as the queller of the Colour Revolt
who first convinced mankind that Configuration makes the man； that if；
for example； you are born an Isosceles with two uneven sides； you will
assuredly go wrong unless you have them made evenfor which purpose
you must go to the Isosceles Hospital； similarly； if you are a Triangle； or
Square； or even a Polygon； born with any Irregularity； you must be taken
to one of the Regular Hospitals to have your disease cured； otherwise you
will end your day
