Both Glauco, a noble Roman, and Arbace, the high priest of Isis, love Jone. She is the latter's ward, and regards him as a second father. A slave girl, Nidia, also loves Glauco. Burbo, Arbace's henchman, gives Nidia some poison, asking her to give it to Glauco to drink. He assures her that it is an elixir of love. Glauco drinks only enough to become delirious. This gives Arbace a chance to convince Jone that Glauco is worthless. He persuades her to come to the temple of Isis where he makes unwelcome advances. In the meantime, Glauco has been restored to reason. He rushes in to save her, but is seized, accused of sacrilege and condemned to death. Arbace offers to save Glauco's life in return for Jone's favors, which she refuses. With the crowd assembled in the circus, Nidia reveals Arbace's infamy to the
praetor. Glauco is freed.
Vesuvius erupts and Arbace dies in the eruption. Jone and Glauco find each other in the crowd, and ask Nidia to flee with them. But she returns to the city to die, while the lovers escape. ==References==