 Messer Ansaldo is in love with Madonna Dianora, a married woman, and often sends her messages of his love.She does not return his affections, and in an attempt to put him off says that she will only be his if he can prove his love by providing for her a garden as fair in January as it is in May.Messer Ansaldo hires for a great sum a necromancer, and thereby gives her the garden.