Prior to his departure to Syria, he prays to the Virgin Mary that he will love the most beautiful woman and that he himself may be the bravest, and his prayers are answered.

On his return, the brave warrior wins the hand of Isabelle, the daughter of his liege lord, and love and honor prevail.

[3] "Partant pour la Syrie" did, however, achieve a posthumous fame as one of the quoted tunes in "Fossils" from Camille Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals, written in 1886 but not published until 1922.

Vraiment, dit le seigneur ; Puisque tu fais ma gloire Je ferai ton bonheur.

De ma fille Isabelle, Sois l'Epoux à l'instant, Car elle est la plus belle, Et toi le plus vaillant.

A l'Autel de Marie, Ils contractent tous deux Cette union Chérie Qui seule rend heureux.