Celestina or The Tragicke-Comedy of Calisto and Melibea

THE ARGUMENT

ALISTO entering into a garden after his usiiall manner, met there with Melibea, with zchose love being caught, he began to court her: by whom being sharply checkt and dismist, he gets him home, being much troiMcd and grieved: he considts his servant Sempronio, xoho cif’ter much intercourse of talke, and debating of the businesse, advised him to entertaine an old woman, named Celestina, in whose house his said servant kept a Wench, to whom hee made love, called Elicia: Who, Sempronio comming to Celestines house about his masters businesse, had at that time another sweet heai-t in her company, called Crito, whom they hid out of sight. In the interim that Sempronio was negotiating with Celestina, Calhto Jiills in talke zvith another of his servants, named Parmeno, which discourse continueth till Sempronio and Celestina arrive at Calisto”s house. Parmeno was knowne by Celestina, who tells him of the good acquaintance which she had of his mother, and many matters that had past between them; inducing him in the end to love and concord with Sempronio.