the decameron(十日谈)-第92节
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VALIANT
Chynon； by falling in Love； became wise； and by force of Armes；
winning his faire Lady Iphigenia on the Seas； was afterward imprisoned
at Rhodes。 Being delivered by anyone named Lysimachus； with him he
recovered his Iphigenia againe； and faire Cassandra； even in the
middest of their marriage。 They fled with them into Candye； where
after they had married them； they were called home to their owne
dwelling。
According to the ancient Annales of the Cypriots； there sometime
lived in Cyprus； a Noble Gentleman； who was commonly called
Aristippus； and exceeded all other of the Country in the goods of
Fortune。 Divers children he had； but （amongst the rest） a Sonne； in
whose birth he was more infortunate then any of the rest； and
continually greeved； in regard； that having all the compleate
perfections of beauty； good forme； and manly parts； surpassing all
other youths of his age or stature； yet hee wanted the reall
ornament of the soule； reason and judgement； being （indeed a meere
Ideot or Foole；） and no better hope to be expected of him。 His true
name； according as he received it by Baptisme； was Galesus； but
because neyther by the laborious paines of his Tutors indulgence；
and faire endevour of his parents； or ingenuity of any other； he could
not be brought to civility of life； understanding of Letters； or
common carriage of a reasonable creature： by his grosse and deformed
kinde of speech； his qualities also savouring rather of brutish
breeding； then any way derived from manly education； as an Epithite of
scorne and derision； generally； they gave him the name of Chynon；
which in their native Countrey language； and divers other beside；
signifieth a very Sot or Foole； and so was he termed by every one。
This lost kinde of life in him； was no meane burthen of greefe
unto his Noble Father； and all hope being already spent； of any future
happy recovery； he gave command （because he would not alwaies have
such a sorrow in his sight） that he should live at a Farme of his owne
in a Country Village； among his Peazants and Plough…Swaines。 Which was
not any way distastefull to Chynon； but well agreed with his owne
naturall disposition； for their rurall qualities； and grosse behaviour
pleased him beyond the Cities civility。 Chynon living thus at his
Fathers Countrey Village； exercising nothing else but rurall
demeanour； such as then delighted him above all other： it chanced upon
a day about the houre of noone； as hee was walking over the fields；
with a long staffe on his necke； which commonly he used to carry； he
entred in to a small thicket； reputed the goodliest in all those
quarters； and by reason it was then the month of May； the Trees had
their leaves fairely shot forth。
When he had walked through the thicket； it came to passe； that （even
as good Fortune guided him） hee came into a faire Meadow； on every
side engirt with and in one corner thereof stoode a goodly
Fountaine； whose current was both coole and cleare。 Hard by it； upon
the greene grasse； he espied a very beautifull young Damosell； seeming
to be fast asleepe； attired in such fine loose garments； as hidde very
little of her white body： onely from the girdle downward； she ware a
kirtle made close unto her； of interwoven delicate silke； and at her
feete lay two other Damosels sleeping； and a servant in the same
manner。 No sooner had Chynon fixed his eye upon her； but he stood
leaning upon his staffe； and viewed her very advisedly； without
speaking word； and in no meane admiration； as if he had never seene
the forme of a woman before。 He began then to feele in his harsh
rurall understanding （whereinto never till now； either by painfull
instruction； or all other good meanes used to him； any honest civility
had power of impression） a strange kinde of humour to awake； which
informed his grosse and dull spirite； that this Damosell was the
very fairest； which ever any living man beheld。
Then he began to distinguish her parts； commending the tresses of
her haire； which he imagined to be of gold； her forehead； nose； mouth；
necke； armes； but （above all） her brests； appearing （as yet） but onely
to shew themselves； like two little mountaines。 So that； of a
fielden clownish lout； he would needs now become a Judge of beauty；
coveting earnestly in his soule； to see her eyes； which were veiled
over with sound sleepe； that kept them fast enclosed together； and
onely to looke on them； hee wished a thousand times； that she would
awake。 For； in his judgement； she excelled all the women that ever
he had seene； and doubted； whether she were some Goddesse or no； so
strangely was he metamorphosed from folly； to a sensible apprehension；
more then common。 And so farre did this sodaine knowledge in him
extend； that he could conceive of divine and celestiall things； and
that they were more to be admired and reverenced； then those of humane
or terrene consideration； wherefore the more gladly he contented
himselfe； to tarry till she awaked of her owne accord。 And although
the time of stay seemed tedious to him； yet notwithstanding； he was
overcome with such extraordinary contentment； as he had no power to
depart thence； but stood as if he had bin glued fast to the ground。
After some indifferent respite of time； it chanced that the young
Damosel （who was named Iphigenia） awaked before any of the other
with her； and lifted up her head； with her eyes wide open； she saw
Chynon standing before her； leaning still on his staffe； whereat
marvailing not a little； she saide unto him： Chynon； whither wanderest
thou； or what dost thou seeke for in this wood？ Chynon； who not
onely by his countenance but likewise his folly； Nobility of birth；
and wealthy possessions of his father； was generally knowne throughout
the Countrey； made no answere at all to the demand of Iphigenia： but
so soone as he beheld her eyes open； he began to observe them with a
constant regard； and being perswaded in his soule； that from them
flowed such an unutterable singularity； as he had never felt till
then。 Which the young Gentlewoman well noting； she began to wax
fearefull； least these stedfast lookes of his； should incite his
rusticity to some attempt； which might redound to her dishonour：
wherefore awaking her women and servants； and they all being risen；
she saide。 Farewell Chynon； I leave thee to thine owne good Fortune；
whereto hee presently replyed； saying： I will go with you。 Now；
although the Gentlewoman refused his company； as dreading some acte of
incivility from him： yet could she not devise any way to be rid of
him； till he had brought her to her owne dwelling； where taking
leave mannerly of her； he went directly home to his Fathers house；
saying： Nothing should compell him to live any longer in the muddy
Country。 And albeit his Father was much offended hereat； and all the
rest of his kindred and friends： （yet not knowing how to helpe it）
they suffered him to continue there still； expecting the cause of this
his so sodaine alteration； from the course of life； which contented
him so highly before。
Chynon being now wounded to the heart （where never any civill
instruction could before get entrance） with loves piercing dart； by
the bright beauty of Iphigenia； mooved much admiration （falling from
one change to another） in his Father； Kindred； and all else that
knew him。 For first； he requested of his Father； that he might be
habited and respected like to his other Brethren； whereto right gladly
he condiscended。 And frequenting the company of civill youths；
observing also the cariage of Gentlemen； especially such as were
amorously enclined： he grew to a beginning in short time （to the
wonder of every one） not onely to understand the first instruction
of letters； but also became most skilfull； even amongst them that were
best exercised in Philosophy。 And afterward； love to Iphigenia being
the sole occasion of this happy alteration； not onely did his harsh
and clownish voyce convert it selfe more mildely； but also hee
became a singular Musitian； and could perfectly play on any
instrument。 Beside； he tooke delight in the riding and managing of
great horses； and finding himselfe of a strong and able body； he
exercised all kinds of Military Disciplines； as well by Sea； as on the
land。 And； to be breefe； because I would not seeme tedious in the
repetition of all his vertues； scarsly had he attained to the fourth
yeare； after he was thus falne in love； but hee became generally
knowne； to be the most civil； wise； and worthy Gentleman； aswell for
all vertues enriching the minde； as any whatsoever to beautifie the
body； that very hardly he could be equalled throughout the whole
kingdome of Cyprus。
What shall we say then （vertuous Ladies） concerning this Chynon？
Surely nothing else； but that those high and divine vertues； infused
into his gentle soule； were by envious Fortune bound and shut up in
some small angle of his intellect； which being shaken and set at
liberty by love； （as having a farre more potent power then Fortune； in
quickning and reviving the dull drowsie spirits） declared his mighty
and soveraigne Authority； in setting free so many faire and precious
vertues
