King； sped away upon his fiery steed； this future
Stadtholder who had been but the day before very uncertainly
established in his new power； but for whom the burghers of
the Hague had built a staircase with the bodies of John and
Cornelius； two princes as noble as he in the eyes of God and man。
Chapter 5
The Tulip…fancier and his Neighbour
Whilst the burghers of the Hague were tearing in pieces the
bodies of John and Cornelius de Witt； and whilst William of
Orange； after having made sure that his two antagonists were
really dead； was galloping over the Leyden road； followed by
Captain van Deken； whom he found a little too compassionate
to honour him any longer with his confidence； Craeke； the
faithful servant； mounted on a good horse； and little
suspecting what terrible events had taken place since his
departure； proceeded along the high road lined with trees；
until he was clear of the town and the neighbouring
villages。
Being once safe； he left his horse at a livery stable in
order not to arouse suspicion； and tranquilly continued his
journey on the canal…boats； which conveyed him by easy
stages to Dort； pursuing their way under skilful guidance by
the shortest possible routes through the windings of the
river； which held in its watery embrace so many enchanting
little islands； edged with willows and rushes； and abounding
in luxurious vegetation； whereon flocks of fat sheep browsed
in peaceful sleepiness。 Craeke from afar off recognised
Dort； the smiling city； at the foot of a hill dotted with
windmills。 He saw the fine red brick houses； mortared in
white lines； standing on the edge of the water； and their
balconies； open towards the river； decked out with silk
tapestry embroidered with gold flowers； the wonderful
manufacture of India and China； and near these brilliant
stuffs； large lines set to catch the voracious eels； which
are attracted towards the houses by the garbage thrown every
day from the kitchens into the river。
Craeke； standing on the deck of the boat； saw； across the
moving sails of the windmills； on the slope of the hill； the
red and pink house which was the goal of his errand。 The
outlines of its roof were merging in the yellow foliage of a
curtain of poplar trees； the whole habitation having for
background a dark grove of gigantic elms。 The mansion was
situated in such a way that the sun； falling on it as into a
funnel； dried up； warmed； and fertilised the mist which the
verdant screen could not prevent the river wind from
carrying there every morning and evening。
Having disembarked unobserved amid the usual bustle of the
city； Craeke at once directed his steps towards the house
which we have just described； and which white； trim； and
tidy； even more cleanly scoured and more carefully waxed in
the hidden corners than in the places which were exposed to
view enclosed a truly happy mortal。
This happy mortal； rara avis； was Dr。 van Baerle； the godson
of Cornelius de Witt。 He had inhabited the same house ever
since his childhood； for it was the house in which his
father and grandfather； old established princely merchants
of the princely city of Dort； were born。
Mynheer van Baerle the father had amassed in the Indian
trade three or four hundred thousand guilders； which Mynheer
van Baerle the son； at the death of his dear and worthy
parents； found still quite new； although one set of them
bore the date of coinage of 1640； and the other that of
1610； a fact which proved that they were guilders of Van
Baerle the father and of Van Baerle the grandfather； but we
will inform the reader at once that these three or four
hundred thousand guilders were only the pocket money； or
sort of purse； for Cornelius van Baerle； the hero of this
story； as his landed property in the province yielded him an
income of about ten thousand guilders a year。
When the worthy citizen； the father of Cornelius； passed
from time into eternity； three months after having buried
his wife； who seemed to have departed first to smooth for
him the path of death as she had smoothed for him the path
of life； he said to his son； as he embraced him for the last
time；
〃Eat； drink； and spend your money； if you wish to know what
life really is； for as to toiling from morn to evening on a
wooden stool； or a leathern chair； in a counting…house or a
laboratory； that certainly is not living。 Your time to die
will also come； and if you are not then so fortunate as to
have a son； you will let my name grow extinct； and my
guilders； which no one has ever fingered but my father；
myself； and the coiner； will have the surprise of passing to
an unknown master。 And least of all； imitate the example of
your godfather； Cornelius de Witt； who has plunged into
politics； the most ungrateful of all careers； and who will
certainly come to an untimely end。〃
Having given utterance to this paternal advice； the worthy
Mynheer van Baerle died； to the intense grief of his son
Cornelius； who cared very little for the guilders； and very
much for his father。
Cornelius then remained alone in his large house。 In vain
his godfather offered to him a place in the public service；
in vain did he try to give him a taste for glory；
although Cornelius； to gratify his godfather； did embark
with De Ruyter upon 〃The Seven Provinces；〃 the flagship of a
fleet of one hundred and thirty…nine sail； with which the
famous admiral set out to contend singlehanded against the
combined forces of France and England。 When； guided by the
pilot Leger； he had come within musket…shot of the 〃Prince；〃
with the Duke of York （the English king's brother） aboard；
upon which De Ruyter； his mentor； made so sharp and well
directed an attack that the Duke； perceiving that his vessel
would soon have to strike； made the best of his way aboard
the 〃Saint Michael〃； when he had seen the 〃Saint Michael；〃
riddled and shattered by the Dutch broadside； drift out of
the line； when he had witnessed the sinking of the 〃Earl of
Sandwich；〃 and the death by fire or drowning of four hundred
sailors； when he realized that the result of all this
destruction after twenty ships had been blown to pieces；
three thousand men killed and five thousand injured was
that nothing was decided； that both sides claimed the
victory； that the fighting would soon begin again； and that
just one more name； that of Southwold Bay； had been added to
the list of battles； when he had estimated how much time is
lost simply in shutting his eyes and ears by a man who likes
to use his reflective powers even while his fellow creatures
are cannonading one another； Cornelius bade farewell to
De Ruyter； to the Ruart de Pulten； and to glory； kissed the
knees of the Grand Pensionary； for whom he entertained the
deepest veneration； and retired to his house at Dort； rich
in his well…earned repose； his twenty…eight years； an iron
constitution and keen perceptions； and his capital of more
than four hundred thousands of florins and income of ten
thousand； convinced that a man is always endowed by Heaven
with too much for his own happiness； and just enough to make
him miserable。
Consequently； and to indulge his own idea of happiness；
Cornelius began to be interested in the study of plants and
insects； collected and classified the Flora of all the Dutch
islands； arranged the whole entomology of the province； on
which he wrote a treatise； with plates drawn by his own
hands； and at last； being at a loss what to do with his
time； and especially with his money； which went on
accumulating at a most alarming rate； he took it into his
head to select for himself； from all the follies of his
country and of his age； one of the most elegant and
expensive； he became a tulip…fancier。
It was the time when the Dutch and the Portuguese； rivalling
each other in this branch of horticulture； had begun to
worship that flower； and to make more of a cult of it than
ever naturalists dared to make of the human race for fear of
arousing the jealousy of God。
Soon people from Dort to Mons began to talk of Mynheer van
Baerle's tulips； and his beds； pits； drying…rooms； and
drawers of bulbs were visited； as the galleries and
libraries of Alexandria were by illustrious Roman
travellers。
Van Baerle began by expending his yearly revenue in laying
the groundwork of his collection； after which he broke in
upon his new guilders to bring it to perfection。 His
exertions； indeed； were crowned with a most magnificent
result： he produced three new tulips； which he called the
〃Jane；〃 after his mother； the 〃Van Baerle；〃 after his
father； and the 〃Cornelius；〃 after his godfather； the other
names have escaped us； but the fanciers will be sure to find
them in the catalogues of the times。
In the beginning of the year 1672； Cornelius de Witt came to
Dort for three months； to live at his old family mansion；
for not only was he born in that city； but his family had
been resident there for centuries。
Cornelius； at that period； as William of Orange said； began
to enjoy the most perfect unpopularity。 To his fellow
citizens； the good burghers of Dort； however； he did not
appear in the light of a criminal who deserved to be hung。
It is true； they did not particularly like his somewhat
austere republicanism； but they were proud of his valour；
and when he made his entrance into their town； the cup of
honour was offered to him； readily enough； in the name of
the city。
After having thanked his fellow citizens； Cornelius
proceeded to his old paternal house； and gave directions for
some repairs； which he wished to have executed before the
arrival of his wife and children； and thence he wended his
way to the house of his godson； who perhaps was the only
person in Dort as yet unacquainted with the presence of
Cornelius in the town。
In the same degree as Cornelius de Witt had excited the
hatred of the people by sowing those evil seeds which are
called political passions； Van Baerle had gained the
affections of his fellow citizens by completely shunning th