The Beginning of the Story - Page 14 of 25

209   Genteel, his manners never loud;
Whene'er he walked, his head was bowed;
Soft-spoken, liked by all the crowd;
Provoked, he still was level-browed.

210   A paragon of virtue he
To all the student-company,
In deed and speech, not one could see
How his repute might sullied be.

211   Neither out tutor's keenness nor
His mastery of worldly lore
Could pierce the secret whence, wherefore,
Of the evasive heart he bore.

212   I, from my sire, had grown to know
That type of goodness not for show
But with such inner radiant glow
One could not but esteem it so.

213   The school could well surprised be –
Adolph had virtues plain to see,
Yet no such pleasure proferred he
As my good parents roused in me.

214   My heart felt towards him a strain,
A loathing I could not explain;
He felt the same, I sensed it plain
Though e'er discreet he did remain.

215   Days ran their course, leaving behind
Childhood, to studies self-assigned;
My ways improved, and wisdom kind
Awakened my once dormant mind.

216   Philosophy's depths, I came to sound;
I learned Astrology profound;
And soon was able to expound
The truths in Mathematics found.

217   Within six years that went their ways,
These sciences did I embrace,
Such was the marvel of the place,
My tutor's joy, no lesser case.

218   My learning seemed a wondrous feat,
Adolphus was outdistanced neat;
Loquacious fame, about its beat,
Wandered through Athens' every street.

219   Thus I a cynosure became,
And topic of the town my fame;
From tots to elders, they all came
At length to recognize my name.

220   Then was the guise of goodness shorn
From Adolph; and the virtues worn,
His mien and manners to adorn,
Were swift disproved, as not inborn.

221   If he had put on, all divined,
A disposition mild and kind,
'Twas but to add to praise of mind
The plaudits 'virtuous', 'refined'.

222   This secrest did itself expose
When festive days were drawing close,
And various students, these or those,
Sundry diversions did propose.

223   The evening started with a lift,
Dances and songs succeeding swift,
Wrestling and fencing in many a shift,
Proclaiming every skill and gift.

224   And then we staged the tragic fare
Of sons who did a granddam share,
Brothers who knew one father's care,
Jocasta's spouse, her son and heir.