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the outside of a Cube is a Square； so the outside of a Sphere represents the
appearance of a Circle。〃
Bewildered though I was by my Teacher's enigmatic utterance； I no
longer chafed against it； but worshipped him in silent adoration。 He
continued； with more mildness in his voice。 〃Distress not yourself if you
cannot at first understand the deeper mysteries of Spaceland。 By degrees
they will dawn upon you。 Let us begin by casting back a glance at the
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region whence you came。 Return with me a while to the plains of Flatland
and I will shew you that which you have often reasoned and thought about；
but never seen with the sense of sight a visible angle。〃 〃Impossible！〃 I
cried； but； the Sphere leading the way； I followed as if in a dream； till once
more his voice arrested me： 〃Look yonder； and behold your own
Pentagonal house； and all its inmates。〃
I looked below； and saw with my physical eye all that domestic
individuality which I had hitherto merely inferred with the understanding。
And how poor and shadowy was the inferred conjecture in comparison
with the reality which I now behold！ My four Sons calmly asleep in the
North…Western rooms； my two orphan Grandsons to the South； the
Servants； the Butler； my Daughter； all in their several apartments。 Only my
affection Wife； alarmed by my continued absence； had quitter her room
and was roving up and down in the Hall； anxiously awaiting my return。
Also the Page； aroused by my cries； had left his room； and under pretext of
ascertaining whether I had fallen somewhere in a faint； was prying into the
cabinet in my study。 All this I could now SEE； not merely infer； and as we
came nearer and nearer； I could discern even the contents of my cabinet；
and the two chests of gold； and the tablets of which the Sphere had made
mention。
Touched by my Wife's distress； I would have sprung downward to
reassure her； but I found myself incapable of motion。 〃Trouble not
yourself about your Wife；〃 said my Guide： 〃she will not be long left in
anxiety； meantime； let us take a survey of Flatland。〃
Once more I felt myself rising through space。 It was even as the
Sphere had said。 The further we receded from the object we beheld； the
larger became the field of vision。 My native city； with the interior of every
house and every creature therein； lay open to my view in miniature。 We
mounted higher； and lo； the secrets of the earth； the depths of the mines
and inmost caverns of the hills； were bared before me。
Awestruck at the sight of the mysteries of the earth； thus unveiled
before my unworthy eye； I said to my Companion； 〃Behold； I am become
as a God。 For the wise men in our country say that to see all things； or as
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they express it； OMNIVIDENCE； is the attribute of God alone。〃 There
was something of scorn in the voice of my Teacher as he made answer： 〃it
is so indeed？ Then the very pick…pockets and cut…throats of my country are
to be worshipped by your wise men as being Gods： for there is not one of
them that does not see as much as you see now。 But trust me； your wise
men are wrong。〃
I。 Then is omnividence the attribute of others besides Gods？
Sphere。 I do not know。 But； if a pick…pocket or a cut…throat of our
country can see everything that is in your country； surely that is no reason
why the pick…pocket or cut…throat should be accepted by you as a God。
This omnividence； as you call itit is not a common word in Spaceland
does it make you more just； more merciful； less selfish； more loving？ Not
in the least。 Then how does it make you more divine？
I。 〃More merciful； more loving！〃 But these are the qualities of women！
And we know that a Circle is a higher Being than a Straight Line； in so far
as knowledge and wisdom are more to be esteemed than mere affection。
Sphere。 It is not for me to classify human faculties according to merit。
Yet many of the best and wisest in Spaceland think more of the affections
than of the understand； more of your despised Straight Lines than of your
belauded Circles。 But enough of this。 Look yonder。 Do you know that
building？
I looked； and afar off I saw an immense Polygonal structure； in which
I recognized the General Assembly Hall of the States of Flatland；
surrounded by dense lines of Pentagonal buildings at right angles to each
other； which I knew to be streets； and I perceived that I was approaching
the great Metropolis。
〃Here we descend；〃 said my Guide。 It was now morning； the first hour
of the first day of the two thousandth year of our era。 Acting； as was their
wont； in strict accordance with precedent； the highest Circles of the realm
were meeting in solemn conclave； as they had met on the first hour of the
first day of the year 1000； and also on the first hour of the first day of the
year 0。
The minutes of the previous meetings were now read by one whom I at
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once recognized as my brother； a perfectly Symmetrical Square； and the
Chief Clerk of the High Council。 It was found recorded on each occasion
that： 〃Whereas the States had been troubled by divers ill…intentioned
persons pretending to have received revelations from another World； and
professing to produce demonstrations whereby they had instigated to
frenzy both themselves and others； it had been for this cause unanimously
resolved by the Grand Council that on the first day of each millenary；
special injunctions be sent to the Prefects in the several districts of
Flatland； to make strict search for such misguided persons； and without
formality of mathematical examination； to destroy all such as were
Isosceles of any degree； to scourge and imprison any regular Triangle； to
cause any Square or Pentagon to be sent to the district Asylum； and to
arrest any one of higher rank； sending him straightway to the Capital to be
examined and judged by the Council。〃
〃You hear your fate；〃 said the Sphere to