Черный тюльпан
The Tulip-fancier and his Neighbour
Andyetitmustbesaid,tothedisgraceofmankind,thatCorneliusvanBaerle,withoutbeingawareofthefact,hadamuchmoreferocious,fierce,andimplacableenemythantheGrandPensionaryandhisbrotherhadamongtheOrangeparty,whoweremosthostiletothedevotedbrothers,whohadneverbeensunderedbytheleastmisunderstandingduringtheirlives,andbytheirmutualdevotioninthefaceofdeathmadesuretheexistenceoftheirbrotherlyaffectionbeyondthegrave.
AtthetimewhenCorneliusvanBaerlebegantodevotehimselftotulip-growing,expendingonthishobbyhisyearlyrevenueandtheguildersofhisfather,therewasatDort,livingnextdoortohim,acitizenofthenameofIsaacBoxtelwhofromtheagewhenhewasabletothinkforhimselfhadindulgedthesamefancy,andwhowasinecstasiesatthemerementionoftheword“tulban,”which(asweareassuredbythe“FloristeFrancaise,”themosthighlyconsideredauthorityinmattersrelatingtothisflower)isthefirstwordintheCingalesetonguewhichwaseverusedtodesignatethatmasterpieceoffloriculturewhichisnowcalledthetulip.
Boxtelhadnotthegoodfortuneofbeingrich,likeVanBaerle.Hehadtherefore,withgreatcareandpatience,andbydintofstrenuousexertions,laidoutnearhishouseatDortagardenfitforthecultureofhischerishedflower;hehadmixedthesoilaccordingtothemostapprovedprescriptions,andgiventohishotbedsjustasmuchheatandfreshairasthestrictestrulesofhorticultureexact.
Isaacknewthetemperatureofhisframestothetwentiethpartofadegree.
