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everything at all times； could not have helped admiring the
character of those honest Hollanders； who were equally ready
to spend their money for the construction of a man…of…war
that is to say； for the support of national honour as
they were to reward the growth of a new flower； destined to
bloom for one day； and to serve during that day to divert
the ladies； the learned； and the curious。
At the head of the notables and of the Horticultural
Committee shone Mynheer van Systens； dressed in his richest
habiliments。
The worthy man had done his best to imitate his favourite
flower in the sombre and stern elegance of his garments； and
we are bound to record； to his honour； that he had perfectly
succeeded in his object。
Dark crimson velvet； dark purple silk； and jet…black cloth；
with linen of dazzling whiteness； composed the festive dress
of the President； who marched at the head of his Committee
carrying an enormous nosegay； like that which a hundred and
twenty…one years later； Monsieur de Robespierre displayed at
the festival of 〃The Supreme Being。〃
There was； however； a little difference between the two；
very different from the French tribune； whose heart was so
full of hatred and ambitious vindictiveness； was the honest
President； who carried in his bosom a heart as innocent as
the flowers which he held in his hand。
Behind the Committee； who were as gay as a meadow； and as
fragrant as a garden in spring； marched the learned
societies of the town； the magistrates； the military； the
nobles and the boors。
The people； even among the respected republicans of the
Seven Provinces； had no place assigned to them in the
procession； they merely lined the streets。
This is the place for the multitude； which with true
philosophic spirit； waits until the triumphal pageants have
passed； to know what to say of them； and sometimes also to
know what to do。
This time； however； there was no question either of the
triumph of Pompey or of Caesar； neither of the defeat of
Mithridates； nor of the conquest of Gaul。 The procession was
as placid as the passing of a flock of lambs； and as
inoffensive as a flight of birds sweeping through the air。
Haarlem had no other triumphers； except its gardeners。
Worshipping flowers； Haarlem idolised the florist。
In the centre of this pacific and fragrant cortege the black
tulip was seen； carried on a litter； which was covered with
white velvet and fringed with gold。
The handles of the litter were supported by four men； who
were from time to time relieved by fresh relays； even as
the bearers of Mother Cybele used to take turn and turn
about at Rome in the ancient days； when she was brought from
Etruria to the Eternal City； amid the blare of trumpets and
the worship of a whole nation。
This public exhibition of the tulip was an act of adoration
rendered by an entire nation； unlettered and unrefined； to
the refinement and culture of its illustrious and devout
leaders； whose blood had stained the foul pavement of the
Buytenhof； reserving the right at a future day to inscribe
the names of its victims upon the highest stone of the Dutch
Pantheon。
It was arranged that the Prince Stadtholder himself should
give the prize of a hundred thousand guilders； which
interested the people at large； and it was thought that
perhaps he would make a speech which interested more
particularly his friends and enemies。
For in the most insignificant words of men of political
importance their friends and their opponents always
endeavour to detect； and hence think they can interpret；
something of their true thoughts。
As if your true politician's hat were not a bushel under
which he always hides his light！
At length the great and long…expected day May 15； 1673
arrived； and all Haarlem； swelled by her neighbours； was
gathered in the beautiful tree…lined streets； determined on
this occasion not to waste its applause upon military
heroes； or those who had won notable victories in the field
of science； but to reserve their applause for those who had
overcome Nature； and had forced the inexhaustible mother to
be delivered of what had theretofore been regarded as
impossible； a completely black tulip。
Nothing however； is more fickle than such a resolution of
the people。 When a crowd is once in the humour to cheer； it
is just the same as when it begins to hiss。 It never knows
when to stop。
It therefore； in the first place； cheered Van Systens and
his nosegay； then the corporation； then followed a cheer for
the people； and； at last； and for once with great justice；
there was one for the excellent music with which the
gentlemen of the town councils generously treated the
assemblage at every halt。
Every eye was looking eagerly for the heroine of the
festival； that is to say； the black tulip； and for its
hero in the person of the one who had grown it。
In case this hero should make his appearance after the
address we have seen worthy Van Systens at work on so
conscientiously； he would not fail to make as much of a
sensation as the Stadtholder himself。
But the interest of the day's proceedings for us is centred
neither in the learned discourse of our friend Van Systens；
however eloquent it might be； nor in the young dandies；
resplendent in their Sunday clothes； and munching their
heavy cakes； nor in the poor young peasants； gnawing smoked
eels as if they were sticks of vanilla sweetmeat； neither is
our interest in the lovely Dutch girls； with red cheeks and
ivory bosoms； nor in the fat； round mynheers； who had never
left their homes before； nor in the sallow； thin travellers
from Ceylon or Java； nor in the thirsty crowds； who quenched
their thirst with pickled cucumbers； no； so far as we are
concerned； the real interest of the situation； the
fascinating； dramatic interest； is not to be found here。
Our interest is in a smiling； sparkling face to be seen amid
the members of the Horticultural Committee； in the person
with a flower in his belt； combed and brushed； and all clad
in scarlet； a colour which makes his black hair and
yellow skin stand out in violent contrast。
This hero； radiant with rapturous joy； who had the
distinguished honour of making the people forget the speech
of Van Systens； and even the presence of the Stadtholder；
was Isaac Boxtel； who saw； carried on his right before him；
the black tulip； his pretended daughter； and on his left； in
a large purse； the hundred thousand guilders in glittering
gold pieces； towards which he was constantly squinting；
fearful of losing sight of them for one moment。
Now and then Boxtel quickened his step to rub elbows for a
moment with Van Systens。 He borrowed a little importance
from everybody to make a kind of false importance for
himself； as he had stolen Rosa's tulip to effect his own
glory； and thereby make his fortune。
Another quarter of an hour and the Prince will arrive and
the procession will halt for the last time； after the tulip
is placed on its throne； the Prince； yielding precedence to
this rival for the popular adoration； will take a
magnificently emblazoned parchment； on which is written the
name of the grower； and his Highness； in a loud and audible
tone； will proclaim him to be the discoverer of a wonder；
that Holland； by the instrumentality of him； Boxtel； has
forced Nature to produce a black flower； which shall
henceforth be called Tulipa nigra Boxtellea。
From time to time； however； Boxtel withdrew his eyes for a
moment from the tulip and the purse； timidly looking among
the crowd； for more than anything he dreaded to descry there
the pale face of the pretty Frisian girl。
She would have been a spectre spoiling the joy of the
festival for him； just as Banquo's ghost did that of
Macbeth。
And yet； if the truth must be told； this wretch； who had
stolen what was the boast of man； and the dowry of a woman；
did not consider himself as a thief。 He had so intently
watched this tulip； followed it so eagerly from the drawer
in Cornelius's dry…room to the scaffold of the Buytenhof；
and from the scaffold to the fortress of Loewestein； he had
seen it bud and grow in Rosa's window； and so often warmed
the air round it with his breath； that he felt as if no one
had a better right to call himself its producer than he had；
and any one who would now take the black tulip from him
would have appeared to him as a thief。
Yet he did not perceive Rosa； his joy therefore was not
spoiled。
In the centre of a circle of magnificent trees； which were
decorated with garlands and inscriptions； the procession
halted； amidst the sounds of lively music； and the young
damsels of Haarlem ma