Mother and child--Retrude's self not slain" (Nor even here Taurello moved) "though pain Was fled: and what assured them most 't was fled, All pain, was, if they raised the pale hushed head 'T would turn this way and that, waver awhile, And only settle into its old smile-- (Graceful as the disquieted water-flag Steadying itself, remarked they, in the quag On either side their path)--when suffered look Down on her child. They marched: no sign once shook The company's close litter of crossed spears Till, as they reached Goito, a few tears Slipped in the sunset from her long black lash, And she was gone. So far the action rash; No crime. They laid Retrude in the font, Taurello's very gift, her child was wont To sit beneath--constant as eve he came To sit by its attendant girls the same As one of them. For Palma, she would blend With this magnific spirit to the end, That ruled her first; but scarcely had she dared To disobey the Adelaide who scared Her into vowing never to disclose A secret to her husband, which so froze His blood at half-recital, she contrived To hide from him Taurello's infant lived, Lest, by revealing that, himself should mar Romano's fortunes. And, a crime so far, Palma received that action: she was told Of Salinguerra's nature, of his cold Calm acquiescence in his lot! But free To impart the secret to Romano, she [Sidenote: How the discovery moves Salinguerra,] Engaged to repossess Sordello of His heritage, and hers, and that way doff The mask, but after years, long years: while now, Was not Romano's sign-mark on that brow?" 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 All intimations of this eve's event Were lies, for Friedrich must advance to Trent, Thence to Verona, then to Rome, there stop, Tumble the Church down, institute a-top The Alps a Prefecture of Lombardy: --"That's now!--no prophesying what may be Anon, with a new monarch of the clime, Native of Gesi, passing his youth's prime At Naples. Tito bids my choice decide On whom" ... "Embrace him, madman!" Palma cried, Who through the laugh saw sweat-drops burst apace, And his lips blanching: he did not embrace Sordello, but he laid Sordello's hand On his own eyes, mouth, forehead. Understand, This while Sordello was becoming flushed