Черный тюльпан
The Tulip-fancier and his Neighbour
When,guidedbythepilotLeger,hehadcomewithinmusket-shotofthe“Prince,”withtheDukeofYork(theEnglishking’sbrother)aboard,uponwhichDeRuyter,hismentor,madesosharpandwelldirectedanattackthattheDuke,perceivingthathisvesselwouldsoonhavetostrike,madethebestofhiswayaboardthe“SaintMichael”;whenhehadseenthe“SaintMichael,”riddledandshatteredbytheDutchbroadside,driftoutoftheline;whenhehadwitnessedthesinkingofthe“EarlofSandwich,”andthedeathbyfireordrowningoffourhundredsailors;whenherealizedthattheresultofallthisdestruction—aftertwentyshipshadbeenblowntopieces,threethousandmenkilledandfivethousandinjured—wasthatnothingwasdecided,thatbothsidesclaimedthevictory,thatthefightingwouldsoonbeginagain,andthatjustonemorename,thatofSouthwoldBay,hadbeenaddedtothelistofbattles;whenhehadestimatedhowmuchtimeislostsimplyinshuttinghiseyesandearsbyamanwholikestousehisreflectivepowersevenwhilehisfellowcreaturesarecannonadingoneanother;—CorneliusbadefarewelltoDeRuyter,totheRuartdePulten,andtoglory,kissedthekneesoftheGrandPensionary,forwhomheentertainedthedeepestveneration,andretiredtohishouseatDort,richinhiswell-earnedrepose,histwenty-eightyears,anironconstitutionandkeenperceptions,andhiscapitalofmorethanfourhundredthousandsofflorinsandincomeoftenthousand,convincedthatamanisalwaysendowedbyHeavenwithtoomuchforhisownhappiness,andjustenoughtomakehimmiserable.
