er the garden. Her husband gives her leave to do Messer
Ansaldo's pleasure: he, being apprised of her husband's liberality,
releases her from her promise; and the necromancer releases Messer
Ansaldo from his bond, and will take nought of his.
--

Each of the gay company had with superlative commendation extolled Messer
Gentile to the skies, when the king bade Emilia follow suit; and with a
good courage, as burning to speak, thus Emilia began:--Delicate my
ladies, none can justly say that 'twas not magnificently done of Messer
Gentile; but if it be alleged that 'twas the last degree of magnificence,
'twill perchance not be difficult to shew that more was possible, as is
my purpose in the little story that I shall tell you.

In Friuli, a country which, though its air is shrewd, is pleasantly
diversified by fine mountains and not a few rivers and clear fountains,
is a city called Udine, where dwelt of yore a fair and noble lady,
Madonna Dianora by name, wife of a wealthy grandee named Giliberto, a
very pleasant gentleman, and debonair. Now this lady, for her high
qualities, was in the last degree beloved by a great and noble baron,
Messer Ansaldo Gradense by name, a man of no little consequence, and
whose fame for feats of arms and courtesy was spread far and wide. But,
though with all a lover's ardour he left nought undone that he might do
to win her love, and to that end frequently plied her with his
ambassages, 'twas all in vain. And the lady being distressed by his
importunity, and that, refuse as she might all that he asked of her, he
none the less continued to love her and press his suit upon her,
bethought her how she might rid herself of him by requiring of him an
extraordinary and, as she deemed, impossible feat. So one day, a woman
that came oftentimes from him to her being with her:--"Good woman," quoth
she, "thou hast many a time affirmed that Messer Ansaldo loves me above
all else; and thou hast made proffer to me on his part of wondrous rich
gifts which I am minded he keep to himself, for that I could never bring
myself to love him or pleasure him for their sake; but, if I might be
certified that he loves me as much as thou sayst, then without a doubt I
should not fail to love him, and do his pleasure; wherefore, so he give
me the assurance that I shall require, I shall be at his command." "What
is it, Madam," returned the good woman, "that you would have him do?"
"This," replied the lady; "I would have this