Черный тюльпан
The Execution
“Itisonlyonestrokeoftheaxe,”saidthephilosophertohimself,“andmybeautifuldreamwillbegintoberealised.”
Onlytherewasstillachance,justasithadhappenedbeforetoM.deChalais,toM.deThou,andotherslovenlyexecutedpeople,thattheheadsmanmightinflictmorethanonestroke,thatistosay,morethanonemartyrdom,onthepoortulip-fancier.
Yet,notwithstandingallthis,VanBaerlemountedthescaffoldnotthelessresolutely,proudofhavingbeenthefriendofthatillustriousJohn,andgodsonofthatnobleCorneliusdeWitt,whomtheruffians,whowerenowcrowdingtowitnesshisowndoom,hadtorntopiecesandburntthreedaysbefore.
Hekneltdown,saidhisprayers,andobserved,notwithoutafeelingofsincerejoy,that,layinghisheadontheblock,andkeepinghiseyesopen,hewouldbeabletohislastmomenttoseethegratedwindowoftheBuytenhof.
Atlengththefatalmomentarrived,andCorneliusplacedhischinonthecolddampblock.Butatthismomenthiseyesclosedinvoluntarily,toreceivemoreresolutelytheterribleavalanchewhichwasabouttofallonhishead,andtoengulfhislife.
Agleamlikethatoflightningpassedacrossthescaffold:itwastheexecutionerraisinghissword.
VanBaerlebadefarewelltothegreatblacktulip,certainofawakinginanotherworldfulloflightandglorioustints.
Threetimeshefelt,withashudder,thecoldcurrentofairfromtheknifenearhisneck,butwhatasurprise!hefeltneitherpainnorshock.
Hesawnochangeinthecolourofthesky,oroftheworldaroundhim.
