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thousand； convinced that a man is always endowed by Heaven
with too much for his own happiness； and just enough to make
him miserable。
Consequently； and to indulge his own idea of happiness；
Cornelius began to be interested in the study of plants and
insects； collected and classified the Flora of all the Dutch
islands； arranged the whole entomology of the province； on
which he wrote a treatise； with plates drawn by his own
hands； and at last； being at a loss what to do with his
time； and especially with his money； which went on
accumulating at a most alarming rate； he took it into his
head to select for himself； from all the follies of his
country and of his age； one of the most elegant and
expensive； he became a tulip…fancier。
It was the time when the Dutch and the Portuguese； rivalling
each other in this branch of horticulture； had begun to
worship that flower； and to make more of a cult of it than
ever naturalists dared to make of the human race for fear of
arousing the jealousy of God。
Soon people from Dort to Mons began to talk of Mynheer van
Baerle's tulips； and his beds； pits； drying…rooms； and
drawers of bulbs were visited； as the galleries and
libraries of Alexandria were by illustrious Roman
travellers。
Van Baerle began by expending his yearly revenue in laying
the groundwork of his collection； after which he broke in
upon his new guilders to bring it to perfection。 His
exertions； indeed； were crowned with a most magnificent
result： he produced three new tulips； which he called the
〃Jane；〃 after his mother； the 〃Van Baerle；〃 after his
father； and the 〃Cornelius；〃 after his godfather； the other
names have escaped us； but the fanciers will be sure to find
them in the catalogues of the times。
In the beginning of the year 1672； Cornelius de Witt came to
Dort for three months； to live at his old family mansion；
for not only was he born in that city； but his family had
been resident there for centuries。
Cornelius； at that period； as William of Orange said； began
to enjoy the most perfect unpopularity。 To his fellow
citizens； the good burghers of Dort； however； he did not
appear in the light of a criminal who deserved to be hung。
It is true； they did not particularly like his somewhat
austere republicanism； but they were proud of his valour；
and when he made his entrance into their town； the cup of
honour was offered to him； readily enough； in the name of
the city。
After having thanked his fellow citizens； Cornelius
proceeded to his old paternal house； and gave directions for
some repairs； which he wished to have executed before the
arrival of his wife and children； and thence he wended his
way to the house of his godson； who perhaps was the only
person in Dort as yet unacquainted with the presence of
Cornelius in the town。
In the same degree as Cornelius de Witt had excited the
hatred of the people by sowing those evil seeds which are
called political passions； Van Baerle had gained the
affections of his fellow citizens by completely shunning the
pursuit of politics； absorbed as he was in the peaceful
pursuit of cultivating tulips。
Van Baerle was truly beloved by his servants and labourers；
nor had he any conception that there was in this world a man
who wished ill to another。
And yet it must be said； to the disgrace of mankind； that
Cornelius van Baerle； without being aware of the fact； had a
much more ferocious； fierce； and implacable enemy than the
Grand Pensionary and his brother had among the Orange party；
who were most hostile to the devoted brothers； who had never
been sundered by the least misunderstanding during their
lives； and by their mutual devotion in the face of death
made sure the existence of their brotherly affection beyond
the grave。
At the time when Cornelius van Baerle began to devote
himself to tulip…growing； expending on this hobby his yearly
revenue and the guilders of his father； there was at Dort；
living next door to him； a citizen of the name of Isaac
Boxtel who from the age when he was able to think for
himself had indulged the same fancy； and who was in
ecstasies at the mere mention of the word 〃tulban；〃 which
（as we are assured by the 〃Floriste Francaise；〃 the most
highly considered authority in matters relating to this
flower） is the first word in the Cingalese tongue which was
ever used to designate that masterpiece of floriculture
which is now called the tulip。
Boxtel had not the good fortune of being rich； like Van
Baerle。 He had therefore； with great care and patience； and
by dint of strenuous exertions； laid out near his house at
Dort a garden fit for the culture of his cherished flower；
he had mixed the soil according to the most approved
prescriptions； and given to his hotbeds just as much heat
and fresh air as the strictest rules of horticulture exact。
Isaac knew the temperature of his frames to the twentieth
part of a degree。 He knew the strength of the current of
air； and tempered it so as to adapt it to the wave of the
stems of his flowers。 His productions also began to meet
with the favour of the public。 They were beautiful； nay；
distinguished。 Several fanciers had come to see Boxtel's
tulips。 At last he had even started amongst all the
Linnaeuses and Tourneforts a tulip which bore his name； and
which； after having travelled all through France； had found
its way into Spain； and penetrated as far as Portugal； and
the King； Don Alfonso VI。 who； being expelled from
Lisbon； had retired to the island of Terceira； where he
amused himself； not； like the great Conde； with watering his
carnations； but with growing tulips had； on seeing the
Boxtel tulip； exclaimed； 〃Not so bad； by any means！〃
All at once； Cornelius van Baerle； who； after all his
learned pursuits； had been seized with the tulipomania； made
some changes in his house at Dort； which； as we have stated；
was next door to that of Boxtel。 He raised a certain
building in his court…yard by a story； which shutting out
the sun； took half a degree of warmth from Boxtel's garden；
and； on the other hand； added half a degree of cold in
winter； not to mention that it cut the wind； and disturbed
all the horticultural calculations and arrangements of his
neighbour。
After all； this mishap appeared to Boxtel of no great
consequence。 Van Baerle was but a painter； a sort of fool
who tried to reproduce and disfigure on canvas the wonders
of nature。 The painter； he thought； had raised his studio by
a story to get better light； and thus far he had only been
in the right。 Mynheer van Baerle was a painter； as Mynheer
Boxtel was a tulip…grower； he wanted somewhat more sun for
his paintings； and he took half a degree from his
neighbour's tulips。
The law was for Van Baerle； and Boxtel had to abide by it。
Besides； Isaac had made the discovery that too much sun was
injurious to tulips； and that this flower grew quicker； and
had a better colouring； with the temperate warmth of
morning； than with the powerful heat of the midday sun。 He
therefore felt almost grateful to Cornelius van Baerle for
having given him a screen gratis。
Maybe this was not quite in accordance with the true state
of things in general； and of Isaac Boxtel's feelings in
particular。 It is certainly astonishing what rich comfort
great minds； in the midst of momentous catastrophes； will
derive from the consolations of philosophy。
But alas！ What was the agony of the unfortunate Boxtel on
seeing the windows of the new story set out with bulbs and
seedlings of tulips for the border； and tulips in pots； in
short； with everything pertaining to the pursuits of a
tulip…monomaniac！
There were bundles of labels； cupboards； and drawers with
compartments； and wire guards for the cupboards； to allow
free access to the air whilst keeping out slugs； mice；
dormice； and rats； all of them very curious fanciers of
tulips at two thousand francs a bulb。
Boxtel was quite amazed when he saw all this apparatus； but
he was not as yet aware of the full extent of his
misfortune。 Van Baerle was known to be fond of everything
that pleases the eye。 He studied Nature in all her aspects
for the benefit of his paintings； which were as minutely
finished as those of Gerard Dow； his master； and of Mieris；
his friend。 Was it not possible； that； having to paint the
interior of a tulip…grower's； he had collected in his new
studio all the accessories of decoration？
Yet； although thus consoling himself with illusory
suppositions； Boxtel was not able to resist the burning
curiosity which was devouring him。 In the evening；
therefore； he placed a ladder against the partition wall
between their gardens； and； looking into that of hi