Across Taurello's heart his arms were locked:
And when he did speak 'twas as if he mocked
The minstrel, "who had not to move," he said,
"Nor stir—should fate defraud him of a shred
Of his son's infancy? much less his youth!"
(Laughingly all this)—"which to aid, in truth,
Himself, reserved on purpose, had not grown
Old, not too old—'twas best they kept alone
Till now, and never idly met till now;"
—Then, in the same breath, told Sordello how