THE PRINCE'S PROGRESS. Τ ILL all sweet gums and juices flow, Till the blossom of blossoms blow, The long hours go and come and go, "How long shall I wait, come heat come rime?" "Till the strong Prince comes, who must come in time," Her women say. A river to ford. "There's a mountain to climb, Sleep, dream and sleep: Sleep," they say: we 've muffled the chime, In his world-end palace the strong Prince sat, 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. 66 By her head lilies and rosebuds grow; The lilies droop, — will the rosebuds blow? The silver slim lilies hang the head low; Their stream is scanty, their sunshine rare; Let the sun blaze out, and let the stream flow, They will blossom and wax fair. "Red and white poppies grow at her feet, The blood-red wait for sweet summer heat, Wrapped in bud-coats hairy and neat ; But the white buds swell; one day they will burst, Will open their death-cups drowsy and sweet, Which will open the first?" Then a hundred sad voices lifted a wail, And a hundred glad voices piped on the gale: "Time is short, life is short," they took up the tale : "Life is sweet, love is sweet, use to-day while you may; Love is sweet, and to-morrow may fail; Love is sweet, use to-day." While the song swept by, beseeching and meek, Up he rose to stir and to seek, Going forth in the joy of his strength; Strong of limb, if of purpose weak, Starting at length. Forth he set in the breezy morn, So light his step, so merry his smile, A wave-haired milkmaid, rosy and white; The Prince, who had journeyed at least a mile, Grew athirst at the sight. "Will you give me a morning draught?"— "You 're kindly welcome," she said, and laughed. He lifted the pail, new milk he quaffed; Then wiping his curly black beard like silk : "Whitest cow that ever was calved Surely gave you this milk.” Was it milk now, or was it cream? He would have gone, but he stayed instead ; |