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So I devoted several months in privacy to the composition of a treatise
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on the mysteries of Three Dimensions。 Only； with the view of evading the
Law； if possible； I spoke not of a physical Dimension； but of a
Thoughtland whence； in theory； a Figure could look down upon Flatland
and see simultaneously the insides of all things； and where it was possible
that there might be supposed to exist a Figure environed； as it were； with
six Squares； and containing eight terminal Points。 But in writing this book
I found myself sadly hampered by the impossibility of drawing such
diagrams as were necessary for my purpose： for of course； in our country
of Flatland； there are no tablets but Lines； and no diagrams but Lines； all
in one straight Line and only distinguishable by difference of size and
brightness； so that； when I had finished my treatise （which I entitled；
〃Through Flatland to Thoughtland〃） I could not feel certain that many
would understand my meaning。
Meanwhile my wife was under a cloud。 All pleasures palled upon me；
all sights tantalized and tempted me to outspoken treason； because I could
not compare what I saw in Two Dimensions with what it really was if seen
in Three； and could hardly refrain from making my comparisons aloud。 I
neglected my clients and my own business to give myself to the
contemplation of the mysteries which I had once beheld； yet which I could
impart to no one； and found daily more difficult to reproduce even before
my own mental vision。 One day； about eleven months after my return from
Spaceland； I tried to see a Cube with my eye closed； but failed； and though
I succeeded afterwards； I was not then quite certain （nor have I been ever
afterwards） that I had exactly realized the original。 This made me more
melancholy than before； and determined me to take some step； yet what； I
knew not。 I felt that I would have been willing to sacrifice my life for the
Cause； if thereby I could have produced conviction。 But if I could not
convince my Grandson； how could I convince the highest and most
developed Circles in the land？
And yet at times my spirit was too strong for me； and I gave vent to
dangerous utterances。 Already I was considered heterodox if not
treasonable； and I was keenly alive to the danger of my position；
nevertheless I could not at times refrain from bursting out into suspicious
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or half…seditious utterances； even among the highest Polygonal or Circular
society。 When； for example； the question arose about the treatment of
those lunatics who said that they had received the power of seeing the
insides of things； I would quote the saying of an ancient Circle； who
declared that prophets and inspired people are always considered by the
majority to be mad； and I could not help occasionally dropping such
expressions as 〃the eye that discerns the interiors of things；〃 and 〃the all…
seeing land〃； once or twice I even let fall the forbidden terms 〃the Third
and Fourth Dimensions。〃 At last； to complete a series of minor
indiscretions； at a meeting of our Local Speculative Society held at the
palace of the Prefect himself； some extremely silly person having read an
elaborate paper exhibiting the precise reasons why Providence has limited
the number of Dimensions to Two； and why the attribute of omnividence
is assigned to the Supreme aloneI so far forgot myself as to give an exact
account of the whole of my voyage with the Sphere into Space； and to the
Assembly Hall in our Metropolis； and then to Space again； and of my
return home； and of everything that I had seen and heard in fact or vision。
At first； indeed； I pretended that I was describing the imaginary
experiences of a fictitious person； but my enthusiasm soon forced me to
throw off all disguise； and finally； in a fervent peroration； I exhorted all
my hearers to divest themselves of prejudice and to become believers in
the Third Dimension。
Need I say that I was at once arrested and taken before the Council？
Next morning； standing in the very place where but a very few months
ago the Sphere had stood in my company； I was allowed to begin and to
continue my narration unquestioned and uninterrupted。 But from the first I
foresaw my fate； for the President； noting that a guard of the better sort of
Policemen was in attendance； of angularity little； if at all； under 55 degrees；
ordered them to be relieved before I began my defence； by an inferior
class of 2 or 3 degrees。 I knew only too well what that meant。 I was to be
executed or imprisoned； and my story was to be kept secret from the world
by the simultaneous destruction of the officials who had heard it； and； this
being the case； the President desired to substitute the cheaper for the more
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expensive victims。
After I had concluded my defence； the President； perhapsperceiving
that some of the junior Circles had been moved by evident earnestness；
asked me two questions：
1。 Whether I could indicate the direction which I meant when I used
the words 〃Upward； not Northward〃？
2。 Whether I could by any diagrams or descriptions （other than the
enumeration of imaginary sides and angles） indicate the Figure I was
pleased to call a Cube？
I declared that I could say nothing more； and that I must commit
myself to the Truth； whose cause would surely prevail in the end。
The President replied that he quite concurred in my sentiment； and that
I could not do better。 I must be sentenced to perpetual imprisonment； but if
the Truth intended that I should emerge from prison and evangelize the
world； the Truth might be trusted to bring that result to pass。 Meanwhile I
should be subjected to no discomfort that was not necessary to preclude
escape； and； unless I forfeited the privilege by misconduct； I should be
occasionally permitted to see my brother who had preceded