Daphnis and Chloe

Although the country folk are content with the return of their possessions, the citizens of Mytilene are furious that their territory has been plundered and resolve to launch a military response against the Methymnaeans. General Hippasus leads the Mytilene force but before he reaches Methymna, he is intercepted by a Methymnaean herald. The herald informs Hippasus that the Methymnaeans only recently learned that the city of Mytilene was innocent of any involvement in the dispute between the country folk and the young Methymnaean men, and that Methymna regrets sending forces to pillage the Mytilene coast. After negotiations, peace is agreed between Methymna and Mytilene.

Following the conflict, winter sets in and frustrates Daphnis and Chloe’s budding romance, as they are unable to spend time together outside in the pastures. Daphnis makes the excuse of hunting birds to visit Chloe’s adoptive family’s farm but fails to catch sight of her. Inside Chloe’s farm, her family and their farmhands are just sitting down to dinner, when one of the sheepdogs steals the meat from the table. Dryas chases the dog outside and bumps into Daphnis, who he invites to stay the night. Daphnis and Chloe are delighted to see each other, even though they spend the night in separate beds.