While searching for his falcon, Calisto, a young man of noble blood, meets Melibea, a young woman, in her family’s garden. Calisto falls for Melibea immediately and expresses his admiration, but she rejects him and sends him away. 

Calisto curses his servant Sempronio for having left the house to search for the lost falcon. In a foul mood, Calisto tells Sempronio, “Go with the Devil!” (7). Sempronio retorts, “I do not see how I can go with the one who stays so close by your side” (8). Sempronio notes that Calisto’s unhappiness seems to have come from nowhere and worries that left alone, Calisto might kill himself. But if Sempronio stays with Calisto, Calisto might kill Sempronio, and Sempronio wants to live to see his lover Elicia again. 

Concerned about what might become of him after Calisto’s possible suicide, Sempronio consoles him. Depressed, Calisto demands that Sempronio play the lute and sing “the saddest song you know” (9). Sempronio sings about Rome burning and Calisto claims that his pain is worse than fire. Sempronio calls him mad and a heretic, but Calisto replies that he now worships Melibea as his new religion.