A hearty welcome did the old man and his wife accord to the knight. Shortly after, the fair Pastorella came back from folding her flock, and they all sat down to sup in high content, and had much pleasant talk concerning the shepherd’s life, the delights of which old Melibæus set forth. “Let those who will seek after honour and wealth and the good things of this world: I am content with what I have. My nights I spend in quiet sleep, my days in honest toil. I take good care that the fox shall not harm my lambs; I catch birds in snares, and fishes with hook and net. When I am weary, I rest my limbs under the green tree; when I am thirsty, I drink of the brook. Time was when I was not content with these simple things, but must raise myself above my fellows, and seek fortune elsewhere. So I left my home and betook myself to the King’s Court, and worked for hire. But I perceived that in this life there was vanity and discontent; after ten years, therefore, had passed, I came back to my home and to peace, and I have learnt to love it daily more and more.” While the good man talked, the knight was well content to listen. Much he liked to hear such speech, but more to look at the fair Pastorella.
After a while he said to the old man, “Good father, I would gladly rest a while in this peaceful place. The ship of my life has of late been greatly tossed by tempestuous winds and in stormy seas. Let it therefore find haven here, and I meanwhile will meditate what course I shall follow for the time to come. But I would not that my entertainment should be a burden to you. Your simple fare and such lodging as you can give content me well; but for these you should have fair guerdon.” So saying he drew from his pouch a great store of gold, and would have the old man take it. But Melibæus pushed it from him.
“I desire it not,” he said; “this is the thing that breeds such mischief in the world. But if you are content to abide here and lead our shepherd’s life, be it so; I am well content.”
So Sir Calidore abode in the old man’s house, delighting himself with the daily sight of the fair Pastorella, and bearing her company whenever he could find excuse. Very high courtesy did he show to the maid; but she, having been used to more lowly things, held it in but light esteem. This the knight did not fail to perceive. So he doffed his knightly attire, and clad himself in shepherd’s dress, and laid aside his spear for a shepherd’s crook. One had thought him another Paris when for Œnone’s sake he fed her flocks on the Phrygian Ida. So did the shepherd Calidore go day by day to the fields with Pastorella’s flock. He kept watch against the wolf while the maid sported and played, and at even—such is the might of love—he would essay to help in the milking of the ewes.