Черный тюльпан
Conclusion
ThetwoDeWitts,wronglyjudgedandwronglypunishedinamomentofpopularerror,weretwogreatcitizens,ofwhomHollandisnowproud.”
ThePrince,aftertheselastwords,whichcontrarytohiscustom,hepronouncedwithavoicefullofemotion,gavehishandstotheloverstokiss,whilsttheywerekneelingbeforehim.
Thenheavingasigh,hesaid,—
“Alas!youareveryhappy,who,dreamingonlyofwhatperhapsisthetruegloryofHolland,andformsespeciallyhertruehappiness,donotattempttoacquireforheranythingbeyondnewcoloursoftulips.”
And,castingaglancetowardsthatpointofthecompasswhereFrancelay,asifhesawnewcloudsgatheringthere,heenteredhiscarriageanddroveoff.
CorneliusstartedonthesamedayforDortwithRosa,whosentherlover’soldhousekeeperasamessengertoherfather,toapprisehimofallthathadtakenplace.
Thosewho,thankstoourdescription,havelearnedthecharacterofoldGryphus,willcomprehendthatitwashardforhimtobecomereconciledtohisson-in-law.Hehadnotyetforgottentheblowswhichhehadreceivedinthatfamousencounter.Tojudgefromthewealswhichhecounted,theirnumber,hesaid,amountedtoforty-one;butatlast,inorder,ashedeclared,nottobelessgenerousthanhisHighnesstheStadtholder,heconsentedtomakehispeace.
Appointedtowatchoverthetulips,theoldmanmadetherudestkeeperofflowersinthewholeoftheSevenProvinces.
Itwasindeedasighttoseehimwatchingtheobnoxiousmothsandbutterflies,killingslugs,anddrivingawaythehungrybees.
