Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.
Place de la Pucelle
By Maria Lowell (18211853)H
Fresh as the morning, though with centuries old,
The whitest lily on the shield of France,
With heart of virgin gold.
With face more pallid than a daylit star,
Half seen, half doubted, while before her dark
Stretched the array of war.
From off her path, as if a wind had blown,
Showing no faithless king, but righteous Death,
On the low wooden throne.
Alike the gilded mail and peasant gown,
As meekly now received one honor more,
The formless, fiery crown.
And in the opening zenith found its goal;
Soft as a downward feather, dropped a prayer
For each repentant soul.