Through these closecut 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 this old chateau;
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,
Gabriele d'Estrées!
Gabrielle d'Estrées was one of the mistresses of the French King Henri IV. She died in 1599.