Cimon Character Analysis in The Decameron

In Panfilo’s fifth tale (V, 1), Cimon is the son of Aristippus. Despite his noble birth, he’s uneducated, rude, and barely articulate. But, when he catches sight of the beautiful Iphigenia, he demonstrates the ennobling power of love and suddenly mends his ways, becoming an elegant, refined, and well-educated gentleman. Like a true fin’amors lover, his love inspires him to make himself into a better person, demonstrates his courage to Lysimachus, and gives him the strength and bravery to fight against Pasimondas to win Iphigenia as his bride, becoming an example of a happy lover.

Cimon Quotes in The Decameron

The The Decameron quotes below are all either spoken by Cimon or refer to Cimon. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

On catching sight of this vision, Cimon stopped dead in his tracks, and […] began to stare at her, rapt in silent admiration, as though he had never before set eyes upon the female form. And deep within his uncouth breast, which despite a thousand promptings had remained closed to every vestige of refined sentiment, he sensed the awakening of a certain feeling which told his crude, uncultured mind that this girl was the loveliest object that any mortal being had ever seen […] Having suddenly been transformed from a country bumpkin into a connoisseur of beauty, he longed to be able to see her eyes, but they were closed in heavy slumber.

Related Characters: Panfilo (speaker), Cimon, Iphigenia

Page Number and Citation: 358

Explanation and Analysis:

Leaving the house full of blood, tumult, tears, and sadness, they made their way unimpeded to the ship, keeping close together and carrying their spoils before them. Having handed the ladies aboard, Cimon and Lysimachus followed with their comrades just as the shore began to fill with men who were coming to the rescue of the two ladies. But they plied their oars with a will, and made good their escape.

Related Characters: Panfilo (speaker), Cimon, Iphigenia, Pasimondas, Lysimachus, Ormisdas, Cassandra

Page Number and Citation: 378

Explanation and Analysis:

I would assuredly curse Nature and Fortune alike, if I did not know for a fact that Nature is very discerning and that Fortune has a thousand eyes, even though fools represent her as blind. Indeed, it is my conviction that Nature and Fortune, being very shrewd, follow the practice so common among mortals, who, uncertain of what the future will bring, make provision for emergencies by burying their most precious possessions in the least imposing […] parts of their houses, whence they bring them forth in the hour of their greatest need […] In the same way, the two fair arbiters of the world’s affairs frequently hide their greatest treasure beneath the shadow of the humblest trades, so that when the need arises for it to be brought forth, its splendor will be all the more apparent.

Related Characters: Pampinea (speaker), Cimon, Cisti

Related Symbols: Fortune

Page Number and Citation: 448

Explanation and Analysis:

Cimon Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Cimon appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Thus, everyone thinks of him more as an animal than a person, and he’s called “Cimon,” or “simpleton.” Aristippus eventually sends him to live in the country, where his lack of... (full context)

One May morning, Cimon stumbles on a lovely young woman and her attendants, sleeping beside a cool fountain in... (full context)

Waking to discover a man staring at her, an astonished Iphigenia recognizes Cimon. His reputation precedes him, and his staring makes her worry that he might attack her.... (full context)

Cimon’s previously impenetrable heart, having been pierced by Love’s arrows, is so roused by Iphigenia’s beauty... (full context)

Aristippus, pleased with the transformation of his “ass” son “into a man,” encourages Cimon to “taste Love’s pleasures to the full.” But Cimon refuses to approach Iphigenia dishonorably, instead... (full context)

Cimon and his men overtake Iphigenia’s ship, and Love inspires him to act with vigor and... (full context)

Within a few hours, a violent storm blows the ship off course. Iphigenia blames Cimon, believing it’s divine punishment for kidnapping or for trying to marry her against the gods’... (full context)

Cimon is imprisoned while the Rhodian noblewomen comfort Iphigenia and prepare for her wedding. Pasimondas wants... (full context)

Reasoning that Cimon would be a loyal accomplice, Lysimachus sends him a message complimenting his love-inspired evolution from... (full context)

On the appointed day, Lysimachus frees Cimon. Then, executing their plan with military precision, they enter the brothers’ house and carry off... (full context)