personification of Spenser). Shortly after, Calidore has the good
fortune to rescue Pastorella from a tiger, just after Coridon has
deserted her through fear.

To reward the bravery of Calidore, who has saved her from death,
Pastorella lavishes her smiles upon him, until a brigand raid brings
ruin and sorrow into the shepherd village, for the marauders not only
carry off the flocks, but drag Pastorella, Coridon, and Melibee off to
their underground retreat.

In that hopeless and dark abode the captain of the brigands is
beginning to cast lustful glances upon Pastorella, when merchants
arrive to purchase their captives as slaves. The captain refuses to
part with Pastorella although he is anxious to sell Coridon and
Melibee, but the merchants insist upon having the maid, and seeing
they cannot obtain her by fair means resolve to employ force. The
result is a battle, in the midst of which Coridon escapes, Melibee and
the brigand captain are slain, and Pastorella faints and is deemed
dead.

Sir Calidore, who has been absent for a while, comes back to find the
shepherd village destroyed and Coridon wandering disconsolate among
its ruins. From him he learns all that has happened, and, going in
quest of Pastorella's remains, discovers she is alive. Then he
manages by stratagem not only to rescue her, but to slay merchants and
robbers and recover the stolen flocks and also much booty. All the
wealth thus obtained is bestowed upon Coridon to indemnify him for the
loss of Pastorella, who accompanies her true love Calidore during the
rest of his journeys.