The Prince's Progress
A prince sets out to reach his waiting bride but lingers with a milkmaid and works for an old man brewing a supposed elixir of life. After nearly drowning, he delays again among his rescuers before crossing a mountain to her palace. He arrives as her body is carried out, and the mourners reproach him for wasting the years in which he could have reached her alive.
By Christina Georgina Rossetti · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Fantasy Poetry, Tragic Romance · 5,698 words
First lines
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."
What this Textopian page supports
The Prince's Progress is listed on Textopian as a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, Fantasy Poetry, Tragic Romance
- Length: 5,698 words
- Structure: 1 section, 86 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Prince's Progress by Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Narrative Poetry — Rhymed stanzas follow the prince's journey through successive delays, a river rescue, a mountain crossing, and his arrival at the bride's funeral.
- Fantasy Poetry — The bride waits under a spell, an old man brews a supposed elixir of life, and warning voices urge the prince onward.
- Tragic Romance — The promised marriage becomes impossible when the prince reaches the palace after his waiting bride has died.
Tags
delayed marriage · procrastination · elixir of life · river rescue · enchanted princess · mourning