At this solemn moment, and whilst the cheers stillresounded, a carriage was driving along the road on theoutskirts of the green on which the scene occurred; itpursued its way slowly, on account of the flocks of childrenwho were pushed out of the avenue by the crowd of men andwomen.
This carriage, covered with dust, and creaking on its axles,the result of a long journey, enclosed the unfortunate VanBaerle, who was just beginning to get a glimpse through theopen window of the scene which we have tried -- with poorsuccess, no doubt -- to present to the eyes of the reader.
The crowd and the noise and the display of artificial andnatural magnificence were as dazzling to the prisoner as aray of light flashing suddenly into his dungeon1.
Notwithstanding the little readiness which his companion hadshown in answering his questions concerning his fate, heventured once more to ask the meaning of all this bustle,which at first sight seemed to be utterly2 disconnected withhis own affairs.
"What is all this, pray, Mynheer Lieutenant3?" he asked ofhis conductor.
"As you may see, sir," replied the officer, "it is a feast.""Ah, a feast," said Cornelius, in the sad tone ofindifference of a man to whom no joy remains4 in this world.
Then, after some moments, silence, during which the carriagehad proceeded a few yards, he asked once more, --"The feast of the patron saint of Haarlem? as I see so manyflowers.""It is, indeed, a feast in which flowers play a principalpart.""Oh, the sweet scents5! oh, the beautiful colours!" criedCornelius.
"Stop, that the gentleman may see," said the officer, withthat frank kindliness6 which is peculiar7 to military men, tothe soldier who was acting8 as postilion.
"Oh, thank you, Sir, for your kindness," replied Van Baerle,in a melancholy9 tone; "the joy of others pains me; pleasespare me this pang10.""Just as you wish. Drive on! I ordered the driver to stopbecause I thought it would please you, as you are said tolove flowers, and especially that the feast of which iscelebrated to-day.""And what flower is that?""The tulip.""The tulip!" cried Van Baerle, "is to-day the feast oftulips?""Yes, sir; but as this spectacle displeases11 you, let usdrive on."The officer was about to give the order to proceed, butCornelius stopped him, a painful thought having struck him.
He asked, with faltering12 voice, --"Is the prize given to-day, sir?""Yes, the prize for the black tulip."Cornelius's cheek flushed, his whole frame trembled, and thecold sweat stood on his brow.
"Alas13! sir," he said, "all these good people will be asunfortunate as myself, for they will not see the solemnitywhich they have come to witness, or at least they will seeit incompletely.""What is it you mean to say?""I mean to say." replied Cornelius, throwing himself back inthe carriage, "that the black tulip will not be found,except by one whom I know.""In this case," said the officer, "the person whom you knowhas found it, for the thing which the whole of Haarlem islooking at at this moment is neither more nor less than theblack tulip.""The black tulip!" replied Van Baerle, thrusting half hisbody out of the carriage window. "Where is it? where is it?""Down there on the throne, -- don't you see?""I do see it.""Come along, sir," said the officer. "Now we must driveoff.""Oh, have pity, have mercy, sir!" said Van Baerle, "don'ttake me away! Let me look once more! Is what I see downthere the black tulip? Quite black? Is it possible? Oh, sir,have you seen it? It must have specks14, it must be imperfect,it must only be dyed black. Ah! if I were there, I shouldsee it at once. Let me alight, let me see it close, I beg ofyou.""Are you mad, Sir? How could I allow such a thing?""I implore15 you.""But you forget that you are a prisoner.""It is true I am a prisoner, but I am a man of honour, and Ipromise you on my word that I will not run away, I will notattempt to escape, -- only let me see the flower.""But my orders, Sir, my orders." And the officer again madethe driver a sign to proceed.
Cornelius stopped him once more.
"Oh, be forbearing, be generous! my whole life depends uponyour pity. Alas! perhaps it will not be much longer. Youdon't know, sir, what I suffer. You don't know the strugglegoing on in my heart and mind. For after all," Corneliuscried in despair, "if this were my tulip, if it were the onewhich has been stolen from Rosa! Oh, I must alight, sir! Imust see the flower! You may kill me afterwards if you like,but I will see it, I must see it.""Be quiet, unfortunate man, and come quickly back into thecarriage, for here is the escort of his Highness theStadtholder, and if the Prince observed any disturbance16, orheard any noise, it would be ruin to me, as well as to you."Van Baerle, more afraid for his companion than himself,threw himself back into the carriage, but he could only keepquiet for half a minute, and the first twenty horsemen hadscarcely passed when he again leaned out of the carriagewindow, gesticulating imploringly17 towards the Stadtholder atthe very moment when he passed.
William, impassible and quiet as usual, was proceeding19 tothe green to fulfil his duty as chairman. He held in hishand the roll of parchment, which, on this festive20 day, hadbecome his baton21.
Seeing the man gesticulate with imploring18 mien22, and perhapsalso recognising the officer who accompanied him, hisHighness ordered his carriage to stop.
In an instant his snorting steeds stood still, at a distanceof about six yards from the carriage in which Van Baerle wascaged.
"What is this?" the Prince asked the officer, who at thefirst order of the Stadtholder had jumped out of thecarriage, and was respectfully approaching him.
"Monseigneur," he cried, "this is the prisoner of state whomI have fetched from Loewestein, and whom I have brought toHaarlem according to your Highness's command.""What does he want?""He entreats24 for permission to stop here for minute.""To see the black tulip, Monseigneur," said Van Baerle,clasping his hands, "and when I have seen it, when I haveseen what I desire to know, I am quite ready to die, if dieI must; but in dying I shall bless your Highness's mercy forhaving allowed me to witness the glorification25 of my work."It was, indeed, a curious spectacle to see these two men atthe windows of their several carriages; the one surroundedby his guards, and all powerful, the other a prisoner andmiserable; the one going to mount a throne, the otherbelieving himself to be on his way to the scaffold.
William, looking with his cold glance on Cornelius, listenedto his anxious and urgent request.
Then addressing himself to the officer, he said, --"Is this person the mutinous26 prisoner who has attempted tokill his jailer at Loewestein?"Cornelius heaved a sigh and hung his head. His good-temperedhonest face turned pale and red at the same instant. Thesewords of the all-powerful Prince, who by some secretmessenger unavailable to other mortals had already beenapprised of his crime, seemed to him to forebode not onlyhis doom27, but also the refusal of his last request.
He did not try to make a struggle, or to defend himself; andhe presented to the Prince the affecting spectacle ofdespairing innocence28, like that of a child, -- a spectaclewhich was fully23 understood and felt by the great mind andthe great heart of him who observed it.
"Allow the prisoner to alight, and let him see the blacktulip; it is well worth being seen once.""Thank you, Monseigneur, thank you," said Cornelius, nearlyswooning with joy, and staggering on the steps of hiscarriage; had not the officer supported him, our poor friendwould have made his thanks to his Highness prostrate29 on hisknees with his forehead in the dust.
After having granted this permission, the Prince proceededon his way over the green amidst the most enthusiasticacclamations.
He soon arrived at the platform, and the thunder of cannonshook the air.
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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displeases
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| 冒犯，使生气，使不愉快( displease的第三人称单数 ) | |
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faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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entreats
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的第三人称单数 ) | |
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glorification
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| n.赞颂 | |
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mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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