as was averred by eye-witnesses, there appeared in a meadow hard by the city one of the most beautiful gardens that was ever seen, with no lack of grass and trees and fruits of all sorts.  At sight whereof Messer Ansaldo was overjoyed, and caused some of the finest fruits and flowers that it contained to be gathered, and privily presented to his lady, whom he bade come and see the garden that she had craved, that thereby she might have assurance of his love, and mind her of the promise that she had given him and confirmed with an oath, and, as a loyal lady, take thought for its performance.  When she saw the flowers and fruits, the lady, who had already heard not a few folk speak of the wondrous garden, began to repent her of her promise.  But for all that, being fond of strange sights, she hied her with many other ladies of the city to see the garden, and having gazed on it with wonderment, and commended it not a little, she went home the saddest woman alive, bethinking her to what it bound her:  and so great was her distress that she might not well conceal it; but, being written on her face, ’twas marked by her husband, who was minded by all means to know the cause thereof.

The lady long time kept silence:  but at last she yielded to his urgency, and discovered to him the whole matter from first to last.  Whereat Giliberto was at first very wroth; but on second thoughts, considering the purity of the lady’s purpose, he was better advised, and dismissing his anger:—­“Dianora,” quoth he, “’tis not the act of a discreet or virtuous lady to give ear to messages of such a sort, nor to enter into any compact touching her chastity with any man on any terms.  Words that the ears convey to the heart have a potency greater than is commonly supposed, and there is scarce aught that lovers will not find possible.  ’Twas then ill done of thee in the first instance to hearken, as afterwards to make the compact; but, for that I know the purity of thy soul, that thou mayst be quit of thy promise, I will grant thee that which, perchance, no other man would grant, being also swayed thereto by fear of the necromancer, whom Messer Ansaldo, shouldst thou play him false, might, peradventure, cause to do us a mischief.  I am minded, then, that thou go to him, and contrive, if on any wise thou canst, to get thee quit of this promise without loss of virtue; but if otherwise it may not be, then for the nonce thou mayst yield him thy body, but not thy soul.”  Whereat the lady, weeping, would none of such a favour at her husband’s hands.  But Giliberto, for all the lady’s protestations, was minded that so it should be.