Чорний тюльпан
The Tulip-fancier and his Neighbour
MynheervanBaerlewasapainter,asMynheerBoxtelwasatulip-grower;hewantedsomewhatmoresunforhispaintings,andhetookhalfadegreefromhisneighbour’stulips.
ThelawwasforVanBaerle,andBoxtelhadtoabidebyit.
Besides,Isaachadmadethediscoverythattoomuchsunwasinjurioustotulips,andthatthisflowergrewquicker,andhadabettercolouring,withthetemperatewarmthofmorning,thanwiththepowerfulheatofthemiddaysun.HethereforefeltalmostgratefultoCorneliusvanBaerleforhavinggivenhimascreengratis.
Maybethiswasnotquiteinaccordancewiththetruestateofthingsingeneral,andofIsaacBoxtel’sfeelingsinparticular.Itiscertainlyastonishingwhatrichcomfortgreatminds,inthemidstofmomentouscatastrophes,willderivefromtheconsolationsofphilosophy.
Butalas!WhatwastheagonyoftheunfortunateBoxtelonseeingthewindowsofthenewstorysetoutwithbulbsandseedlingsoftulipsfortheborder,andtulipsinpots;inshort,witheverythingpertainingtothepursuitsofatulip-monomaniac!
Therewerebundlesoflabels,cupboards,anddrawerswithcompartments,andwireguardsforthecupboards,toallowfreeaccesstotheairwhilstkeepingoutslugs,mice,dormice,andrats,allofthemverycuriousfanciersoftulipsattwothousandfrancsabulb.
Boxtelwasquiteamazedwhenhesawallthisapparatus,buthewasnotasyetawareofthefullextentofhismisfortune.VanBaerlewasknowntobefondofeverythingthatpleasestheeye.
