Marie de France

Marie de France begins "Equitan" describing that the Bretons "composed lays for posterity and thus preserved them from oblivion." She proceeds to tell a story (lay) that she has heard, about Equitan, the Lord of Nantes.

Equitan is seen of high stature, "much admired and much beloved in his own land," while he also enjoys pleasure and women above all else. De France foreshadows the lay will end in death by cautioning that love, without sense or moderation, can put the lover's life at risk. Equitan has a loyal henchman, called a seneschal, who is known to have a stunningly gorgeous wife. Without even meeting his wife, the king begins to desire her. The king meets the beautiful lady and is lovestruck at first sight. He is torn between staying loyal to the seneschal, and pursuing this newfound beautiful woman. Equitan decides it would be beneficiary to all involved if he were to pursue the lady. Equitan comes up with a plan to get the lady alone to confess his love for her. They agree to pursue a private affair that de France assures us "was later to be the cause of their death." The king's courtiers become concerned when they notice he has not begun to pursue a wife (because he is so caught up in his affair). The seneschal's wife receives word of their concern, and begins worrying herself that the king may leave her for a more suitable marriage. The king assures her that he would make her his wife if the seneschal were to die. They both then compose a plan to kill the seneschal so they can be together publicly at last. A plan is set into motion three months later. While waiting for the seneschal to come to the bathhouse, the king and the lady begin to make love, which the seneschal bursts through the door in the middle of it. In a haste to cover his dirty deed, the king jumps into the scalding hot water meant to kill the seneschal, instead killing himself. The seneschal pushes his unfaithful wife into the bathtub behind the king, killing her as well. Marie warns that, "evil can easily rebound on he who seeks another's misfortune." The moral behind this lay is that when you wish harm on another, a consequence will come back around to you, a concept also known as karma.