But his legendary life was fitly crowned by the mystery
of such a death.
One of the frescoes of Puvis de Chavannes in the Pantheon, the last to
the left, represents an old woman leaning over a stone terrace and
gazing at the town beneath her with its moonlit roofs and its
surrounding plain, looking bluish in the night. The city is asleep, but
the holy woman watches and prays. She stands tall and upright as a lily.
Her lamp, which is seen at the entrance of her house, is one long stem
illuminated by the flame. She, too, is like this lamp. Her emaciated
body would be nothing without her ardent face. Her serenity can only
come from work well done and confidence in the future. Lutetia,
represented in this picture by Genevieve, is not anxious; yet she
listens as if she might hear once more the threatening approach of
Attila. It is because she knows that the barbarians may come back again,
and can only be stopped by invincible faith.
As long as France keeps her belief, she is secure. The life and death of
a Guynemer are an act of faith in immortal France.
ENVOI
The _ballades_ of olden times used to conclude with an _envoi_ addressed
to some powerful person and invariably beginning with King, Queen,
Prince or Princess.
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