The Decameron, vol. 2 | Page 8

he deemed it best not to return to Cyprus for the present: and
so, by common consent they shaped their course for Crete, where most
of them, and especially Cimon, had alliances of old or recent date, and
friends not a few, whereby they deemed that there they might tarry with
Iphigenia in security. But Fortune, that had accorded Cimon so
gladsome a capture of the lady, suddenly proved fickle, and converted
the boundless joy of the enamoured gallant into woeful and bitter

lamentation. 'Twas not yet full four hours since Cimon had parted from
the Rhodians, when with the approach of night, that night from which
Cimon hoped such joyance as he had never known, came weather most
turbulent and tempestuous, which wrapped the heavens in cloud, and
swept the sea with scathing blasts; whereby 'twas not possible for any
to see how the ship was to be worked or steered, or to steady himself so
as to do any duty upon her deck. Whereat what grief was Cimon's, it
boots not to ask. Indeed it seemed to him that the gods had granted his
heart's desire only that it might be harder for him to die, which had else
been to him but a light matter. Not less downcast were his comrades;
but most of all Iphigenia, who, weeping bitterly and shuddering at
every wave that struck the ship, did cruelly curse Cimon's love and
censure his rashness, averring that this tempest was come upon them
for no other cause than that the gods had decreed, that, as 'twas in
despite of their will that he purposed to espouse her, he should be
frustrate of his presumptuous intent, and having lived to see her expire,
should then himself meet a woeful death.
While thus and yet more bitterly they bewailed them, and the mariners
were at their wits' end, as the gale grew hourly more violent, nor knew
they, nor might conjecture, whither they went, they drew nigh the
island of Rhodes, albeit that Rhodes it was they wist not, and set
themselves, as best and most skilfully they might, to run the ship
aground. In which enterprise Fortune favoured them, bringing them
into a little bay, where, shortly before them, was arrived the Rhodian
ship that Cimon had let go. Nor were they sooner ware that 'twas
Rhodes they had made, than day broke, and, the sky thus brightening a
little, they saw that they were about a bow-shot from the ship that they
had released on the preceding day. Whereupon Cimon, vexed beyond
measure, being apprehensive of that which in fact befell them, bade
make every effort to win out of the bay, and let Fortune carry them
whither she would, for nowhere might they be in worse plight than
there. So might and main they strove to bring the ship out, but all in
vain: the violence of the gale thwarted them to such purpose as not only
to preclude their passage out of the bay but to drive them, willing
nilling, ashore. Whither no sooner were they come, than they were
recognized by the Rhodian mariners, who were already landed. Of
whom one ran with all speed to a farm hard by, whither the Rhodian

gallants were gone, and told them that Fortune had brought Cimon and
Iphigenia aboard their ship into the same bay to which she had guided
them. Whereat the gallants were overjoyed, and taking with them not a
few of the farm-servants, hied them in hot haste to the shore, where,
Cimon and his men being already landed with intent to take refuge in a
neighbouring wood, they took them all (with Iphigenia) and brought
them to the farm. Whence, pursuant to an order of the Senate of Rhodes,
to which, so soon as he received the news, Pasimondas made his
complaint, Cimon and his men were all marched off to prison by
Lysimachus, chief magistrate of the Rhodians for that year, who came
down from the city for the purpose with an exceeding great company of
men at arms. On such wise did our hapless and enamoured Cimon lose
his so lately won Iphigenia before he had had of her more than a kiss or
two. Iphigenia was entertained and comforted of the annoy, occasioned
as well by her recent capture as by the fury of the sea, by not a few
noble ladies of Rhodes, with whom she tarried until the day appointed
for her marriage. In recompense of the release of the Rhodian gallants
on the preceding day the lives of Cimon and his men were spared,
notwithstanding that Pasimondas pressed might and main for their
execution; and instead they were condemned to perpetual imprisonment:
wherein, as may be supposed, they abode in dolorous plight, and
despaired of ever