the black tulip-第40章
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the very moment when he passed。
William； impassible and quiet as usual； was proceeding to
the green to fulfil his duty as chairman。 He held in his
hand the roll of parchment； which； on this festive day； had
become his baton。
Seeing the man gesticulate with imploring mien； and perhaps
also recognising the officer who accompanied him； his
Highness ordered his carriage to stop。
In an instant his snorting steeds stood still； at a distance
of about six yards from the carriage in which Van Baerle was
caged。
〃What is this？〃 the Prince asked the officer； who at the
first order of the Stadtholder had jumped out of the
carriage； and was respectfully approaching him。
〃Monseigneur；〃 he cried； 〃this is the prisoner of state whom
I have fetched from Loewestein； and whom I have brought to
Haarlem according to your Highness's command。〃
〃What does he want？〃
〃He entreats for permission to stop here for minute。〃
〃To see the black tulip； Monseigneur；〃 said Van Baerle；
clasping his hands； 〃and when I have seen it； when I have
seen what I desire to know； I am quite ready to die； if die
I must； but in dying I shall bless your Highness's mercy for
having allowed me to witness the glorification of my work。〃
It was； indeed； a curious spectacle to see these two men at
the windows of their several carriages； the one surrounded
by his guards； and all powerful； the other a prisoner and
miserable； the one going to mount a throne； the other
believing himself to be on his way to the scaffold。
William； looking with his cold glance on Cornelius； listened
to his anxious and urgent request。
Then addressing himself to the officer； he said；
〃Is this person the mutinous prisoner who has attempted to
kill his jailer at Loewestein？〃
Cornelius heaved a sigh and hung his head。 His good…tempered
honest face turned pale and red at the same instant。 These
words of the all…powerful Prince； who by some secret
messenger unavailable to other mortals had already been
apprised of his crime； seemed to him to forebode not only
his doom； but also the refusal of his last request。
He did not try to make a struggle； or to defend himself； and
he presented to the Prince the affecting spectacle of
despairing innocence； like that of a child； a spectacle
which was fully understood and felt by the great mind and
the great heart of him who observed it。
〃Allow the prisoner to alight； and let him see the black
tulip； it is well worth being seen once。〃
〃Thank you； Monseigneur； thank you；〃 said Cornelius； nearly
swooning with joy； and staggering on the steps of his
carriage； had not the officer supported him； our poor friend
would have made his thanks to his Highness prostrate on his
knees with his forehead in the dust。
After having granted this permission； the Prince proceeded
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； a
