the coming race(一个即临种族)-第20章
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are called the moral organs； such as conscientiousness and benevolence；
are amazingly full； amativeness and combativeness are both small；
adhesiveness large； the organ of destructiveness （i。e。； of determined
65clearance of intervening obstacles） immense； but less than that of
benevolence； and their philoprogenitiveness takes rather the character of
compassion and tenderness to things that need aid or protection than of the
animal love of offspring。 I never met with one person deformed or
misshapen。 The beauty of their countenances is not only in symmetry of
feature； but in a smoothness of surface； which continues without line or
wrinkle to the extreme of old age； and a serene sweetness of expression；
combined with that majesty which seems to come from consciousness of
power and the freedom of all terror； physical or moral。 It is that very
sweetness； combined with that majesty； which inspired in a beholder like
myself； accustomed to strive with the passions of mankind； a sentiment of
humiliation； of awe； of dread。 It is such an expression as a painter might
give to a demi…god； a genius； an angel。 The males of the Vril…ya are
entirely beardless； the Gy…ei sometimes； in old age； develop a small
moustache。
I was surprised to find that the colour of their skin was not uniformly
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that which I had remarked in those individuals whom I had first
encountered；… some being much fairer； and even with blue eyes； and hair
of a deep golden auburn； though still of complexions warmer or richer in
tone than persons in the north of Europe。
I was told that this admixture of colouring arose from intermarriage
with other and more distant tribes of the Vril…ya； who； whether by the
accident of climate or early distinction of race； were of fairer hues than the
tribes of which this community formed one。 It was considered that the
dark…red skin showed the most ancient family of Ana； but they attached no
sentiment of pride to that antiquity； and； on the contrary； believed their
present excellence of breed came from frequent crossing with other
families differing； yet akin； and they encourage such intermarriages；
always provided that it be with the Vril…ya nations。 Nations which； not
conforming their 66manners and institutions to those of the Vril…ya； nor
indeed held capable of acquiring the powers over the vril agencies which it
had taken them generations to attain and transmit； were regarded with
more disdain than the citizens of New York regard the negroes。
I learned from Zee； who had more lore in all matters than any male
with whom I was brought into familiar converse； that the superiority of the
Vril…ya was supposed to have originated in the intensity of their earlier
struggles against obstacles in nature amidst the localities in which they
had first settled。 〃Wherever；〃 said Zee； moralising； 〃wherever goes on
that early process in the history of civilisation； by which life is made a
struggle； in which the individual has to put forth all his powers to compete
with his fellow； we invariably find this result… viz。； since in the
competition a vast number must perish； nature selects for preservation
only the strongest specimens。 With our race； therefore； even before the
discovery of vril； only the highest organisations were preserved； and there
is among our ancient books a legend； once popularly believed； that we
were driven from a region that seems to denote the world you come from；
in order to perfect our condition and attain to the purest elimination of our
species by the severity of the struggles our forefathers underwent； and that；
when our education shall become finally completed； we are destined to
return to the upper world； and supplant all the inferior races now existing
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therein。〃
Aph…Lin and Zee often conversed with me in private upon the political
and social conditions of that upper world； in which Zee so philosophically
assumed that the inhabitants were to be exterminated one day or other by
the advent of the Vril…ya。 They found in my accounts；… in which I
continued to do all I could （without launching into falsehoods so positive
that they would have been easily detected by the shrewdness of my
listeners） to present our powers and ourselves in the most flattering point
of view；… perpetual subjects of comparison 67between our most civilised
populations and the meaner subterranean races which they considered
hopelessly plunged in barbarism； and doomed to gradual if certain
extinction。 But they both agreed in desiring to conceal from their
community all premature opening into the regions lighted by the sun； both
were humane； and shrunk from the thought of annihilating so many
millions of creatures； and the pictures I drew of our life； highly coloured
as they were； saddened them。 In vain I boasted of our great men… poets；
philosophers； orators； generals… and defied the Vril…ya to produce their
equals。 〃Alas；〃 said Zee； 〃this predominance of the few over the many is
the surest and most fatal sign of a race incorrigibly savage。 See you not
that the primary condition of mortal happiness consists in the extinction of
that strife and competition between individuals； which； no matter what
forms of government they adopt； render the many subordinate to the few；
destroy real liberty to the individual； whatever may be the nominal liberty
of the state； and annul that calm of existence； without which； felicity；
mental or bodily； cannot be attained？ Our notion is； that the more we can
assimilate life to the existence which our noblest ideas can conceive to be
that of spirits on the other side of the grave； why； the more we
approximate to a divine happiness here； and the more easily we glide into
the conditions of being hereafter。 For； surely； all we can imagine of the
life of gods； or of blessed immortals； supposes the absence of self…made
cares and contentious passions； such as avarice and ambition。 It seems to
us that it must be a life of serene tranquility； not indeed without active
occupations to the intellectual or spiritual powers； but occupations； of
whatsoever nature they be； congenial to the idiosyncrasies of each； not
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forced and repugnant… a life gladdened by the untrammelled interchange of
gentle affections； in which the moral atmosphere utterly kills hate and
vengeance； and strife and rivalry。 Such is the political state to which
68all the tribes and families of the Vril…ya seek to attain； and t
