The Project Gutenberg eBook of Amadis of Gaul, Vol. IV. of IV., by Vasco Lobeira.

CHAPTER 44.

The Kings now determined that the marriages should be celebrated on the fourth day, and that the feasts should continue fifteen days, after which they would return home. When the day was arrived, all the bridegrooms assembled at the apartment of Amadis, being clad in such rich and costly apparel as beseemed such personages upon such an occasion. They mounted their palfreys, and rode with the Kings and all their company to the garden, where they found the brides, all in rich array, and upon their palfreys also, and then with the Queens and other ladies, the whole company proceeded to the church, where the holy Hermit Nasciano was ready to say mass. When the ceremony and marriage had been performed with all the solemnities which the holy church enjoins, Amadis went to King Lisuarte and said, Sir, I ask a boon of you, which you will be nothing loth to grant. The King replied, I grant it.—Then, Sir, be pleased to command Oriana before it be dinner time to prove the Arch of True Lovers, and the Forbidden Chamber, for hitherto we have none of us been able to persuade her to the adventure, by reason of her great sadness. I have such confidence in her truth and beauty that I doubt not but she will enter without let or hindrance where no woman hath for a hundred years entered; for I saw Grimanesa's image, made with such cunning as she were alive, and her beauty is nothing equal to Oriana's. Our marriage feast shall then be held in the Forbidden Chamber.

Son, replied the King, what you ask is easily done; but I fear lest it should disturb our feast; affection will often delude the eyes, and this may have been the case with you and Oriana. Fear not, quoth Amadis, my heart is assured that it will be as I say. The King then sent to Oriana, who was with the Queens and the other brides, and said to her, Daughter, your husband hath asked a boon of me, and it is only you who can perform it, I would have you, therefore, make good my promise. She knelt down, and kissed his hand, saying, Sir, I would to God that I could in any way serve you: tell me what it is to be, and if I can do it, there shall be no delay; then he raised her up and kissed her cheek, and said, before dinner you must prove the adventure of the Arch of True Lovers, and of the Forbidden Chamber; for this is what your husband hath asked. When they heard this, some there were who rejoiced that the attempt was to be made, and others who were fearful lest she should fail where many had failed, and thus be put to shame: so they left the church and made to the place beyond which none could pass who were not found worthy.

When they reached this place, Melicia and Olinda said to their husbands, that they also would prove the adventure: thereat Don Bruneo and Agrayes were greatly rejoiced to see with what courage they would put their truth to the proof; but yet fearing lest it might turn out otherwise, they replied, that they were so well satisfied, that the proof need not be made. Nay, said the brides, we will attempt it; if we were elsewhere it might well be excused; but being at the place, it shall never be thought that we feared in our own hearts this proof. Since it is so, replied the husbands, we cannot deny that we shall receive from it the greatest joy that can be. Then they told King Lisuarte that these also would prove the adventure. In God's name! quoth the King. They all alighted; and it was agreed that Melicia and Olinda should enter first. They then advanced, and one after the other passed under the Arch without opposition, and went where the images of Apolidon and Grimanesa stood; and the figure which stood upon the Arch sounded his trumpet sweetly, so that all who heard it were delighted; for except they who had before heard the same, they had never heard so sweet sounds. Oriana then came up to the line of the spell, and she looked round at Amadis and her face coloured; then she turned and advanced, and when she was under the Arch, the Image began his music, and from the mouth of his trumpet showered down flowers and roses in such abundance that they covered the ground, and the sound was far sweeter than what had before been uttered, delightful to all who heard it, so that they would willingly have remained listening so long as it should continue; but as soon as she had passed the Arch the sound ceased. She found Olinda and Melicia looking at their own names which were now written in the jasper table: they seeing her joyfully went to her, and led her to behold the Images. Oriana looked carefully at Grimanesa, and saw that none of those who were without could compare with her beauty; and she herself began to fear, and would willingly have declined the adventure of the Forbidden Chamber; in that of the Arch she had had no fear, knowing her own heart and true love. Willingly would they have tarried longer, if they who were without had not expected them; so hand in hand they went out, so well contented and so proud of what they had atchieved, that their beauty seemed to have been brightened by the success. Their three husbands, who had before proved the adventure, went through the Arch to meet them, which none of the Knights could have done; and the trumpet sounded again, and again showered more flowers, and they embraced their wives and kissed them, and thus they all came forth together.

This done, they proceeded towards the Forbidden Chamber, then Grasinda approached Amadis and said, Sir, though my beauty may not be such as to gratify my heart's desire, yet I cannot for pride forbear this trial; it never shall be said that this was atchieved, and that I had not proved it. Let come what will, I will adventure. Amadis, whose only wish was that all might prove it before Oriana, that her glory might be the greater, replied, Lady, I can only attribute this resolution to the greatness of your heart, which wishes to atchieve that wherein so many have failed; and he took her by the hand, and said, this fair lady will attempt the adventure, and so should you also Olinda and Melicia; for with such beauty as God hath given you, ye ought without fear, on so great an occasion to adventure it; perchance it may be accomplished by one of you, and then Oriana will be freed from the alarm which she feels. This he said; but in his heart he knew that none but Oriana could compare with Grimanesa's beauty.

Grasinda then commended herself to God, and began her way. She reached the copper perron with little trouble, and went on; but when she was near the marble perron, she was opposed. Howbeit, discovering mere resolution than could have been expected from a woman, she held on, and reached the marble perron; but then she was seized without remorse by her goodly locks, and thrown out senseless. Don Quadragante took her; and though he knew there was no hurt in all this violence, yet was he greatly moved; for albeit, he was now not a young man, yet did he as entirely love his lady as any of the other bridegrooms. The gentle Olinda came next, led by Agrayes, who had little hope that she would succeed, notwithstanding his great love, for he had seen the image of Grimanesa; howbeit, he thought she could advance among the foremost. She reached the marble perron without let, but there the resistance began; and having only advanced one step farther, she also was cast out. Melicia then came on with good cheer and a proud heart, and she passed both the perrons, so that all thought she would have entered the chamber, and Oriana herself was dismayed; but when she had advanced one step beyond Olinda, she was thrown out, as if she had been dead, for they who advanced farthest were thrown out with most violence, as it had been done to the Knights before Amadis atchieved the adventure. The grief of Don Bruneo to see her in such plight moved many to compassion; but all they who knew that there was neither danger nor hurt laughed at his alarm.

And now Amadis led on Oriana in whom all beauty was centered. She advanced with gentle step and firm countenance to the line of the spell, and there she crossed herself, and commended herself to God, and went on. She felt nothing till she had passed both the perrons; but when she was within a step of the chamber, she felt hands that pushed her and dragged her back, and three times they forced her back to the marble perron; but she with her fair hands repelled them on both sides, and it seemed as if she were thrusting hands and arms from her, and thus by her perseverance and good heart, but above all by reason of her surpassing beauty, she came, though sorely wearied, to the door of the chamber and laid hold on the door post; and then the hand and arm which had led in Amadis, came out and took her hand, and above twenty voices sung these words sweetly, Welcome is the noble Lady, who hath excelled the beauty of Grimanesa the worthy companion of the Knight who, because he surpasses Apolidon in valour, hath now the lordship of this Island, which shall be held by his posterity for long ages. The hand then drew her in, and she was as joyful as though the whole world had been given her, not so much for the prize of beauty which had been won, as that she had thus proved herself the worthy mate of Amadis, having like him, entered the Forbidden Chamber, and deprived all others of the hope of that glory.

Ysanjo then said, that all the enchantments of the Island were now at an end, and all might freely enter that chamber. They all went in and beheld the most sumptuous chamber that could be devised; and they embraced Oriana with such joy as though they had not for long while seen her. Then was the feast spread, and the marriage bed of Amadis and Oriana made in that chamber which they had won.

PRAISE BE TO GOD.