ommand of my husband, who, regarding rather
the pains you have had of your unbridled passion than his own or my
honour, has sent me hither; and for that he commands it, I, for the
nonce, am entirely at your pleasure."

If Messer Ansaldo had marvelled to hear of the lady's coming, he now
marvelled much more, and touched by Giliberto's liberality, and passing
from passion to compassion:--"Now, God forbid, Madam," quoth he, "that,
it being as you say, I should wound the honour of him that has compassion
on my love; wherefore, no otherwise than as if you were my sister shall
you abide here, while you are so minded, and be free to depart at your
pleasure; nor crave I aught of you but that you shall convey from me to
your husband such thanks as you shall deem meet for courtesy such as his
has been, and entreat me ever henceforth as your brother and servant."
Whereat overjoyed in the last degree:--"Nought," quoth the lady, "by what
I noted of your behaviour, could ever have caused me to anticipate other
sequel of my coming hither than this which I see is your will, and for
which I shall ever be your debtor." She then took her leave, and,
attended by a guard of honour, returned to Giliberto, and told him what
had passed; between whom and Messer Ansaldo there was thenceforth a most
close and loyal friendship.

Now the liberality shewn by Giliberto towards Messer Ansaldo, and by
Messer Ansaldo towards the lady, having been marked by the necromancer,
when Messer Ansaldo made ready to give him the promised reward:--"Now God
forbid," quoth he, "that, as I have seen Giliberto liberal in regard of
his honour, and you liberal in regard of your love, I be not in like
manner liberal in regard of my reward, which accordingly, witting that
'tis in good hands, I am minded that you keep." The knight was abashed,
and strove hard to induce him to take, if not the whole, at least a part
of the money; but finding that his labour was in vain, and that the
necromancer, having caused his garden to vanish after the third day, was
minded to depart, he bade him adieu. And the carnal love he had borne the
lady being spent, he burned for her thereafter with a flame of honourable
affection. Now what shall be our verdict in this case, lovesome ladies? A
lady, as it were dead, and a love grown lukewarm for utter hopelessness!
Shall we set a liberality shewn in such a case above this liberality of
Messer Ansaldo, loving yet as ardently, and hoping, perchanc