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第49节

the black tulip-第49节

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on his way over the green amidst the most enthusiastic 

acclamations。 



He soon arrived at the platform; and the thunder of cannon 

shook the air。 









Chapter 33



Conclusion





Van Baerle; led by four guards; who pushed their way through 

the crowd; sidled up to the black tulip; towards which his 

gaze was attracted with increasing interest the nearer he 

approached to it。 



He saw it at last; that unique flower; which he was to see 

once and no more。 He saw it at the distance of six paces; 

and was delighted with its perfection and gracefulness; he 

saw it surrounded by young and beautiful girls; who formed; 

as it were; a guard of honour for this queen of excellence 

and purity。 And yet; the more he ascertained with his own 

eyes the perfection of the flower; the more wretched and 

miserable he felt。 He looked all around for some one to whom 

he might address only one question; but his eyes everywhere 

met strange faces; and the attention of all was directed 

towards the chair of state; on which the Stadtholder had 

seated himself。 



William rose; casting a tranquil glance over the 

enthusiastic crowd; and his keen eyes rested by turns on the 

three extremities of a triangle formed opposite to him by 

three persons of very different interests and feelings。 



At one of the angles; Boxtel; trembling with impatience; and 

quite absorbed in watching the Prince; the guilders; the 

black tulip; and the crowd。 



At the other; Cornelius; panting for breath; silent; and his 

attention; his eyes; his life; his heart; his love; quite 

concentrated on the black tulip。 



And thirdly; standing on a raised step among the maidens of 

Haarlem; a beautiful Frisian girl; dressed in fine scarlet 

woollen cloth; embroidered with silver; and covered with a 

lace veil; which fell in rich folds from her head…dress of 

gold brocade; in one word; Rosa; who; faint and with 

swimming eyes; was leaning on the arm of one of the officers 

of William。 



The Prince then slowly unfolded the parchment; and said; 

with a calm clear voice; which; although low; made itself 

perfectly heard amidst the respectful silence; which all at 

once arrested the breath of fifty thousand spectators。  



〃You know what has brought us here? 



〃A prize of one hundred thousand guilders has been promised 

to whosoever should grow the black tulip。 



〃The black tulip has been grown; here it is before your 

eyes; coming up to all the conditions required by the 

programme of the Horticultural Society of Haarlem。 



〃The history of its production; and the name of its grower; 

will be inscribed in the book of honour of the city。 



〃Let the person approach to whom the black tulip belongs。〃 



In pronouncing these words; the Prince; to judge of the 

effect they produced; surveyed with his eagle eye the three 

extremities of the triangle。 



He saw Boxtel rushing forward。 He saw Cornelius make an 

involuntary movement; and lastly he saw the officer who was 

taking care of Rosa lead; or rather push her forward towards 

him。 



At the sight of Rosa; a double cry arose on the right and 

left of the Prince。 



Boxtel; thunderstruck; and Cornelius; in joyful amazement; 

both exclaimed;  



〃Rosa! Rosa!〃 



〃This tulip is yours; is it not; my child?〃 said the Prince。 



〃Yes; Monseigneur;〃 stammered Rosa; whose striking beauty 

excited a general murmur of applause。 



〃Oh!〃 muttered Cornelius; 〃she has then belied me; when she 

said this flower was stolen from her。 Oh! that's why she 

left Loewestein。 Alas! am I then forgotten; betrayed by her 

whom I thought my best friend on earth?〃 



〃Oh!〃 sighed Boxtel; 〃I am lost。〃 



〃This tulip;〃 continued the Prince; 〃will therefore bear the 

name of its producer; and figure in the catalogue under the 

title; Tulipa nigra Rosa Barlaensis; because of the name Van 

Baerle; which will henceforth be the name of this damsel。〃 



And at the same time William took Rosa's hand; and placed it 

in that of a young man; who rushed forth; pale and beyond 

himself with joy; to the foot of the throne saluting 

alternately the Prince and his bride; and who with a 

grateful look to heaven; returned his thanks to the Giver of 

all this happiness。 



At the same moment there fell at the feet of the President 

van Systens another man; struck down by a very different 

emotion。 



Boxtel; crushed by the failure of his hopes; lay senseless 

on the ground。 



When they raised him; and examined his pulse and his heart; 

he was quite dead。 



This incident did not much disturb the festival; as neither 

the Prince nor the President seemed to mind it much。 



Cornelius started back in dismay; when in the thief; in the 

pretended Jacob; he recognised his neighbour; Isaac Boxtel; 

whom; in the innocence of his heart; he had not for one 

instant suspected of such a wicked action。 



Then; to the sound of trumpets; the procession marched back 

without any change in its order; except that Boxtel was now 

dead; and that Cornelius and Rosa were walking triumphantly 

side by side and hand in hand。 



On their arriving at the Hotel de Ville; the Prince; 

pointing with his finger to the purse with the hundred 

thousand guilders; said to Cornelius;  



〃It is difficult to say by whom this money is gained; by you 

or by Rosa; for if you have found the black tulip; she has 

nursed it and brought it into flower。 It would therefore be 

unjust to consider it as her dowry; it is the gift of the 

town of Haarlem to the tulip。〃 



Cornelius wondered what the Prince was driving at。 The 

latter continued;  



〃I give to Rosa the sum of a hundred thousand guilders; 

which she has fairly earned; and which she can offer to you。 

They are the reward of her love; her courage; and her 

honesty。 As to you; Sir  thanks to Rosa again; who has 

furnished the proofs of your innocence  〃 



And; saying these words; the Prince handed to Cornelius that 

fly…leaf of the Bible on which was written the letter of 

Cornelius de Witt; and in which the third bulb had been 

wrapped;  



〃As to you; it has come to light that you were imprisoned 

for a crime which you had not committed。 This means; that 

you are not only free; but that your property will be 

restored to you; as the property of an innocent man cannot 

be confiscated。 Cornelius van Baerle; you are the godson of 

Cornelius de Witt and the friend of his brother John。 Remain 

worthy of the name you have received from one of them; and 

of the friendship you have enjoyed with the other。 The two 

De Witts; wrongly judged and wrongly punished in a moment of 

popular error; were two great citizens; of whom Holland is 

now proud。〃 



The Prince; after these last words; which contrary to his 

custom; he pronounced with a voice full of emotion; gave his 

hands to the lovers to kiss; whilst they were kneeling 

before him。 



Then heaving a sigh; he said;  



〃Alas! you are very happy; who; dreaming only of what 

perhaps is the true glory of Holland; and forms especially 

her true happiness; do not attempt to acquire for her 

anything beyond new colours of tulips。〃 



And; casting a glance towards that point of the compass 

where France lay; as if he saw new clouds gathering there; 

he entered his carriage and drove off。 







Cornelius started on the same day for Dort with Rosa; who 

sent her lover's old housekeeper as a messenger to her 

father; to apprise him of all that had taken place。 



Those who; thanks to our description; have learned the 

character of old Gryphus; will comprehend that it was hard 

for him to become reconciled to his son…in…law。 He had not 

yet forgotten the blows which he had received in that famous 

encounter。 To judge from the weals which he counted; their 

number; he said; amounted to forty…one; but at last; in 

order; as he declared; not to be less generous than his 

Highness the Stadtholder; he consented to make his peace。 



Appointed to watch over the tulips; the old man made the 

rudest keeper of flowers in the whole of the Seven 

Provinces。 



It was indeed a sight to see him watching the obnoxious 

moths and butterflies; killing slugs; and driving away the 

hungry bees。 



As he had heard Boxtel's story; and was furious at having 

been the dupe of the pretended Jacob; he destroyed the 

sycamore behind which the envious Isaac had spied into the 

garden; for the plot of ground belonging to him had been 

bought by Cornelius; and taken into his own garden。 



Rosa; growing not only in beauty; but in wisdom also; after 

two years of her married life; could read and write so well 

that she was able to undertake by herself the education of 

two beautiful children which she had borne in 1674 and 1675; 

both in May; the month of flowers。 

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