But amongst the thirty-nine poems which had been presented for examination, it was found that two had been written in the Gascon dialect.

The committee were at first of opinion that they could not award the prize to the author of any poem written in the vulgar tongue.

At the same time they reported that one of the poems written in Gascon possessed such real merit, that the committee decided by a unanimous vote that a prize should be awarded to the author of the best poem written in the Gascon dialect.

Many poems were accordingly sent in and examined.

Lou Tres de May was selected as the best; and on the letter attached to the poem being opened, the president proclaimed the author to be "Jasmin, Coiffeur." After the decision of the Society at Agen, the people of Nerac desired to set their seal upon their judgment, and they accordingly caused the above words to be engraved on the reverse side of the pedestal supporting the statue of Henry IV.