Chloe kisses Daphnis, who is then abducted by pirates. Chloe plays a tune which incites some cows to capsize the pirate ship. Daphnis is rescued. At the time of the grape harvest, an old man called Philetas talks to the young couple of love.

And, what is Love (quoth Chloe then)? Is he a boy, or is he a bird? And, what can he do, I pray you, Gaffer?

Therefore again—thus Philetas: Love (sweet Chloe) is a god, a young Youth, and very fair, and wing’d to flye. And therefore he delights in youth, follows beauty, and gives our phantasie her wings. His power’s so vaste, that that of Jove is not so great. He governs in the Elements, rules in the Stars, and domineers even o’re the gods, that are his Peers. Nor have you only dominion o’re your Sheep and Goats, for Love has there his range too. All flowers are the works of Love. Those Plants are his creations, and Poems. By him it is that the rivers flow, and by him the winds blow. I have known a Bull that has been in Love, and run bellowing through the Meadows, as if he had been prickt with a Goad; a he-goat too so in Love with a Virgin-she, that he has followed her up and down, through the woods, through the Launs. And I myself, when I was young, was in love with Amaryllis, and forgot to eat my meat, and drink my drink; and for many tedious nights, never could compose to sleep: my panting heart was very sad and anxious, and my body shook with cold: I cryed out oft, as if I had bin thwackt and basted back and sides: and then again, was still and mute, as if I had layen among the dead: I cast my self into the Rivers, as if I had been all on a fire: I call’d on Pan, that he would help me, as having sometimes bin himself catcht with the Love of peevish Pitys: I praised the Echo, that with kindnesse it restored, and trebbled to me, the dear name of Amaryllis: I broke my Pipes, because they could delight, and lead the sturdy herds which way I would, and could not draw the froward girle. For there is no med’cine for Love, neither meat, nor drink, nor any Charm, but only Kissing, and Embracing, and lying naked together.

The young couple continue kissing. Some young men from a city on Lesbos arrive and beat Daphnis when his goats eat the willows which tether their ship to the shore. Daphnis is separated from Chloe for the winter before being reunited with her.

But Chloe asking him, whether anything remain’d more than kissing, embracing, and lying together upon the ground; or what he could do by lying naked upon a naked Girle?