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not even a blank； for a blank implies Space； say； rather； all was non…
existent。
His subjectsof whom the small Lines were men and the Points
Women were all alike confined in motion and eyesight to that single
Straight Line； which was their World。 It need scarcely be added that the
whole of their horizon was limited to a Point； nor could any one ever see
anything but a Point。 Man； woman； child； thingeach as a Point to the eye
of a Linelander。 Only by the sound of the voice could sex or age be
distinguished。 Moreover； as each individual occupied the whole of the
narrow path； so to speak； which constituted his Universe； and no one could
move to the right or left to make way for passers by； it followed that no
Linelander could ever pass another。 Once neighbours； always neighbours。
Neighbourhood with them was like marriage with us。 Neighbours
remained neighbours till death did them part。
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Such a life； with all vision limited to a Point； and all motion to a
Straight Line； seemed to me inexpressibly dreary； and I was surprised to
note that vivacity and cheerfulness of the King。 Wondering whether it was
possible； amid circumstances so unfavourable to domestic relations； to
enjoy the pleasures of conjugal union； I hesitated for some time to
question his Royal Highness on so delicate a subject； but at last I plunged
into it by abruptly inquiring as to the health of his family。 〃My wives and
children；〃 he replied； 〃are well and happy。〃
Staggered at this answerfor in the immediate proximity of the
Monarch （as I had noted in my dream before I entered Lineland） there
were none but MenI ventured to reply； 〃Pardon me； but I cannot imagine
how your Royal Highness can at any time either se or approach their
Majesties； when there at least half a dozen intervening individuals； whom
you can neither see through； nor pass by？ Is it possible that in Lineland
proximity is not necessary for marriage and for the generation of
children？〃
〃How can you ask so absurd a question？〃 replied the Monarch。 〃If it
were indeed as you suggest； the Universe would soon be depopulated。 No；
no； neighbourhood is needless for the union of hearts； and the birth of
children is too important a matter to have been allowed to depend upon
such an accident as proximity。 You cannot be ignorant of this。 Yet since
you are pleased to affect ignorance； I will instruct you as if you were the
veriest baby in Lineland。 Know； then； that marriages are consummated by
means of the faculty of sound and the sense of hearing。
〃You are of course aware that every Man has two mouths or voices
as well as two eyesa bass at one and a tenor at the other of his
extremities。 I should not mention this； but that I have been unable to
distinguish your tenor in the course of our conversation。〃 I replied that I
had but one voice； and that I had not been aware that his Royal Highness
had two。 〃That confirms by impression；〃 said the King； 〃that you are not a
Man； but a feminine Monstrosity with a bass voice； and an utterly
uneducated ear。 But to continue。
〃Nature having herself ordained that every Man should wed two
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wives〃 〃Why two？〃 asked I。 〃You carry your affected simplicity too far；〃
he cried。 〃How can there be a completely harmonious union without the
combination of the Four in One； viz。 the Bass and Tenor of the Man and
the Soprano and Contralto of the two Women？〃 〃But supposing；〃 said I；
〃that a man should prefer one wife or three？〃 〃It is impossible；〃 he said；
〃it is as inconceivable as that two and one should make five； or that the
human eye should see a Straight Line。〃 I would have interrupted him； but
he proceeded as follows：
〃Once in the middle of each week a Law of Nature compels us to
move to and fro with a rhythmic motion of more than usual violence；
which continues for the time you would take to count a hundred and one。
In the midst of this choral dance； at the fifty…first pulsation； the inhabitants
of the Universe pause in full career； and each individual sends forth his
richest； fullest； sweetest strain。 It is in this decisive moment that all our
marriages are made。 So exquisite is the adaptation of Bass and Treble； of
Tenor to Contralto； that oftentimes the Loved Ones； though twenty
thousand leagues away； recognize at once the responsive note of their
destined Lover； and； penetrating the paltry obstacles of distance； Love
unites the three。 The marriage in that instance consummated results in a
threefold Male and Female offspring which takes its place in Lineland。〃
〃What！ Always threefold？〃 said I。 〃Must one wife then always have
twins？〃
〃Bass…voice Monstrosity！ yes；〃 replied the King。 〃How else could the
balance of the Sexes be maintained； if two girls were not born for every
boy？ Would you ignore the very Alphabet of Nature？〃 He ceased；
speechless for fury； and some time elapsed before I could induce him to
resume his narrative。
〃You will not； of course； suppose that every bachelor among us finds
his mates at the first wooing in this universal Marriage Chorus。 On the
contrary； the process is by most of us many times repeated。 Few are the
hearts whose happy lot is at once to recognize in each other's voice the
partner intended for them by Providence； and to fly into a reciprocal and
perfectly harmonious embrace。 With most of us the courtship is of long
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duration。 The Wooer's voices may perhaps accord with one of the future
wives； but not with both； or not； at first； with either； or the Soprano and
Contralto may not quite harmonize。 In such cases Nature has provided that
every weekly Chorus shall bring the three Lovers into closer harmony。
Each trial of voice； each fresh discovery of discord； almost imperceptibly
induces the less per