"Messer Gianni, pain I know will often take all sweetness out of the temper of a man, but in this you are not doing well.  There is no child in Spinalunga but would readily forego all his happy play to give you ease and solace, but in this way they cannot help you.  By sending them away you do but cloud their innocent lives, and you are yourself none the better for their absence.  Were it not wiser for you to seek to distract yourself in their harmless merry-making?  I may well think that you have never watched them at their sports; but if you will bid them come back to-day, and will but walk a little way with me, you shall see that which shall give you content and delight so great, that never again will you wish to banish them, but will rather pray to have their companionship at all times."