The Prince’s Progress Christina Rossetti

Till all sweet gums and juices flow,
Till the blossom of blossoms blow,
The long hours go and come and go,
         The bride she sleepeth, waketh, sleepeth,
Waiting for one whose coming is slow:--
                 Hark! the bride weepeth.

"How long shall I wait, come heat come rime?"--
"Till the strong Prince comes, who must come in time,"
Her women say. "There's a mountain to climb,
        A river to ford. Sleep, dream and sleep:
Sleep," they say: "we've muffled the chime,
         Better dream than weep."

In his world-end palace the strong Prince sat,
Taking his ease on cushion and mat,
Close at hand lay his staff and his hat
        "When wilt thou start? the bride waits, O youth."--
"Now the moon's at full; I tarried for that,
         Now I start in truth.

"But tell me first, true voice of my doom,
Of my veiled bride in her maiden bloom;
Keeps she watch through glare and through gloom,
         Watch for me asleep and awake?"--
"Spell-bound she watches in one white room,
         And is patient for thy sake.