By this the moystie night approching fast, xiii Her deawy humour gan on th’earth to shed, That warn’d the shepheards to their homes to hast Their tender flocks, now being fully fed, For feare of wetting them before their bed; Then came to them a good old aged syre, Whose siluer lockes bedeckt his beard and hed, With shepheards hooke in hand, and fit attyre, That wild the damzell rise; the day did now expyre. He was to weet by common voice esteemed xiv The father of the fayrest _Pastorell_, And of her selfe in very deede so deemed; Yet was not so, but as old stories tell Found her by fortune, which to him befell, In th’open fields an Infant left alone, And taking vp brought home, and noursed well As his owne chyld; for other he had none, That she in tract of time accompted was his owne. She at his bidding meekely did arise, xv And streight vnto her litle flocke did fare: Then all the rest about her rose likewise, And each his sundrie sheepe with seuerall care Gathered together, and them homeward bare: Whylest euerie one with helping hands did striue Amongst themselues, and did their labours share, To helpe faire _Pastorella_, home to driue Her fleecie flocke; but _Coridon_ most helpe did giue. But _Melibœe_ (so hight that good old man) xvi Now seeing _Calidore_ left all alone, And night arriued hard at hand, began Him to inuite vnto his simple home; Which though it were a cottage clad with lome, And all things therein meane, yet better so To lodge, then in the saluage fields to rome. The knight full gladly soone agreed thereto, Being his harts owne wish, and home with him did go. There he was welcom’d of that honest syre, xvii And of his aged Beldame homely well; Who him besought himselfe to disattyre, And rest himselfe, till supper time befell. By which home came the fayrest _Pastorell_, After her flocke she in their fold had tyde, And supper readie dight, they to it fell With small adoe, and nature satisfyde, The which doth litle craue contented to abyde. Tho when they had their hunger slaked well, xviii And the fayre mayd the table ta’ne away, The gentle knight, as he that did excell In courtesie, and well could doe and say, For so great kindnesse as he found that day, Gan greatly thanke his host and his good wife; And drawing thence his speach another way, Gan highly to commend the happie life, Which Shepheards lead, without debate or bitter strife.