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To escape the plague raging in a 14th-century Tuscan city, four people have shut themselves up in a villa, where they pass the time staging plays. Dineo, a poet, directs. Lauretta spurns Panfilo, while Elissa mourns the loss of his love. A play about Cupid and Psyche, which closely mirrors the relationships between the actors, creates a tense atmosphere. During the performance a monk enters; he stages a play of his own to show them that they cannot remain isolated from the tragedy. He admits the crowd and both Dineo and Lauretta soon become ill. The convalescent Lauretta, transformed by her illness, now welcomes Panfilo. Dineo convinces Elissa to let go of her unrequited love and at his dying request the play is resumed, to its triumphant conclusion.
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