News comes that Lamon’s master will soon arrive. Lamon begins preparing the estate, referred to as a “pleasure-ground”, ahead of his master’s visit. Daphnis also makes sure that the goats are ready for inspection, providing the animals with great care and attention, hoping to impress his master and gain permission to marry Chloe. Eudromus, a messenger, arrives to instruct the slaves to pick grapes and make wine ahead of the master’s arrival. Daphnis befriends the messenger by presenting him with gifts.

However, all the efforts to impress the master are thwarted by Lampis, a local cowherd who is also in love with Chloe. Driven by jealousy, Lampis vandalizes the pleasure-ground and tramples the beautiful flowers, leaving Daphnis and his family devastated. Eudromus returns and alerts the slaves that their master’s son will arrive in three days, with his father following later. When Eudromus learns of the vandalism, he advises Daphnis’s family to be honest with the young master.

The master’s son, Astylus, arrives with his “parasite” companion, Gnathon, and Lamon explains about the estate’s vandalism. Feeling sorry for the slaves, Astylus offers to tell his father that his horses trampled the flowers, much to Lamon’s relief.