The Last Ride Together
I said, then, dearest, since ’tis so,
Since now at length my fate I know,
Since nothing all my love avails,
Since all my life seems meant to fail,
Since this was written and must be,
My whole heart rises up to bless
Your name in pride and thankfulness.
Take back the hope you gave, I claim
Only a memory of the same,
And this beside, if you will not blame,
Your leave for one more last ride with me.
My mistress bent that brow of hers,
Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs
When pity would be softening through,
Fixed me a breathing‑while or two
With life or death in the balance, right!
The blood replenished me again;
My last thought was at least not vain;
I and my mistress, side by side,
Shall be together, breathe and ride, CAESRA,
So, one day more am I deified.
Who knows but the world may end tonight?
Hush! if you saw some western cloud
All billowy‑bosomed, over‑bowed
By many benedictions, sun’s
And moon’s and evening‑star’s at once,
And so, you, looking and loving best,
Conscious grew, your passion drew
Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star‑shine too,
Down on you, near and yet more near,
Until flesh must fade for heaven was here!
Thus leant she and lingered, joy and fear!
Thus lay she a moment on my breast.
Then we began to ride. My soul
Smoothed itself out, a long‑cramped scroll
Freshening and fluttering in the wind.
Past hopes already lay behind.
What need to strive with a life awry?
Had I said that, had I done this,
So might I gain, so might I miss.
Might she have loved me, just as well,
She might have hated, who can tell!
Where had I been now if the worst befell?
And here we are riding, she and I.
Fail I alone, in words and deeds?
Why, all men strive and who succeeds?
We rode; it seemed my spirit flew,
Saw other regions, cities new,
As the world rushed by on either side.
I thought, all labour, yet no less
Bear up beneath their unsuccess.
Look at the end of work, contrast
The petty done, the undone vast,
This present of theirs with the hopeful past.
I hoped she would love me; here we ride.
What hand and brain went ever paired?
What heart alike conceived and dared?
What act proved all its thought had been?
What will but felt the fleshly screen?
We ride and I see her bosom heave.
There’s many a crown for who can reach.
Ten lines, a statesman’s life in each.
The flag stuck on a heap of bones,
A soldier’s doing! what atones?
They scratch his name on the Abbey‑stones.
My riding is better, by their leave.
What does it all mean, poet? Well,
Your brains beat into rhythm, you tell
What we felt only; you express’d
You hold things beautiful the best,
And pace them in rhyme so, side by side.
It’s something, nay it’s much; but then,
Have you yourself what’s best for men?
Are you, poor, sick, old ere your time,
Nearer one whit your own sublime
Than we who never have turned a rhyme?
Sing, riding’s a joy! For me, I ride.
And you, great sculptor, so, you gave
A score of years to Art, her slave,
And that’s your Venus, whence we turn
To yonder girl that fords the burn.
You acquiesce, and shall I repine?
What, man of music, you grown gray,
With notes and nothing else to say,
Is this your sole praise from a friend,
‘Greatly his opera’s strains intend,
But in music we know how fashions end!’
I gave my youth: but we ride, in fine.
Who knows what’s fit for us? Had fate
Proposed bliss here should sublimate
My being, had I sign’d the bond,
Still one must lead some life beyond,
Have a bliss to die with, dim‑described.
This foot once planted on the goal,
This glory‑garland round my soul,
Could I descry such? Try and test!
I sink back shuddering from the quest.
Earth being so good, would heaven seem best?
Now, heaven and she are beyond this ride.
And yet, she has not spoke so long!
What if heaven be that, fair and strong,
At life’s best, with our eyes upturned,
Whither life’s flower is first discerned,
We, fixed so, ever should so abide?
What if we still ride on, we two,
With life forever old yet new,
Changed not in kind but in degree,
The instant made eternity,
And heaven just prove that I and she,
Ride, ride together, for ever ride?
Unveiling “The Last Ride Together”: A Journey of Love and Philosophy
Welcome, fellow explorers of literature, to a profound journey into Robert Browning’s masterful poem, “The Last Ride Together.” This isn’t just a poem about a ride; it’s a deep dive into the human heart, exploring themes of love, loss, acceptance, and the search for meaning in life’s fleeting moments. Prepare to discover why this dramatic monologue remains a cornerstone of English poetry, offering timeless insights into the human condition.
Summary of “The Last Ride Together”
Robert Browning’s “The Last Ride Together,” a prominent piece from his 1855 collection Men and Women, presents a speaker who has been rejected by his beloved. Instead of despairing, he makes one final, humble request: a last ride together with his mistress. To his surprise and immense joy, she agrees.
The poem then unfolds as the speaker’s internal monologue during this ride. He moves beyond the initial pain of rejection, contemplating the nature of human endeavor, success, and failure. He compares his own seemingly unfulfilled love to the struggles of artists, statesmen, and soldiers, finding a unique satisfaction in the shared present moment. The physical act of riding side by side with his beloved transcends earthly disappointments, becoming a profound, almost spiritual experience. He muses on the possibility that this “last ride” could extend into eternity, transforming a moment of earthly failure into an everlasting bliss.
Central Idea and Noteworthy Knowledge
The central idea of “The Last Ride Together” is the speaker’s philosophical transformation from despair over unrequited love to a profound acceptance and even exaltation of the present moment. He finds ultimate value not in achieving a desired outcome, but in the experience itself, particularly when shared with the beloved. This poem is a quintessential example of Browning’s dramatic monologue, where a single speaker reveals their character and situation through their thoughts and words, often to an implied listener.
A noteworthy aspect is Browning’s exploration of the idea that human aspirations often exceed their grasp, and that true contentment might lie in appreciating the journey rather than solely focusing on the destination. The speaker’s ability to find “heaven” in a moment of earthly “failure” offers a powerful commentary on perspective and the subjective nature of happiness.
In-Depth Analysis of “The Last Ride Together”
Browning’s genius shines through in the intricate construction and profound philosophical depth of “The Last Ride Together.” Let us delve into its layers, examining the speaker’s journey and the masterful literary and poetic devices employed.
The Speaker’s Philosophical Journey
The poem opens with the speaker’s initial acceptance of his fate, a moment of resignation that quickly transforms into a unique request:
I said, then, dearest, since ’tis so,
Since now at length my fate I know,
Since nothing all my love avails,
Since all my life seems meant to fail,
Since this was written and must be,
My whole heart rises up to bless
Your name in pride and thankfulness.
Take back the hope you gave, I claim
Only a memory of the same,
And this beside, if you will not blame,
Your leave for one more last ride with me.
This opening establishes the context of unrequited love and the speaker’s surprising grace in accepting it. The granting of the ride itself is a moment of intense, almost divine, joy for him:
The blood replenished me again;
My last thought was at least not vain;
I and my mistress, side by side,
Shall be together, breathe and ride,
So, one day more am I deified.
As the ride commences, the speaker’s thoughts expand beyond his personal situation. He begins to compare his “failure” in love to the broader human experience of striving and often falling short. He contemplates the universal struggle, noting:
Fail I alone, in words and deeds?
Why, all men strive and who succeeds?
This rhetorical question marks a turning point, shifting his focus from individual disappointment to a more universal understanding of human endeavor. He observes that even those who achieve great things often leave much “undone vast,” suggesting that complete success is an illusion:
Look at the end of work, contrast
The petty done, the undone vast,
This present of theirs with the hopeful past.
I hoped she would love me; here we ride.
This comparison allows him to find solace and even superiority in his current situation. His ride, though born of a failed love, offers a tangible, present moment of shared experience that he argues is more fulfilling than the often-unrealized ambitions of others. He considers the poet, the sculptor, and the musician, all of whom dedicate their lives to art, yet their creations may not fully capture their initial vision or stand the test of time. In contrast, his ride is a direct, unmediated experience:
Sing, riding’s a joy! For me, I ride.
The poem culminates in a profound meditation on eternity. The speaker wonders if this perfect, shared moment could somehow extend indefinitely, transforming earthly bliss into a form of heaven:
What if we still ride on, we two,
With life forever old yet new,
Changed not in kind but in degree,
The instant made eternity,
And heaven just prove that I and she,
Ride, ride together, for ever ride?
This final vision elevates the “last ride” from a moment of closure to a potential state of eternal communion, demonstrating the speaker’s ultimate triumph of spirit.
Literary Devices in “The Last Ride Together”
Browning masterfully employs a range of literary devices to convey the speaker’s complex emotional and philosophical journey.
- Dramatic Monologue: The entire poem is a dramatic monologue, a form Browning perfected. The speaker addresses an implied listener (his mistress, or perhaps himself), revealing his character, motivations, and the situation through his continuous speech. This allows for an intimate exploration of his internal world.
- Imagery: Vivid sensory details bring the scene to life and reflect the speaker’s inner state. The description of his mistress’s eyes, for instance, conveys her subtle emotions:
My mistress bent that brow of hers,
Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs
When pity would be softening through,Later, celestial imagery elevates the ride to a spiritual plane:
Hush! if you saw some western cloud
All billowy‑bosomed, over‑bowed
By many benedictions, sun’s
And moon’s and evening‑star’s at once, - Metaphor and Simile: The speaker uses comparisons to articulate his feelings and ideas. His soul, for example, is likened to a scroll:
My soul
Smoothed itself out, a long‑cramped scroll
Freshening and fluttering in the wind.This metaphor beautifully illustrates his release from past anxieties.
- Rhetorical Questions: Browning frequently uses rhetorical questions to simulate the speaker’s internal debate and philosophical musings, engaging the reader in his thought process:
What need to strive with a life awry?
Fail I alone, in words and deeds?
Why, all men strive and who succeeds? - Anaphora: The repetition of “Since” at the beginning of the first few lines emphasizes the speaker’s acceptance of his fate, creating a rhythmic and insistent tone:
Since ’tis so,
Since now at length my fate I know,
Since nothing all my love avails, - Paradox: The poem is rich with paradoxical statements that highlight the speaker’s unconventional perspective. The idea of finding profound success in a situation of apparent failure is central. For instance, contrasting human achievement:
The petty done, the undone vast,
This line encapsulates the paradox of human ambition, where accomplishments often seem small compared to what remains unachieved.
- Symbolism: The “ride” itself becomes a powerful symbol. Initially, it represents a final shared moment, but it evolves to symbolize life’s journey, the pursuit of happiness, and ultimately, a potential path to eternity. The “western cloud” and “heaven” symbolize the ideal, the sublime, and the speaker’s ultimate aspiration for lasting bliss.
Poetic Devices in “The Last Ride Together”
The poem’s structure and sound contribute significantly to its impact and the unfolding of the speaker’s thoughts.
- Form and Structure: “The Last Ride Together” is composed of ten ten-line stanzas. This consistent structure provides a framework for the speaker’s expansive thoughts, giving them a sense of order and progression despite their philosophical wanderings.
- Rhyme Scheme and Meter: The poem employs a consistent AABBCCDDEE rhyme scheme within each stanza. This regular rhyming couplet structure creates a flowing, almost conversational rhythm, yet it also imparts a sense of inevitability and controlled emotion. The predominant meter is iambic pentameter, though Browning often varies it for natural speech patterns, lending the monologue a dynamic and engaging quality. The steady rhythm mirrors the movement of the horses and the speaker’s continuous flow of thought.
- Diction: Browning’s diction is a fascinating blend of elevated, poetic language and more colloquial, direct expressions. This mix makes the speaker’s voice feel authentic and immediate, reflecting his intellectual depth alongside his emotional vulnerability. Words like “deified,” “sublimate,” and “benedictions” coexist with phrases like “who can tell!” and “by their leave.”
- Enjambment and Caesura: Browning skillfully uses enjambment, where lines flow into one another without punctuation, to mimic the natural progression of thought and speech. For example:
My soul
Smoothed itself out, a long‑cramped scrollConversely, caesura, pauses within lines, often marked by punctuation, can create emphasis or reflect a moment of reflection, as seen in “breathe and ride, CAESRA,” (though “CAESRA” here seems to be an editorial note, the comma before it serves as a caesura). These devices control the pacing and rhythm of the speaker’s monologue.
- Repetition: The repeated use of the word “ride” and the phrase “ride together” reinforces the central action and theme of the poem. It becomes a mantra, emphasizing the significance of this shared experience and the speaker’s desire for its continuation.
- Tone: The tone of the poem evolves throughout. It begins with a tone of resigned acceptance, shifts to one of profound joy and philosophical contemplation, and ultimately settles into a hopeful, almost transcendent, determination. This fluctuating tone mirrors the speaker’s journey from personal disappointment to universal insight.
The Enduring Legacy of “The Last Ride Together”
“The Last Ride Together” stands as a testament to Robert Browning’s profound understanding of human psychology and his innovative approach to poetic form. Through the voice of a rejected lover, the poem transcends a simple narrative of unrequited affection to explore universal questions about success, failure, the value of experience, and the pursuit of an ideal. It reminds us that even in moments of perceived loss, there can be profound beauty and meaning, and that the present moment, when cherished, holds the potential for eternal bliss. This timeless exploration of hope, acceptance, and the human spirit ensures its place as a cherished work in the tapestry of English literature.