Page:Poems Rossetti.djvu/57

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THE PRINCE'S PROGRESS.
31
Or honest seeker who had not found:
While the Prince outside was prompt to crave
  Sleep on the ground.

"If she watches, go bid her sleep;
Bid her sleep, for the road is steep:
He can sleep who holdeth her cheap,
Sleep and wake and sleep again,
Let him sow, one day he shall reap,
  Let him sow the grain.

"When there blows a sweet garden rose,
Let it bloom and wither if no man knows;
But if one knows when the sweet thing blows,
Knows, and lets it open and drop,
If but a nettle his garden grows
  He hath earned the crop."

Through his sleep the summons rang,
Into his ears it sobbed and it sang.
Slow he woke with a drowsy pang,
Shook himself without much debate,
Turned where he saw green branches hang,
  Started though late.

For the black land was travelled o'er,
He should see the grim land no more.
A flowering country stretched before
His face when the lovely day came back
He hugged the phial of Life he bore,
  And resumed his track.