按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
inasmuch as Colour； which was a second Nature； had destroyed the need
of aristocratic distinctions； the Law should follow in the same path； and
that henceforth all individuals and all classes should be recognized as
absolutely equal and entitled to equal rights。
Finding the higher Orders wavering and undecided； the leaders of the
Revolution advanced still further in their requirements； and at last
demanded that all classes alike； the Priests and the Women not excepted；
should do homage to Colour by submitting to be painted。 When it was
objected that Priests and Women had no sides； they retorted that Nature
and Expediency concurred in dictating that the front half of every human
being （that is to say； the half containing his eye and mouth） should be
distinguishable from his hinder half。 They therefore brought before a
general and extraordinary Assembly of all the States of Flatland a Bill
proposing that in every Woman the half containing the eye and mouth
should be coloured red； and the other half green。 The Priests were to be
painted in the same way； red being applied to that semicircle in which the
eye and mouth formed the middle point； while the other or hinder
30
… Page 31…
Flatland
semicircle was to be coloured green。
There was no little cunning in this proposal； which indeed emanated
not from any Isoscelesfor no being so degraded would have angularity
enough to appreciate； much less to devise； such a model of state…craft but
from an Irregular Circle who； instead of being destroyed in his childhood；
was reserved by a foolish indulgence to bring desolation on his country
and destruction on myriads of followers。
On the one hand the proposition was calculated to bring the Women in
all classes over to the side of the Chromatic Innovation。 For by assigning
to the Women the same two colours as were assigned to the Priests； the
Revolutionists thereby ensured that； in certain positions； every Woman
would appear as a Priest； and be treated with corresponding respect and
deferencea prospect that could not fail to attract the Female Sex in a
mass。
But by some of my Readers the possibility of the identical appearance
of Priests and Women； under a new Legislation； may not be recognized； if
so； a word or two will make it obvious。
Imagine a woman duly decorated； according to the new Code； with the
front half （i。e。； the half containing the eye and mouth） red； and with the
hinder half green。 Look at her from one side。 Obviously you will see a
straight line； HALF RED； HALF GREEN。
Now imagine a Priest； whose mouth is at M； and whose front
semicircle （AMB） is consequently coloured red； while his hinder
semicircle is green； so that the diameter AB divides the green from the red。
If you contemplate the Great Man so as to have your eye in the same
straight line as his dividing diameter （AB）； what you will see will be a
straight line （CBD）； of which ONE HALF （CB） WILL BE RED； AND
THE OTHER （BD） GREEN。 The whole line （CD） will be rather shorter
perhaps than that of a full…sized Woman； and will shade off more rapidly
towards its extremities； but the identity of the colours would give you an
immediate impression of identity in Class； making you neglectful of other
details。 Bear in mind the decay of Sight Recognition which threatened
society at the time of the Colour revolt； add too the certainty that Woman
31
… Page 32…
Flatland
would speedily learn to shade off their extremities so as to imitate the
Circles； it must then be surely obvious to you； my dear Reader； that the
Colour Bill placed us under a great danger of confounding a Priest with a
young Woman。
How attractive this prospect must have been to the Frail Sex may
readily be imagined。 They anticipated with delight the confusion that
would ensue。 At home they might hear political and ecclesiastical secrets
intended not for them but for their husbands and brothers； and might even
issue some commands in the name of a priestly Circle； out of doors the
striking combination of red and green without addition of any other
colours； would be sure to lead the common people into endless mistakes；
and the Woman would gain whatever the Circles lost； in the deference of
the passers by。 As for the scandal that would befall the Circular Class if
the frivolous and unseemly conduct of the Women were imputed to them；
and as to the consequent subversion of the Constitution； the Female Sex
could not be expected to give a thought to these considerations。 Even in
the households of the Circles； the Women were all in favour of the
Universal Colour Bill。
The second object aimed at by the Bill was the gradual demoralization
of the Circles themselves。 In the general intellectual decay they still
preserved their pristine clearness and strength of understanding。 From
their earliest childhood； familiarized in their Circular households with the
total absence of Colour； the Nobles alone preserved the Sacred Art of
Sight Recognition； with all the advantages that result from that admirable
training of the intellect。 Hence； up to the date of the introduction of the
Universal Colour Bill； the Circles had not only held their own； but even
increased their lead of the other classes by abstinence from the popular
fashion。
Now therefore the artful Irregular whom I described above as the real
author of this diabolical Bill； determined at one blow to lower the status of
the Hierarchy by forcing them to submit to the pollution of Colour； and at
the same time to destroy their domestic opportunities of training in the Art
of Sight Recognition； so as to enfeeble their intellects by depriving them
32
… Page 33…
Flatland
of their pure and colourless homes。 Once subjected to the chromatic taint；
every parental and every childish Circle would demoralize each other。
Only in discerning between the Father and the