Often bears goodly fruit—perhaps he was
A kind, well-spoken gentleman?
Hilde.Oh, no—
For, adder-like, his sting lay in his tongue!
His bitter insolence still rankles here,
Although a score of years have come and gone!
His outer man, gnarled, knotted as it was,
Seemed to his cruel and cynical within,
Hyperion to a Saturday Review!
Cyril. Oh, bear with him—he is an old, old man.