Черный тюльпан
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
Ineednomorebeafraidlestonthedayofariottheshopkeepersofthetownandthesailorsoftheportshouldcomeandtearoutmybulbs,toboilthemasonionsfortheirfamilies,astheyhavesometimesquietlythreatenedwhentheyhappenedtoremembermyhavingpaidtwoorthreehundredguildersforonebulb.ItisthereforesettledIshallgivethehundredthousandguildersoftheHaarlemprizetothepoor.Andyet——”
HereCorneliusstoppedandheavedasigh.“Andyet,”hecontinued,“itwouldhavebeensoverydelightfultospendthehundredthousandguildersontheenlargementofmytulip-bedorevenonajourneytotheEast,thecountryofbeautifulflowers.But,alas!thesearenothoughtsforthepresenttimes,whenmuskets,standards,proclamations,andbeatingofdrumsaretheorderoftheday.”
VanBaerleraisedhiseyestoheavenandsighedagain.Thenturninghisglancetowardshisbulbs,—objectsofmuchgreaterimportancetohimthanallthosemuskets,standards,drums,andproclamations,whichheconceivedonlytobefittodisturbthemindsofhonestpeople,—hesaid:—
“Theseare,indeed,beautifulbulbs;howsmooththeyare,howwellformed;thereisthatairofmelancholyaboutthemwhichpromisestoproduceaflowerofthecolourofebony.Ontheirskinyoucannotevendistinguishthecirculatingveinswiththenakedeye.Certainly,certainly,notalightspotwilldisfigurethetulipwhichIhavecalledintoexistence.Andbywhatnameshallwecallthisoffspringofmysleeplessnights,ofmylabourandmythought?TulipanigraBarlœnsis?
“YesBarlœnsis:afinename.
