The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #39187 Message #2517638
Posted By: Artful Codger
17-Dec-08 - 06:57 AM
Thread Name: Les Chansons de la France
Subject: RE: Les Chansons de la France
More on Charmante Gabrielle, from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) by E. Cobham Brewer (1810–1897):
Gabrielle (3 syl.; g hard). La Belle Gabrielle. Daughter of Antoine d'Estrées, grand-master of artillery, and governor of the Ile de France. Henri IV., towards the close of 1590, happened to sojourn for a night at the Château de Cœuvres, and fell in love with Gabrielle, then nineteen years of age. To throw a flimsy veil over his intrigue, he married her to Damerval de Liancourt, created her Duchess de Beaufort, and took her to live with him at court.
"Charmante Gabrielle, Percé de mille dards, Quand la gloire máppelle A la suite de Mars."