the black tulip(黑郁金香)-第12章
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discovery； he passed the most wretched night imaginable。
Chapter 6
The Hatred of a Tulip…fancier
From that moment Boxtel's interest in tulips was no longer a
stimulus to his exertions； but a deadening anxiety。
Henceforth all his thoughts ran only upon the injury which
his neighbour would cause him； and thus his favourite
occupation was changed into a constant source of misery to him。
Van Baerle； as may easily be imagined； had no sooner begun
to apply his natural ingenuity to his new fancy； than he
succeeded in growing the finest tulips。 Indeed； he knew
better than any one else at Haarlem or Leyden the two
towns which boast the best soil and the most congenial
climate how to vary the colours； to modify the shape； and
to produce new species。
He belonged to that natural； humorous school who took for
their motto in the seventeenth century the aphorism uttered
by one of their number in 1653； 〃To despise flowers is to
offend God。〃
From that premise the school of tulip…fanciers； the most
exclusive of all schools； worked out the following syllogism
in the same year：
〃To despise flowers is to offend God。
〃The more beautiful the flower is； the more does one offend
God in despising it。
〃The tulip is the most beautiful of all flowers。
〃Therefore； he who despises the tulip offends God beyond
measure。〃
By reasoning of this kind； it can be seen that the four or
five thousand tulip…growers of Holland； France； and
Portugal； leaving out those of Ceylon and China and the
Indies； might； if so disposed； put the whole world under the
ban； and condemn as schismatics and heretics and deserving
of death the several hundred millions of mankind whose hopes
of salvation were not centred upon the tulip。
We cannot doubt that in such a cause Boxtel； though he was
Van Baerle's deadly foe； would have marched under the same
banner with him。
Mynheer van Baerle and his tulips； therefore； were in the
mouth of everybody； so much so； that Boxtel's name
disappeared for ever from the list of the notable
tulip…growers in Holland； and those of Dort were now
represented by Cornelius van Baerle； the modest and
inoffensive savant。
Engaging； heart and soul； in his pursuits of sowing；
planting； and gathering； Van Baerle； caressed by the whole
fraternity of tulip…growers in Europe； entertained nor the
least suspicion that there was at his very door a pretender
whose throne he had usurped。
He went on in his career； and consequently in his triumphs；
and in the course of two years he covered his borders with
such marvellous productions as no mortal man； following in
the tracks of the Creator； except perhaps Shakespeare and
Rubens； have equalled in point of numbers。
And also； if Dante had wished for a new type to be added to
his characters of the Inferno； he might have chosen Boxtel
during the period of Van Baerle's successes。 Whilst
Cornelius was weeding； manuring； watering his beds； whilst；
kneeling on the turf border； he analysed every vein of the
flowering tulips； and meditated on the modifications which
might be effected by crosses of colour or otherwise； Boxtel；
concealed behind a small sycamore which he had trained at
the top of the partition wall in the shape of a fan；
watched； with his eyes starting from their sockets and with
foaming mouth； every step and every gesture of his
neighbour； and whenever he thought he saw him look happy； or
descried a smile on his lips； or a flash of contentment
glistening in his eyes； he poured out towards him such a
volley of maledictions and furious threats as to make it
indeed a matter of wonder that this venomous breath of envy
and hatred did not carry a blight on the innocent flowers
which had excited it。
When the evil spirit has once taken hold of the heart of
man； it urges him on； without letting him stop。 Thus Boxtel
soon was no longer content with seeing Van Baerle。 He wanted
to see his flowers； too； he had the feelings of an artist；
the master…piece of a rival engrossed his interest。
He therefore bought a telescope； which enabled him to watch
as accurately as did the owner himself every progressive
development of the flower； from the moment when； in the
first year； its pale seed…leaf begins to peep from the
ground； to that glorious one； when； after five years； its
petals at last reveal the hidden treasures of its chalice。
How often had the miserable； jealous man to observe in Van
Baerle's beds tulips which dazzled him by their beauty； and
almost choked him by their perfection！
And then； after the first blush of the admiration which he
could not help feeling； he began to be tortured by the pangs
of envy； by that slow fever which creeps over the heart and
changes it into a nest of vipers； each devouring the other
and ever born anew。 How often did Boxtel； in the midst of
tortures which no pen is able fully to describe； how
often did he feel an inclination to jump down into the
garden during the night； to destroy the plants； to tear the
bulbs with his teeth； and to sacrifice to his wrath the
owner himself； if he should venture to stand up for the
defence of his tulips！
But to kill a tulip was a horrible crime in the eyes of a
genuine tulip…fancier； as to killing a man； it would not
have mattered so very much。
Yet Van Baerle made such progress in the noble science of
growing tulips； which he seemed to master with the true
instinct of genius； that Boxtel at last was maddened to such
a degree as to think of throwing stones and sticks into the
flower…stands of his neighbour。 But； remembering that he
would be sure to be found out； and that he would not only be
punished by law； but also dishonoured for ever in the face
of all the tulip…growers of Europe； he had recourse to
stratagem； and； to gratify his hatred； tried to devise a
plan by means of which he might gain his ends without being
compromised himself。
He considered a long time； and at last his meditations were
crowned with success。
One evening he tied two cats together by their hind legs
with a string about six feet in length； and threw them from
the wall into the midst of that noble； that princely； that
royal bed； which contained not only the 〃Cornelius de Witt；〃
but also the 〃Beauty of Brabant；〃 milk…white； edged with
purple and pink； the 〃Marble of Rotterdam；〃 colour of flax；
blossoms feathered red and flesh colour； the 〃Wonder of
Haarlem；〃 the 〃Colombin obscur；〃 and the 〃Columbin clair
terni。〃
The frightened cats； having alighted on the ground； first
tried to fly each in a different direction； until the string
by which they were tied together was tightly stretched
across the bed； then； however； feeling that they were not
able to get off； they began to pull to and fro； and to wheel
about with hideous caterwaulings； mowing down with their
string the flowers among which they were struggling； until；
after a furious strife of about a quarter of an hour； the
string broke and the combatants vanished。
Boxtel； hidden behind his sycamore； could not see anything；
as it was pitch…dark； but the piercing cries of the cats
told the whole tale； and his heart overflowing with gall now
throbbed with triumphant joy。
Boxtel was so eager to ascertain the extent of the injury；
that he remained at his post until morning to feast his eyes
on the sad state in which the two cats had left the
flower…beds of his neighbour。 The mists of the morning
chilled his frame； but he did not feel the cold； the hope of
revenge keeping his blood at fever heat。 The chagrin of his
rival was to pay for all the inconvenience which he incurred
himself。
At the earliest dawn the door of the white house opened； and
Van Baerle made his appearance； approaching the flower…beds
with the smile of a man who has passed the night comfortably
in his bed； and has had happy dreams。
All at once he perceived furrows and little mounds of earth
on the beds which only the evening before had been as smooth
as a mirror； all at once he perceived the symmetrical rows
of his tulips to be complet
