The princess, conspiring with her servant Corine, disguises herself as Phocion in order to infiltrate the guarded "men-only" palace compound occupied by Agis, who is plotting her assassination. Complications ensue when both Agis and Hermocrates separately guess her secret, and she tells the former she's Cécile, on the lam from an undesirable paramour, and to the latter claims to be Aspasie, who wishes to study philosophy with him. Adding to the convoluted plot are Hermocrates' valet Harlequin and gardener Dimas.
The princess, collaborating with her servant Corine, dons the disguise of Phocion to secretly enter the restricted "men-only" palace area occupied by Agis, who is planning her murder. Conflicts arise when both Agis and Hermocrates independently uncover her secret identity; she informs Agis that she's Cécile, fleeing from an unsuitable lover, and Hermocrates that she's Aspasie, desiring to study philosophy with him. Additional complications include Harlequin, the valet of Hermocrates, and Dimas, the gardener.