La Fresne

In this lay, Marie de France tells the story of two reputable knights, who were both married and fond of each other. The first knight's wife give birth to twins, and he happily sends word of the good news to the second knight, and even promises to name one of the babies after him. The second knight is very happy to hear this news, but his wife, not so much. The wife, who "was deceitful and arrogant, prone to slander and envy," claims that any woman who birthed twins, must have had sexual relations with two men. Their servants spread this gossip throughout, until the new mother is shown disdain for her "infidelity."

There is a similarity that can be seen between "La Fresne" and "Equitan." The women in both of these lays are painted to be cheats who do not remain loyal to their husbands. The difference between these though being the beautiful woman from "Equitan" did not remain faithful to her husband, while the wife in "La Fresne" is being accused of cheating for something she could not control.

Later on in "La Fresne," the judgemental second wife herself gives birth to twin girls. In fear that she will face the same disdain the first mother did, she plans to murder on of the children. Instead, the house maid scorns this idea and plans to take the child off to a far away city where she will be somebody else's responsibility.

Another common theme among "La Fresne" and "Equitan" is that of karma. When you wish misfortune on someone else, in this case the second wife starting harmful rumors about the first wife, it will come back to get you. In the second wife's case, she had created fictitious rumors surrounding the birth of the first wive's children, and suffered the same "punishment" herself.

La Fresne, the abandoned daughter, grows up to be a lovely and well-spoken girl that, "no one who had seen her would have failed to admire her greatly." A great lord, Gurun, hears about this great girl and sets out to meet her. (Also a similarity between "Equitan" and "La Fresne") After many visits, La Fresne falls in love with Gurun and he convinces her to be his lover. Having a lover was a very common characteristic among Mare de France's lays. Gurun's vassals become concerned he lacks an heir, they demand he take a wife of noble line. Gurun agrees to marry La Codre, "hazel tree," who is the long lost twin of La Fresne. After the marriage of Gurun and La Codre, the La Fresne is helping make the bed for consummation. La Fresne suggests using her noble brocade to decorate the bed, when her long lost mother comes in and notices it. La Fresne tells her life story and mother and daughter are reunited. The marriage between La Codre and Gurun is annuled, and La Fresne and Gurun are united in marriage.

The difference between "La Fresne" and "Equitan" is one goes through a hardship, respects those around her, and ends up with a happy life. In "Equitan," the king betrays his loyal seneschal, has sexual relations with his wife, plans to kill the seneschal so they can be together, and both the king and the seneschal's wife die. The differing lays take differing paths, and in the end have different consequences, whether positive or negative.