in her
judgment an impossible demand; wherefore she said one day to a woman,
who came often to her on his part, 'Good woman, thou hast many times
avouched to me that Messer Ansaldo loveth me over all things and hast
proffered me marvellous great gifts on his part, which I would have
him keep to himself, seeing that never thereby might I be prevailed
upon to love him or comply with his wishes; but, an I could be
certified that he loveth me in very deed as much as thou sayest, I
might doubtless bring myself to love him and do that which he willeth;
wherefore, an he choose to certify me of this with that which I shall
require of him, I shall be ready to do his commandments.' Quoth the
good woman, 'And what is that, madam, which you would have him do?'
'That which I desire,' replied the lady, 'is this; I will have, for
this coming month of January, a garden, near this city, full of green
grass and flowers and trees in full leaf, no otherwise than as it were
May; the which if he contrive not, let him never more send me thee nor
any other, for that, an he importune me more, so surely as I have
hitherto kept his pursuit hidden from my husband and my kinsfolk, I
will study to rid myself of him by complaining to them.'

The gentleman, hearing the demand and the offer of his mistress, for
all it seemed to him a hard thing and in a manner impossible to do and
he knew it to be required of the lady for none otherwhat than to
bereave him of all hope, determined nevertheless to essay whatsoever
might be done thereof and sent into various parts about the world,
enquiring if there were any to be found who would give him aid and
counsel in the matter. At last, he happened upon one who offered, so
he were well guerdoned, to do the thing by nigromantic art, and having
agreed with him for a great sum of money, he joyfully awaited the
appointed time, which come and the cold being extreme and everything
full of snow and ice, the learned man, the night before the calends of
January, so wrought by his arts in a very goodly meadow adjoining the
city, that it appeared in the morning (according to the testimony of
those who saw it) one of the goodliest gardens was ever seen of any,
with grass and trees and fruits of every kind. Messer Ansaldo, after
viewing this with the utmost gladness, let cull of the finest fruits
and the fairest flowers that were there and caused privily present
them to his mistress, bidding her come and see the garden requir