Черный тюльпан
A Grateful People
Thejudges,notwithstanding,acquittedTyckelaerfromeverycharge;atthesametimesentencingCorneliustobedeposedfromallhisofficesanddignities;topayallthecostsofthetrial;andtobebanishedfromthesoiloftheRepublicforever.
Thisjudgmentagainstnotonlyaninnocent,butalsoagreatman,wasindeedsomegratificationtothepassionsofthepeople,towhoseinterestsCorneliusdeWitthadalwaysdevotedhimself:but,asweshallsoonsee,itwasnotenough.
TheAthenians,whoindeedhaveleftbehindthemaprettytolerablereputationforingratitude,haveinthisrespecttoyieldprecedencetotheDutch.They,atleastinthecaseofAristides,contentedthemselveswithbanishinghim.
JohndeWitt,atthefirstintimationofthechargebroughtagainsthisbrother,hadresignedhisofficeofGrandPensionary.Hetooreceivedanoblerecompenseforhisdevotednesstothebestinterestsofhiscountry,takingwithhimintotheretirementofprivatelifethehatredofahostofenemies,andthefreshscarsofwoundsinflictedbyassassins,onlytoooftenthesoleguerdonobtainedbyhonestpeople,whoareguiltyofhavingworkedfortheircountry,andofhavingforgottentheirownprivateinterests.
InthemeanwhileWilliamofOrangeurgedonthecourseofeventsbyeverymeansinhispower,eagerlywaitingforthetimewhenthepeople,bywhomhewasidolised,shouldhavemadeofthebodiesofthebrothersthetwostepsoverwhichhemightascendtothechairofStadtholder.
