Siegfried, count of Treves, who has just married Genevieve, the beautiful daughter of the Duke of Brabant, must go to the Crusades. He then decides to leave his dear wife under the protection of Golo, his majordomo. But the latter, having coveted Genevieve in secret, takes advantage of the count being away to make advances to her. Rejected by the chaste lady, Golo falls into a fit of rage and swears revenge. He soon manages to have Genevieve falsely accused of infidelity and the poor woman, although innocent, is condemned to death. Luckily, she is spared by the executioner and hides in a cave with her baby, nourished by a roe.