CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



standing there and would think that he had taken root in the 

 midst of his tulips before his 'Solitaire;' he opens his eyes 

 wide, rubs his hands, stoops down and looks closer at it; it never 

 before seemed to him so handsome; he is in an ecstasy of joy 

 and leaves it to go to the 'Orient,' then to the Widow,' from 

 thence to the 'Cloth of Gold,' on to the 'Agatha,' and at last 

 returns to the 'Solitaire,' where he remains, is tired out, sits 

 down and forgets his dinner; he looks at the tulip and ad- 

 mires its shade, shape, colour, sheen and edges, its beautiful 

 form and calyx; but God and nature are not in his thoughts, 

 for they do not go beyond the bulb of his tulip, which he 

 would not sell for a thousand crowns, though he will give 

 it to you for nothing when tulips are no longer in fashion and 

 carnations are all the rage. This rational being, who has a 

 soul and professes some religion, comes home tired and half 

 starved, but very pleased with his day's work; he has seen some 

 tulips. 



"Talk to another of the healthy look of the crops, of a 

 plentiful harvest, of a good vintage, and you will find that 

 he cares only for fruit and understands not a single word that 

 you say; then turn to figs and melons; tell him that this year 

 the pear-trees are so heavily laden with fruit that the branches 



[167] 



