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 unjustly detayned, to let the worlds eye behold them truly, by
manifest testimony from whence he can deliver those spirits
subjected to his power, and guid them (afterward) to the highest
degrees of honour. And although Chynon by affecting Iphigenia,
failed in some particular things; yet notwithstanding, his Father
Aristippus duely considering, that love had made him a man, whereas
(before) he was no better then a beast: not onely endured all
patiently, but also advised him therein, to take such courses as
best liked himselfe. Neverthelesse, Chynon (who refused to be called
Galesus, which was his naturall name indeed) remembring that Iphigenia
tearmed him Chynon, and coveting (under this title) to accomplish
the issue of his honest amorous desire: made many motions to
Ciphaeus the Father of Iphigenia, that he would be pleased to let
him enjoy her in marriage. But Ciphaeus told him, that he had
already passed his promise for her, to a Gentleman of Rhodes, named
Pasimondo, which promise he religiously intended to performe.
The time being come, which was concluded on for Iphigeniaes
marriage, in regard that the affianced husband had sent for her:
Chynon thus communed with his owne thoughts. Now is the time (quoth
he) to let my divine Mistresse see, how truly and honourably I doe
affect her, because (by her) I am become a man. But if I could be
possessed of her, I should growe more glorious, then the common
condition of a mortall man, and have her I will, or loose my life in
the adventure. Being thus resolved, he prevailed with divers young
Gentlemen his friends, making them of his faction, and secretly
prepared a Shippe, furnished with all things for a Naval fight,
setting sodainly forth to Sea, and hulling abroad in those parts by
which the vessell should passe, that must convey Iphigenia to Rhodes
to her husband. After many honours done to them, who were to transport
her thence unto Rhodes, being imbarked, they set saile upon their
Bon viaggio.
Chynon, who slept not in a businesse so earnestly importing him, set
on them (the day following) with his Ship, and standing aloft on the
decke, cryed out to them that had the charge of Iphigenia, saying.
Strike your sayles, or else determine to be sunke in the Sea. The
enemies to Chynon, being nothing danted with his words, prepared to
stand upon their owne defence; which made Chynon, after the former
speeches delivered, and no answer returned, to command the grapling
Irons to be cast forth, which tooke such fast hold on the Rhodians
shippe, that (whether they would or no) both the vessels joyned
close together. And he shewing himselfe fierce like a Lyon, not
tarrying to be seconded by any, stepped aboord the Rhodians ship, as
if he made no respect at all of them, and having his sword ready
drawne in his hand (incited by the vertue of unfaigned love) laied
about him on all sides very manfully. Which when the men of Rhodes
perceived, casting downe their weapons, and all of them (as it were)
with one voyce, yeelded themselves his prisoners: whereupon he said.
Honest Friends, neither desire of booty, nor hatred to you, did
occasion my departure from Cyprus, thus to assaile you with drawne
weapons: but that which hereto hath most mooved me, is a matter highly
importing to me, and very easie for you to grant, and so enjoy your
present peace. I desire to have faire Iphigenia from you, whom I
love above all other Ladies living, because I could not obtaine her of
her father, to make her my lawfull wife in marriage. Love is the
ground of my instant Conquest, and I must use you as my mortall
enemies, if you stand upon any further tearmes with me, and do not
deliver her as mine owne: for your Pasimondo, must not enjoy what is
my right, first by vertue of my love, and now by Conquest: Deliver her
therefore, and depart hence at your pleasure.
The men of Rhodes, being rather constrained thereto, then of any
free disposition in themselves, with teares in their eyes, delivered
Iphigenia to Chynon; who beholding her in like manner to weepe, thus
spake unto her. Noble Lady, do not any way discomfort your selfe,
for I am your Chynon, who have more right and true title to you, and
much better doe deserve to enjoy you, by my long continued affection
to you, then Pasimondo can any way plead; because you belong to him
but onely by promise. So, bringing her aboord his owne ship, where the
Gentlemen his companions gave her kinde welcome, without touching
any thing else belonging to the Rhodians, he gave them free liberty to
depart.
Chynon being more joyfull, by the obtaining of his hearts desire,
then any other conquest else in the world could make him, after he had
spent some time in comforting Iphigenia, who as yet sate sadly
sighing; he consulted with his companions, who joyned with him in
opinion, that their safest course was, by no meanes to returne to
Cyprus; and therefore all (with one consent) resolved to set saile for
Candye, where every one made account, but especially Chynon, in regard
of ancient and new combined Kindred, as also very intimate friends, to
finde very worthy entertainement, and so to continue there safely with
Iphigenia. But Fortune, who was so favourable to Chynon, in granting
him so pleasing a Conquest, to shew her constancy, so sodainly changed
the inestimable joy of our jocond Lover, into as heavy sorrow and
disaster. For, foure houres were not fully compleated, since his
departure from the Rhodians, but darke night came upon them, and he
sitting conversing with his faire Mistresse, in the sweetest solace of
his soule; the winds began to blow roughly, the Seas swelled
angerly, and a tempest arose impetuously, that no man could see what
his duty was to do, in such a great unexpected distresse, nor how to
warrant themselves from perishing.
If this accident were displeasing to poore Chynon, I thinke the
question were in vaine demanded: for now it seemeth to him, that the
Godds had granted his cheefe desire, to the end he should dye with the
greater anguish, in losing both his love and life together. His
friends likewise, felte the selfesame affliction, but especially
Iphigenia, who wept and greeved beyond all measure, to see the ship
beaten with such stormy billowes, as threatned her sinking every
minute. Impatiently she cursed the love of Chynon, greatly blaming his
desperate boldnesse, and maintaining, that so violent a tempest
could never happen, but onely by the Gods displeasure, who would not
permit him to have a wife against their will; and therefore thus
punished his proud presumption, not onely in his unavoidable death,
but also that her life must perish for company.
She continuing in these wofull lamentations, and the Mariners
labouring all in vaine, because the violence of the tempest
encreased more and more, so that every moment they expected
wracking: they were carried (contrary to their owne knowledge) very
neere unto the Isle of Rhodes, which they being no way able to
avoyd, and utterly ignorant of the Coast; for safety of their lives,
they laboured to land there if possibly they might. Wherein Fortune
was somewhat furtherous to them, driving them into a small gulfe of
the Sea, whereinto (but a little while before) the Rhodians, from whom
Chynon had taken Iphigenia, were newly entred with their ship. Nor had
they any knowledge each of other, till the breake of day (which made
the heavens to looke more clearly) gave them discovery of being within
a flight shoote together. Chynon looking forth, and espying the same
ship which he had left the day before, hee grew exceeding
sorrowfull, as fearing that which after followed, and therefore hee
willed the Mariners, to get away from her by all their best endeavour,
and let fortune afterward dispose of them as she pleased; for into a
worse place they could not come, nor fall into the like danger.
The Mariners employed their very utmost paines, and all proved but
losse of time: for the winde was so sterne, and the waves so
turbulent, that still they drove them the contrary way: so that
striving to get forth of the gulfe, whether they would or no, they
were driven on land, and instantly knowne to the Rhodians, whereof
they were not a little joyfull. The men of Rhodes being landed, ran
presently to the neere-neighbouring Villages, where dwelt divers
worthy Gentlemen, to whom they reported the arrivall of Chynon, what
fortune befell them at Sea, and that Iphigenia might now be
recovered againe with chastisement to Chynon for his bold insolence.
They being very joyfull of these good newes, took so many men as
they could of the same Village, and ran immediately to the Sea side,
where Chynon being newly Landed and his people, intending flight
into a neere adjoyning Forrest, for defence of himselfe and Iphigenia,
they were all taken, led thence to the Village, and afterwards to
the chiefe City of Rhodes.
No sooner were they arrived, but Pasimondo, the intended Husband for
Iphigenia (who had already heard the tydings) went and complained to
the Senate, who appointed a Gentleman of Rhodes named Lysimachus,
and being that yeere soveraigne Magistrate over the Rhodians, to go
well provided for the apprehension of Chynon and his company,
committing them to prison, which accordingly was done. In this manner,
the poore unfortunate lover Chynon, lost his faire Iphigenia, having
won her in so short a while before, and scarsely requited with so much
as a kisse. But as for Iphigenia, she was royally welcommed by many
Lords and Ladies of Rhodes, who so kindely comforted her, that she
soone forgotte all her greefe and trouble on the Sea, remaining in
company of those Ladies and Gentlewomen, untill the day determined for
her marriage.
At the earnest entreaty of divers Rhodian Gentlemen, who were in the
Ship with Iphigenia, and had their lives courteously saved by
Chynon: both he and his friends had their lives likewise spared,
although Pasimondo laboured importunately, to have them all put to
death; onely they were condemned to perpetuall imprisonment, which
(you must thinke) was most greevous to them, as being now hopelesse of
