A noble young man named Amadour falls in love with Florida, daughter of the Countess of Aranda. He has no hope of marrying her because of her higher social standing, but he is unable to forget about her either. To see Florida more often, he marries her friend Aventurada and so is admitted to the Countess of Aranda’s house.
He finds out that Florida loves the son of the Fortunate Infante. To spend more time with her, he listens to her stories about the man she is enamored with, concealing his own feelings. But one day, he confesses his love to her. He does not want any reward for his devotion. He just wants to keep their friendship and serve her all his life. For appearance's sake, Amadour begins courting a lady named Paulina. Amadour then goes to war, and his wife Aventurada remains with Florida.
Amadour is taken captive. His only joy are Florida’s letters. But her mother decides to marry her off to the Duke of Cardona, and Florida obeys her will. The son of the Fortunate Infante dies, which makes Florida sorrowful.
Upon returning from captivity, Amadour takes his lodgings at the house of the Duke of Cardona. Soon Aventurada dies, and Amadour finds it uncomfortable staying there. He becomes ill, and Florida comes to visit him. Thinking that his devotion deserves being rewarded, Amadour tries to violate her but fails to do it. Insulted by his attempt, Florida is disillusioned in him and does not want to see him anymore. Amadour leaves but he cannot reconcile himself with the prospect of seeing no more of Florida.
Amadour goes to war again and acts valiantly on the battlefield. In three years or so, he makes another attempt at winning Florida. He comes to the Countess of Aranda who hosts Florida at the time. But Florida rejects him again. By taking advantage of Florida’s magnanimity (she has never told her mother about Amadour’s disgraceful action), he puts the mother at odds with the daughter. The Countess has not been on speaking terms with her daughter for sever subsequent years.
Then the war between Grenada and Spain begins. Florida’s husband, the Duke of Cardona, her brother, the Count of Aranda, and Amadour fight the enemies with bravery and die glorious deaths. After her husband’s death, Florida retires into the convent:
taking for her spouse and lover Him who had delivered her from a love so violent as that of Amadour, and from the distress caused her by the society of such a husband.
The tenth story in the Heptameron tells about the love of Amador for the beautiful Florida.
The Countess of Aranda has a son and a daughter. The daughter's name is Florida, and the tenth story centers on her efforts to deflect Amador's sexual desire for her.
At the beginning of the story, the Countess of Aranda is entertained by the Viceroy of Catalonia. In the latter's service is one Amador, a youth of about eighteen or nineteen. Amador is not only handsome, he is also a brave warrior. Of course, this makes him very popular with the ladies.
However, Amador will love no one but Florida, who is only twelve years old when he sees her in her mother's company. Amador knows that he cannot marry Florida by reason of her age and heritage. Undeterred, he resolves to get married in order to remain close to Florida.
Amador begins by courting Avanturada, the daughter of an old knight. The lady Avanturada also happens to be a lady-in-waiting to Florida. After marrying Avanturada, Amador finds himself a trusted member of the Countess Aranda's household. In fact, Amador has so ingratiated himself to the Countess Aranda that the latter comes to trust his counsel in all things pertaining to her household.
Meanwhile, Amador is secretly delighted to find that he can freely converse with the lady Florida without undue suspicion. To further delude everyone, he advises Florida about the man she loves, the son of the Infante of Fortune. However, as time progresses, Amador finds it more and more difficult to hide his obsession with Florida.
At this time, he decides to pay court to Paulina, one of the most beautiful women in Spain. For her part, Paulina is not deceived. She perceives that Amador's heart is far from her, and she watches him with all diligence.
As for Amador, he soon confesses his love to Florida but portrays his affection as a virtuous one. At this point, Amador does not reveal that he actually wants to bed her. Instead, he tells Florida that he is only interested in protecting her virtue and that he would die for her if need be. All he asks for is her full trust in him and her complete favor. Of course, Florida consents, and Amador must content himself with less than what his heart really desires.
In due time, Amador goes to war and serves for two years under the King of Tunis. When he returns, he finds Florida married. Because his wife Avanturada is still in Florida's employ, Amador makes his way to her side. At this time, Florida still thinks of Amador as a loving brother and friend. She confides in him about her grief in losing her young lover, the Infante of Fortune, to a fatal illness. By her mother's wishes, Florida had to marry another man (not of her choosing).
As for Amador, he wants nothing more than to consummate his love for Florida. In desperation, he pretends to be sick and asks for Florida to tend to him. When she comes to his bedside, he falls upon her. Shocked by Amador's attack, Florida questions her old friend's supposedly "virtuous" love for her. Ashamed, Amador takes his leave of Florida. In the space of two to three years, he performs various noble deeds. Finally, after exhausting all of his pent-up emotions, he returns to Florida. This time, he is resolved that he must have her.
As for Florida, she tries to dissuade Amador by disfiguring herself. However, her efforts fail to quell his desire for her. Once more, Amador makes his advance. However, Florida will not consent; she calls out for her mother, and the moment passes. After this, Amador leaves Florida.
The story ends with Amador going to war against the King of Granada (he fights for the king of Spain). The battle fares poorly for the Spaniards, and Amador commits suicide to avoid being tortured in captivity. After Florida gives Amador a hero's burial, she enters a nunnery and commits herself to celibacy for the rest of her life.
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