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eye of mine behold itthat blessed Being； a Cube； with EIGHT terminal
points？
And in Four Dimensions shall not a moving Cubealas； for Analogy；
and alas for the Progress of Truth； if it be not soshall not； I say； the
motion of a divine Cube result in a still more divine Organization with
SIXTEEN terminal points？
Behold the infallible confirmation of the Series； 2； 4； 8； 16： is not this
a Geometrical Progression？ Is not thisif I might quote my Lord's own
words〃strictly according to Analogy〃？
Again； was I not taught by my Lord that as in a Line there are TWO
bounding Points； and in a Square there are FOUR bounding Lines； so in a
Cube there must be SIX bounding Squares？ Behold once more the
confirming Series； 2； 4； 6： is not this an Arithmetical Progression？ And
consequently does it not of necessity follow that the more divine offspring
of the divine Cube in the Land of Four Dimensions； must have 8 bounding
Cubes： and is not this also； as my Lord has taught me to believe； 〃strictly
according to Analogy〃？ O； my Lord； my Lord； behold； I cast myself in
faith upon conjecture； not knowing the facts； and I appeal to your
Lordship to confirm or deny my logical anticipations。 If I am wrong； I
yield； and will no longer demand a Fourth Dimension； but； if I am right；
my Lord will listen to reason。
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I ask therefore； is it； or is it not； the fact； that ere now your countrymen
also have witnessed the descent of Beings of a higher order than their own；
entering closed rooms； even as your Lordship entered mine； without the
opening of doors or windows； and appearing and vanishing at will？ On the
reply to this question I am ready to stake everything。 Deny it； and I am
henceforth silent。 Only vouchsafe an answer。
Sphere （AFTER A PAUSE）。 It is reported so。 But men are divided in
opinion as to the facts。 And even granting the facts； they explain them in
different ways。 And in any case； however great may be the number of
different explanations； no one has adopted or suggested the theory of a
Fourth Dimension。 Therefore； pray have done with this trifling； and let us
return to business。
I。 I was certain of it。 I was certain that my anticipations would be
fulfilled。 And now have patience with me and answer me yet one more
question； best of Teachers！ Those who have thus appeared no one knows
whenceand have returnedno one knows whither have they also
contracted theirSECTIONs and vanished somehow into that more
Spacious Space； whither I now entreat you to conduct me？
Sphere （MOODILY）。 They have vanished； certainlyif they ever
appeared。 But most people say that these visions arose from the thought
you will not understand mefrom the brain； from the perturbed angularity
of the Seer。
I。 Say they so？ Oh； believe them not。 Or if it indeed be so； that this
other SPace is really Thoughtland； then take me to that blessed Region
where I in Thought shall see the insides of all solid things。 There； before
my ravished eye； a Cube moving in some altogether new direction； but
strictly according to Analogy； so as to make every particle of his interior
pass through a new kind of Space； with a wake of its ownshall create a
still more perfect perfection than himself； with sixteen terminal Extra…solid
angles； and Eight solid Cubes for his Perimeter。 And once there； shall we
stay our upward course？ In that blessed region of Four Dimensions； shall
we linger at the threshold of the Fifth； and not enter therein？ Ah； no！ Let
us rather resolve that our ambition shall soar with our corporal ascent。
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Flatland
Then； yielding to our intellectual onset； the gates of the Six Dimension
shall fly open； after that a Seventh； and then an Eighth
How long I should have continued I know not。 In vain did the Sphere；
in his voice of thunder； reiterate his command of silence； and threaten me
with the direst penalties if I persisted。 Nothing could stem the flood of my
ecstatic aspirations。 Perhaps I was to blame； but indeed I was intoxicated
with the recent draughts of Truth to which he himself had introduced me。
However； the end was not long in coming。 My words were cut short by a
crash outside； and a simultaneous crash inside me； which impelled me
through space with a velocity that precluded speech。 Down！ down！ down！
I was rapidly descending； and I knew that return to Flatland was my doom。
One glimpse； one last and never…to…be…forgotten glimpse I had of that dull
level wildernesswhich was now to become my Universe again spread
out before my eye。 Then a darkness。 Then a final； all… consummating
thunder…peal； and； when I came to myself； I was once more a common
creeping Square； in my Study at home； listening to the Peace… Cry of my
approaching Wife。
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SECTION 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a
Vision。
Although I had less than a minute for reflection； I felt； by a kind of
instinct； that I must conceal my experiences from my Wife。 Not that I
apprehended； at the moment； any danger from her divulging my secret； but
I knew that to any Woman in Flatland the narrative of my adventures must
needs be unintelligible。 So I endeavoured to reassure her by some story；
invented for the occasion； that I had accidentally fallen through the trap…
door of the cellar； and had there lain stunned。
The Southward attraction in our country is so slight that even to a
Woman my tale necessarily appeared extraordinary and well…nigh
incredible； but my Wife； whose good sense far exceeds that of the average
of her Sex； and who perceived that I was unusually excited； did not argue
with me on the subject； but insisted that I was will and required repose。 I
was glad of an excuse for retiring to my chamber to think quietly over
what had happened。 When I was at last by myself； a drowsy sensation fell
on me； but be