At the center of the poetic narrative is the touching love story of the shepherd and hunter Afriko and the nymph Menzola.

We learn that in immemorial times in Fiesole, women especially honored the goddess Diana, who patronized chastity. Many parents after giving birth, some who vowed and some in gratitude, gave them to Diana. The goddess willingly accepted everyone into her forests and groves. A virgin community formed at the Fiesolan hills, "then everyone there was called the nymphs' nickname / And they appeared with a bow and arrow." The goddess often collects nymphs by a bright stream or in a forest shade and talks with them for a long time about a sacred virgin vow, about hunting, fishing - their favorite pastimes. Diana was a wise support of the virgins, but she could not always be near them, as she had many different worries - "she tried for the whole earth / To give cover from male insults." Therefore, leaving, she left her governor with the nymphs, to whom they implicitly obeyed.

One day in May, a goddess comes to hold advice among her military camp. She reminds the nymphs once again that there should be no men next to them and everyone is obligated to observe themselves, "the one who seduces herself / That person will lose my life."The girls are shocked by the threats of Diana, but even more shocked is the young man of Africa, a casual witness to this advice. His eyes are fixed on one of the nymphs, he admires her beauty and feels the fire of love in his heart. But Diana's time to go, the nymphs follow her, and their sudden disappearance dooms the lover to suffering. The only thing he manages to find out is the name of his lover - Menzola. At night in a dream the young man is Venus and blesses him in search of a beautiful nymph, promising him his help and support. Encouraged by a dream, in love, barely dawns, goes to the mountains. But the day goes in vain, there is no Menzola, and the afflicted Afriko returns home. The father, guessing the cause of the sadness of his son, tells him family tradition. It turns out that the young man’s grandfather died at the hands of Diana. The virgin goddess found him on the river bank with one of her nymphs, and, furious, pierced the hearts of both with an arrow, and turned their blood into a wonderful source, merging with the river. Father is trying to free Afriko from the spell of a beautiful nymph, but it's too late: the young man is passionately in love and not inclined to retreat. He spends all his time at the Fiesolan hills, hoping for a long-awaited meeting, and soon his dream will come true. But Menzola is harsh: barely seeing the young man, she throws a spear at him, which, fortunately, pierces the strong oak. The nymph unexpectedly hides in the forest thicket. Afriko unsuccessfully tries to find her. He spends his days in misery, nothing pleases him, he refuses food, a youthful blush disappears from his beautiful face.Once a sad Afriko grazed his flock and, bending over a stream, talked with his own reflection. He cursed his fate, and tears flowed from his eyes: “And I, like brushwood on fire, burn, / And there is no salvation for me, there is no pain for the edge.” But suddenly the young man remembers Venus, who promised to help him, and decides to honor the goddess by sacrifice, believing in her favor. He divides one sheep from the herd into two parts (one part for himself, the other for Menzola) and lays it on the fire. Then he kneels down and pleads with the goddess of love - he asks that Menzola reciprocate his

feeling. His words were heard, for a sheep in fire rose "and a part was joined to one another." A miracle seen inspires hope in a young man, and he, cheered up and calmed down, falls into a dream. Venus, once again appearing to him in a dream, advises Afriko to change into a woman's dress and trick him into penetrating the nymphs.

The next morning, remembering that his mother kept a beautiful outfit, Afriko dresses up in him and sets off. He manages to, under the guise of a girl, gain confidence in the nymphs, he gently talks to them, and then they all together go to the stream. Nymphs undress and enter the water, but Afriko, after much hesitation, also follows their example. There is a desperate screech, and the girls rush in all directions. And Afriko, triumphantly, clutching the sobbing horror of Menzola in his arms. Her virginity is stolen against her will, and the unfortunate calls for death, not wanting to take her from Diana’s hand. Afriko, without ceasing to console and caress her lover, tells her about her love, promises a happy life together and persuades her not to be afraid of Dianin's anger. Quietly, sadness flows from the heart of Menzola, and love replaces it.Lovers agree to meet at the same stream every evening, because they can no longer imagine life without each other. But the nymph, barely left alone, again recalls her shame and spends all night in tears. Afriko looks forward to her in the evening by the stream, but her lover does not come. Imagination paints him different pictures, he is tormented, grieving, and decides to wait until the next evening. But day, week, month passes, and Afriko does not see the dear face of his beloved. The second month is coming, the lover is driven to despair and, having arrived at the place of the promised meeting, turns to the river with a request to bear his name from now on, and plunges a spear into his chest. Since then, people in memory of a young man who died from love, began to call the river Afriko.

But what about Menzola? She, knowing how to play the hypocrite, was able to convince her friends that she had hit the young man with an arrow and saved her honor. And every day she became calmer and harder. But from the wise nymph Sinedekky, Menzola learns that she has conceived, and decides to settle separately from everyone in the cave, hoping for the support of Sinedekky. Meanwhile, Diana arrives in Fiesole, she is interested in the nymphs, where her favorite is Menzola, and hears that she has not been seen in the mountains for a long time and maybe she is sick. The goddess, accompanied by three nymphs, descends to

the cave. Menzola already had a son, and she plays with him by the river. Diana in anger turns Menzola into a river, which is called her name, and allows her son to give her parents to Afriko. They don’t dwell in him; they raise a baby with love and care.

It takes eighteen years. Pruneo (the so-called baby's grandson) becomes a wonderful young man.In those days, Atlas appeared in Europe and founded the city of Fiesole. He invited all the surrounding residents to his new city. Pruneo, for his exceptional abilities and mind, was elected ruler, the people fell in love with him, and he “the whole land, constantly cherishing, / From wildness turned to order”. Atlas found a bride for him, and the African clan continued in the ten sons of Pruneo. But trouble comes to the city. The Romans destroy the fiesole, it is abandoned by all the inhabitants except for the descendants of Afriko, who built their own houses there and took refuge in them. Soon, peace comes and a new city arises - Florence. The African clan arrived there and was warmly welcomed by the local population. He was surrounded by love, honor and respect, members of the clan related with famous Florentines and turned into indigenous people.

The final stanzas of the poem in the form of a traditional appeal to the omnipotent lord Amur sounded a real hymn of love, transforming life and man.