The knight was nothing nice, where was no need, vii And tooke their gentle offer: so adowne They prayd him sit, and gaue him for to feed Such homely what, as serues the simple clowne, That doth despise the dainties of the towne. Tho having fed his fill, he there besyde Saw a faire damzell, which did weare a crowne Of sundry flowres, with silken ribbands tyde[544], Yclad in home-made greene that her owne hands had dyde. Vpon a litle hillocke she was placed viii Higher then all the rest, and round about Enuiron’d with a girland, goodly graced, Of louely lasses, and them all without The lustie shepheard swaynes sate in a rout, The which did pype and sing her prayses dew, And oft reioyce, and oft for wonder shout, As if some miracle of heauenly hew Were downe to them descended in that earthly vew. And soothly sure she was full fayre of face, ix And perfectly well shapt in euery lim, Which she did more augment with modest grace, And comely carriage of her count’nance trim, That all the rest like lesser lamps did dim: Who her admiring as some heauenly wight, Did for their soueraine goddesse her esteeme, And caroling her name both day and night, The fayrest _Pastorella_ her by name did hight. Ne was there heard, ne was there shepheards swayne x But her did honour, and eke many a one Burnt in her loue, and with sweet pleasing payne Full many a night for her did sigh and grone: But most of all the shepheard _Coridon_ For her did languish, and his deare life spend; Yet neither she for him, nor other none Did care a whit, ne any liking lend: Though meane her lot, yet higher did her mind ascend. Her whyles Sir _Calidore_ there vewed well, xi And markt her rare demeanure, which him seemed So farre the meane of shepheards to excell, As that he in his mind her worthy deemed, To be a Princes Paragone esteemed, He was vnwares surprisd in subtile bands Of the blynd boy, ne thence could be redeemed By any skill out of his cruell hands, Caught like the bird, which gazing still on others stands. So stood he still long gazing thereupon, xii Ne any will had thence to moue away, Although his quest were farre afore him gon; But after he had fed, yet did he stay, And sate there still, vntill the flying day Was farre forth spent, discoursing diuersly Of sundry things, as fell,[545] to worke delay; And euermore his speach he did apply To th’heards, but meant them to the damzels fantazy.