Conclusion

           VanBaerle,ledbyfourguards,whopushedtheirwaythroughthecrowd,sidleduptotheblacktulip,towardswhichhisgazewasattractedwithincreasinginterestthenearerheapproachedtoit.

           Hesawitatlast,thatuniqueflower,whichhewastoseeonceandnomore.Hesawitatthedistanceofsixpaces,andwasdelightedwithitsperfectionandgracefulness;hesawitsurroundedbyyoungandbeautifulgirls,whoformed,asitwere,aguardofhonourforthisqueenofexcellenceandpurity.Andyet,themoreheascertainedwithhisowneyestheperfectionoftheflower,themorewretchedandmiserablehefelt.Helookedallaroundforsomeonetowhomhemightaddressonlyonequestion,buthiseyeseverywheremetstrangefaces,andtheattentionofallwasdirectedtowardsthechairofstate,onwhichtheStadtholderhadseatedhimself.

           Williamrose,castingatranquilglanceovertheenthusiasticcrowd,andhiskeeneyesrestedbyturnsonthethreeextremitiesofatriangleformedoppositetohimbythreepersonsofverydifferentinterestsandfeelings.

           Atoneoftheangles,Boxtel,tremblingwithimpatience,andquiteabsorbedinwatchingthePrince,theguilders,theblacktulip,andthecrowd.

           Attheother,Cornelius,pantingforbreath,silent,andhisattention,hiseyes,hislife,hisheart,hislove,quiteconcentratedontheblacktulip.