Robert Browning's "The Last Ride Together" is a dramatic monologue, a form for which

Browning is particularly well-known. This poem explores complex emotions that revolve
around love, rejection, and existential pondering. The speaker in this poem is a man who has
just been rejected by his lover, and he proposes a final ride together. What unfolds is an
introspective journey that tackles themes of unrequited love, human endeavor, and the
existential questions that haunt our lives.
Line-by-Line Analysis
Stanza 1
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 seem'd meant for, fails,
Since this was written and needs 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.
The speaker begins by accepting his fate—that his love is unrequited. Despite this, he feels
grateful for the experience of loving her. He relinquishes the hopes he had but asks for a
single favor: a last ride together.
Stanza 2
My mistress bent that brow of hers,
Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs
When pity would be softening through,
Fix'd me a breathing-while or two
With life or death in the balance: right!
The blood replenish'd 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.
Who knows but the world may end to-night?
The mistress considers his request, and her agreement fills him with renewed vitality. He
treasures the notion that they will ride side by side, even if it's just for a fleeting moment. The
last line introduces existentialism, suggesting that life is unpredictable and could end at any
moment.
Stanza 3-4
Hush! if you saw some western cloud...
Thus lay she a moment on my breast.
These stanzas use metaphorical language to depict the emotional and almost spiritual
experience the speaker feels as they begin their ride. It's as if the universe itself is drawn
towards them.
Stanza 5-6
Then we began to ride...
And here we are riding, she and I.
The speaker reflects on his past choices and the unpredictability of life's outcomes. Despite
his unfulfilled hopes, he finds solace in the present moment, cherishing the ride with his
beloved.
Stanza 7-9
Fail I alone, in words and deeds?...
I hoped she would love me; here we ride.
The speaker contemplates human endeavor and failure. He observes that all men strive, but
few succeed. He then contrasts the limited achievements of the present with the boundless
hopes of the past.
Stanza 10-12
What hand and brain went ever pair'd?...
Sing, riding 's a joy! For me, I ride.
The speaker discusses the gap between thought and action, between ideals and reality. He
then considers the fates of artists, statesmen, and soldiers, wondering if their achievements
are any more fulfilling than his own experience.
Stanza 13-15
And you, great sculptor—so, you gave...
I gave my youth: but we ride, in fine.
He continues to muse on the value of artistic and political endeavors, implicitly questioning
whether any life can be deemed more successful or meaningful than another.
Stanza 16-18
Who knows what 's fit for us?...
Ride, ride together, for ever ride?
In the concluding stanzas, the speaker explores the idea of eternal love and the human
inability to conceive of eternal bliss. He wonders whether the ideal state might be a perpetual
journey, like their ride, where the two could be together for all time.
Conclusion
The poem is a complex tapestry of human emotion and philosophical thought. At its core, it
questions the very nature of success, fulfillment, and love. Browning uses the dramatic
monologue to delve into the psyche of his speaker, allowing the reader to engage with the text
on both an emotional and intellectual level. The poem also reflects the Victorian concern with
the individual’s place in a rapidly changing world, offering no easy answers but posing
questions that continue to resonate today.