Черный тюльпан
The Tulip-fancier and his Neighbour
HestudiedNatureinallheraspectsforthebenefitofhispaintings,whichwereasminutelyfinishedasthoseofGerardDow,hismaster,andofMieris,hisfriend.Wasitnotpossible,that,havingtopainttheinteriorofatulip-grower’s,hehadcollectedinhisnewstudioalltheaccessoriesofdecoration?
Yet,althoughthusconsolinghimselfwithillusorysuppositions,Boxtelwasnotabletoresisttheburningcuriositywhichwasdevouringhim.Intheevening,therefore,heplacedaladderagainstthepartitionwallbetweentheirgardens,and,lookingintothatofhisneighbourVanBaerle,heconvincedhimselfthatthesoilofalargesquarebed,whichhadformerlybeenoccupiedbydifferentplants,wasremoved,andthegrounddisposedinbedsofloammixedwithrivermud(acombinationwhichisparticularlyfavourabletothetulip),andthewholesurroundedbyaborderofturftokeepthesoilinitsplace.Besidesthis,sufficientshadetotemperthenoondayheat;aspectsouth-southwest;waterinabundantsupply,andathand;inshort,everyrequirementtoinsurenotonlysuccessbutalsoprogress.TherecouldnotbeadoubtthatVanBaerlehadbecomeatulip-grower.
Boxtelatoncepicturedtohimselfthislearnedman,withacapitaloffourhundredthousandandayearlyincomeoftenthousandguilders,devotingallhisintellectualandfinancialresourcestothecultivationofthetulip.Heforesawhisneighbour’ssuccess,andhefeltsuchapangatthemereideaofthissuccessthathishandsdroppedpowerless,hiskneestrembled,andhefellindespairfromtheladder
