Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.
Bourg-la-Reine
By Bessie Rayner Parkes (18291925)T
Paced Gabrielle;
At her side, in royal pride,
Henri bon et bel.
Ah! my love across the sea,
Dost thou love me as well?
Long years ago,
Fell the shadows on the meadows
Of the old château;
All along the gabled roof
The moonlight lay like snow.
Of hope and fears,
She would wait by this old gate
Watching through her tears,
While he rode from Paris streets,
Unguarded by his peers.
Knew full well
Where she stood outside this wood;
Many a song doth tell
How she loved this knightly king,
La charmante Gabrielle!
Soon dies away;
Shrined apart in a people’s heart
Love lives alway;
France will not forget this name,
Gabrielle d’Estrées!