CXII But when the magic tower upon the hill Was razed, the dwelling of Atlantes hoar, And every one was free to rove at will, Through Bradamant's good deed and virtuous lore, The damsel, who had been compliant still With the desires of Pinabel before, Rejoined him, and now journeying in a round With him, from castle was to castle bound. CXIII As wanton and ill-customed, when she spies Marphisa's aged charge approaching near, She cannot rein her saucy tongue, but plies Here, in her petulance, with laugh and jeer. Marphisa haught, unwont in any wise Outrage from whatsoever part to hear, Makes answer to the dame, in angry tone, That handsomer than her she deems the crone. CXIV And that she this would prove upon her knight With pact that she might strip the bonnibell Of gown and palfrey, if, o'erthrown in fight, Her champion from his goodly courser fell. -- In silence to have overpast the slight Would have been sin and shame in Pinabel, Who for short answer seized his shield and spear, And wheeled, and drove at her in fierce career. CXV Marphisa grasped a mighty lance, and thrust, Encountering him, at Pinabello's eyes; And stretched him so astounded in the dust, That motionless an hour the warrior lies. Marphisa, now victorious in the just, Gave orders to strip off the glorious guise And ornaments wherewith the maid was drest, And with the spoils her ancient crone invest; CXVI And willed that she should don the youthful weed, Bedizened at the haughty damsel's cost; And took away as well the goodly steed Which her had thither borne, and -- bent to post On her old track -- with her the hag will speed, Who seems most hideous when adorned the most. Three days the tedious road the couple beat, Without adventure needful to repeat. CXVII On the fourth day they met a cavalier, Who came in fury galloping alone. If you the stranger's name desire to hear, I tell you 'twas Zerbino, a king's son, Of beauty and of worth example rare, Now grieved and angered, as unvenged of one, Who a great act of courtesy, which fain The warrior would have done, had rendered vain. CXVIII Vainly the young Zerbino, through the glade, Had chased that man of his, who this despite Had done him, who himself so well conveyed Away and took such 'vantage in his flight, So hid by wood and mist, which overlaid The horizon and bedimmed the morning-light, That he escaped Zerbino's grasp, and lay Concealed until his wrath was past away. CXIX Zerbino laughed parforce, when he descried That beldam's face, though he was full of rage; For too ill-sorted seemed her vest of pride With her foul visage, more deformed by age; And to the proud Marphisa, at her side The prince, exclaimed, "Sir warrior, you are sage, In having chosen damsel of a sort, Whom none, I ween, will grudge you should escort."