Page 117 - THE DECAMERON: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

thousand lessons, he felt the awakening of an idea that made his kinsmen, and all who knew him. He began by requesting his father
coarse mind acknowledge that this girl was the fairest creature to let him dress and equip himself like his brothers, which his father
ever seen by mortal eye. He began to distinguish her several parts, gladly did. Mixing with the gallants and becoming familiar with the
praising her hair, which seemed like gold, her brow, nose, mouth, manners proper to gentlemen and lovers, he soon acquired the
throat, arms, and above all, her bosom, which was just budding. rudiments of letters and became eminent among the philosophic
As he gazed, he changed from a husbandman into a judge of wits. For the love he bore Iphigenia, he modulated his gruff voice
beauty and desired to see her eyes, which her deep slumber kept to a smoothness suitable for urbane life, became accomplished in
closed. Many times, he wanted to awaken her to see them, but singing and music, and excelled in riding and matters of war by sea
she seemed so much fairer than any other woman he had seen and land. In sum, within four years of first becoming enamored,
that he doubted she must be a goddess. Not so devoid of sense he had grown into the most gallant, courteous, and accomplished
as to deem divine things less worthy of reverence than mundane young cavalier in Cyprus.
things, he forbore and waited for her to wake on her own. Though
he found the delay overlong, he was so enthralled by the delight What then, gracious ladies, are we to say of Cimon? Verily, nothing
that he knew not how to leave. else but that the high faculties with which Heaven had endowed his
noble soul were bound by the strongest cords and circumscribed
After a long while, Iphigenia—such was the girl's name—awoke, within a narrow region of his heart by invidious Fortune. Love,
her slaves still sleeping. She raised her head, opened her eyes, more potent than Fortune, burst and broke these cords, awakening
and, seeing Cimon standing before her, leaning on his staff, was dormant powers and bringing them into clear light, showing plainly
surprised and said, "Cimon, what seekest thou in this wood at this how he may draw and guide the souls subject to his sway.
hour?" For she knew Cimon well, as did almost all the countryside,
due to his uncouth appearance and the rank and wealth of his Despite being led into some peccadillos by his love for Iphigenia,
father. To Iphigenia's question, he answered not a word, but as Cimon's transformation from a booby into a man was so remarkable
soon as her eyes were open, he could do nothing but intently regard that his father, Aristippus, not only bore with him patiently but also
them, for it seemed to him that a soft influence emanated from encouraged him to remain steadfast in his love. Cimon, who refused
them, filling his soul with a delight he had never known. The girl, to be called Galesus because Iphigenia had first addressed him
marking this, began to fear that his boorish temper might prompt as Cimon, sought to achieve his desire honorably. He repeatedly
some act that would dishonor her. She roused her women and got urged Iphigenia's father, Cipseus, to give her to him as his wife.
up, saying, "Keep thy distance, Cimon, in God's name." To which However, Cipseus always responded that he had promised her to
Cimon replied, "I will come with thee." Though the girl refused his Pasimondas, a young Rhodian noble, and would not break his word.
escort, still in fear of him, she could not rid herself of him, and
he attended her home. Afterward, he went straight to his father's When the time for Iphigenia's wedding arrived, and the bridegroom
house and announced that he was determined not to return to the sent for her, Cimon resolved to show Iphigenia the depth of his
farm. This news was far from welcome to his father and kinsmen, love. He secretly enlisted the help of some young noble friends,
but they allowed him to stay, waiting to see the reason for his fitted out a ship for combat, and set sail to intercept the ship
change of mind. carrying Iphigenia to Rhodes. The next day, Cimon's ship caught
up with Iphigenia's, and he shouted to those aboard to strike sails
Cimon, whose heart had been closed to all teaching, was now or be conquered and sunk. Seeing the enemy preparing for a fight,
pierced by love's shaft, sped by the beauty of Iphigenia. He Cimon cast a grapnel onto their ship, secured it, and, fierce as a
graduated in wisdom with such celerity that it astonished his father, lion, leaped aboard. He fought with such ferocity that the Rhodians
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