Tseida

“Thezeida” borrows the topic of the classic epic from “Thebaide” by Stacia , the continuation of which it seems to be (starting where the Thebaide ends), but the main plot of Thezeida does not have a direct plot relation to the poem. Boccaccio was familiar with the medieval reworking of "Thebes" - " Thebes novel" - and did not go past novel inclusions in this epic story (the love of Partenopeia and Antigone, Atis and Ismena). However, the source of the main storyline was not found, and perhaps Boccaccio is independent here.

The Athenian Duke Theseus brings from the campaign to his homeland the Queen of the Amazons Ippolita , who became his wife, and her young sister Emilia. Theseus soon goes to Thebes and battles Creon there.

In Athens, celebrating Theseus' new victory, two Theban friends, Archita and Palemon, languish in custody. The windows of the dungeon overlook the garden, where Emilia likes to stroll. Love visits prisoners in the spring, for six months they quench it with contemplation, and in the fall Archite is granted freedom, but it is forbidden to return to Athens on pain of death.

He still comes back - under a strange name and unrecognized, so he was changed by love torment. Only Emilia recognizes him at once, and after a long time - the servant of Palemon, and Palemon, wounded by jealousy, finds a way to deceive the guards, overtakes Archita and calls him to a mortal battle. The fight is interrupted by the appearance of Theseus, who softens, having understood the reason for the hostility, forgives Archita for deceit, Palemona escapes and assigns them to come to the Athenian theater a year later with a hundred colleagues on each side: Emilia’s hand will be a reward to the winner.

Arcith wins, but he is mortally wounded. On his deathbed, Archita bequeathed Emilia to a friend. The poem ends with funeral weeping and wedding glee.

• Andreev M.L. Knightly novel in the Renaissance. M., 1993, p. 90-93.