Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.

Bourg-la-Reine

Bourg-la-Reine

By Bessie Rayner Parkes (1829–1925)

The Old Chateau

THROUGH these close-cut alleys

Paced Gabrielle;

At her side, in royal pride,

Henri bon et bel.

Ah! my love across the sea,

Dost thou love me as well?

On such an autumn night,

Long years ago,

Fell the shadows on the meadows

Of the old château;

All along the gabled roof

The moonlight lay like snow.

Trembling with a world

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.

He, as he came riding on,

Knew full well

Where she stood outside this wood;

Many a song doth tell

How she loved this knightly king,

La charmante Gabrielle!

Clash and clang of swords

Soon dies away;

Shrined apart in a people’s heart

Love lives alway;

France will not forget this name,

Gabrielle d’Estrées!