Черный тюльпан
Haarlem
Inthecentreofthispacificandfragrantcortegetheblacktulipwasseen,carriedonalitter,whichwascoveredwithwhitevelvetandfringedwithgold.
Thehandlesofthelitterweresupportedbyfourmen,whowerefromtimetotimerelievedbyfreshrelays,—evenasthebearersofMotherCybeleusedtotaketurnandturnaboutatRomeintheancientdays,whenshewasbroughtfromEtruriatotheEternalCity,amidtheblareoftrumpetsandtheworshipofawholenation.
Thispublicexhibitionofthetulipwasanactofadorationrenderedbyanentirenation,unletteredandunrefined,totherefinementandcultureofitsillustriousanddevoutleaders,whosebloodhadstainedthefoulpavementoftheBuytenhof,reservingtherightatafuturedaytoinscribethenamesofitsvictimsuponthehigheststoneoftheDutchPantheon.
ItwasarrangedthatthePrinceStadtholderhimselfshouldgivetheprizeofahundredthousandguilders,whichinterestedthepeopleatlarge,anditwasthoughtthatperhapshewouldmakeaspeechwhichinterestedmoreparticularlyhisfriendsandenemies.
Forinthemostinsignificantwordsofmenofpoliticalimportancetheirfriendsandtheiropponentsalwaysendeavourtodetect,andhencethinktheycaninterpret,somethingoftheirtruethoughts.
