The Last Ride Together

by Robert Browning

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.
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?
Hush! if you saw some western cloud
All billowy-bosom'd, over-bow'd
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,
Till flesh must fade for heaven was here!—
Thus leant she and linger'd—joy and fear!
Thus lay she a moment on my breast.
Then we began to ride. My soul
Smooth'd itself out, a long-cramp'd 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 seem'd my spirit flew,
Saw other regions, cities new,
As the world rush'd 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 pair'd?
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.
'Tis something, nay 'tis 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 turn'd 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-descried.
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 upturn'd
Whither life's flower is first discern'd,
We, fix'd so, ever should so abide?
What if we still ride on, we two
With life for ever 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?

Introduction to the poem, The Last Ride Together

The Last Ride Together is a dramatic monologue, a form of poem popularized during the Victorian age of English Literature. This form of poem is generally seen associated with Robert Browning . It was published in 1855 in his collection “Men and Women”. A dramatic monologue is a type of poem or literary composition in which a single character, usually the speaker, expresses their thoughts, feelings, and observations to an imagined audience or listener. Of course, the poem may have other characters too but it depends upon the author when he would give them entry.

Summary of the poem, The Last Ride Together

"The Last Ride Together" is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning. It explores themes of love, desire, and the acceptance of fate. The poem takes the perspective of the speaker, a rejected lover who requests her mistress for a final ride with him. His mistress accepts the offer and they embark upon the final ride. The speaker feels elated when he rides with his mistress. The speaker reflects on his rejection in love, his final ride, a trivial success, and compares it with the achievements of other people in the society. He finds that there are many people who keep on working very hard in spite of little success obtained through a mountain of hard work. A brave soldier gets nothing for his sacrifice except for a flag and his name scratched on his tomb. No reward of this world can compensate for the sacrifice of a brave soldier. A statesman gets only ten lines on his tomb. People like poets, sculptors and musicians devote their whole lives to art, ruin their lives by working hard but their achievement is not any inch greater than that of an ordinary man. The speaker finds that he is enjoying his ride and this achievement of his is better than all the above achievements. He reflects over several possibilities. Even if he had won the hand of mistress and married her, would that amount to the end of all his aspirations? Would he not aspire for more achievements after marriage? Can a person get all that he wants? Nobody can guarantee it. The only way is to try and test but the results may vary. His ride is better than all the above. He wishes that the present moment be turned to eternity so that he may keep on riding with his mistress forever. Overall the poem focuses on the present which is the most successful and most important time of life.

Stanza wise paraphrase and analysis of the poem

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.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

I said then my dearest love, since I know it is so. (I have lost you. I could not win your hand and we have decided to break up.) Since in the long run I know my fate, since my love could not avail any positive results, since the whole of my life could get was failure in love only, since it was my destiny that I would not be successful in love, I accept my failure,

I thank you from the core of my soul. The whole of my soul rises to bless your name in pride and thankfulness for having been in your company. I request you to take back the hope and expectations that you raised in me. I claim only a memory of your company. Besides this, I request you to do me a favour if you don’t take it otherwise I beg your permission that you take one more last ride with me on my horse.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The speaker in this poem is a lover and he has failed to win his beloved. Their love could not blossom. The beloved is before the speaker. The speaker has admitted his defeat and he accepts as his destiny. “It is so.” The word “Dearest” is ironic here. Using all capitals denotes that he has accepted fate as it is.

The poem begins with an apostrophe addressing the mistress directly. He starts the narration by accepting his failure in love. But he has a proposal . He gives several reasons using since before he thanks his mistress and reveals his proposal :-

Since in the long run he knows his fate,

Since his love could not avail any positive results,

Since the whole of his life could get was failure in love only,

Since it was his destiny that he would fail in love, he accepted the futility of his love and that it could reciprocate. Repetition of clauses with since creates anaphoric and enjambment effect here indicating seriousness and urgency. Then, he thanks his mistress for her company with his whole heart and from the depth of his soul. then he requests to take back all the hopes that she gave him. He says that he would like to keep only a memory of hers with him and besides this he requests her to take a last ride on his horse with him if she has no objections to it because from that day on, they would never meet again.

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?

Paraphrase of the above stanza

My mistress bends her eyebrows and it shows pride in her deep and dark eyes. Although her heart is full of pity and she can show pity on me yet the pride on her face is reluctant to show any pity on me and for a moment or two my breathing stopped and her eyes fixed me hanging between life and death at that time. However, she agrees to my proposal and my blood starts flowing again. My last hope did not go in vain. I and my mistress shall be together side by side and breathe and ride on my horse. Thus she has granted me one day more making me feel elated like God with a sense of victory. However, when we are riding who knows the world may end tonight and we both together become eternity.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The stanza begins with vivid imagery, describing the physical attributes of the speaker's mistress. Listening to the proposal of the last ride together from the speaker, his mistress bends her eyebrows contemplating on it. The speaker sees the glimpse of pride in the deep dark eyes of the mistress. The speaker makes successful use of imagery here. She is kind hearted but the pride on her face is reluctant to show pity on him and the speaker’s heart is stopped for a moment or two. The pride in the eyes of the mistress hung the speaker in balance between life and death. For the speaker, her ‘no’ means death and ‘yes’ means life. The pride here is personified here and the speaker very successfully employs enjambment here creating a sense of urgency and curiosity. However, his mistress agrees to his proposal and his heart comes to life again. His last proposal did not go in vain. The speaker feels highly elated because he is riding with his mistress. The speaker employs a rhetorical question here who knows the world ends while they are riding. It indicates the speaker’s intense love for his mistress. He wishes for the end of the world while they are riding. It also indicates that he wants the everlasting company of his mistress. repetition of the word mistress shows his love for his mistress. In short, the speaker remains doubtful whether she would accept his proposal or not but finally she accepts it and the speaker's last wish is realised.

Stanza 3

Hush! if you saw some western cloud

All billowy-bosom'd, over-bow'd

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,

Till flesh must fade for heaven was here!—

Thus leant she and linger'd—joy and fear!

Thus lay she a moment on my breast.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

Now listen carefully. (To the readers) If you (the readers) were to witness the captivating sight around us. If you were to get a chance to witness, around you, the beauty of a billowy bosomed western cloud loaded with many blessings and the sun, the moon and stars all at one, you would be more aware and appreciative of the beauty around you. Your passion to watch this beauty would be increased. You would appear very nice and loving because the cloud, the sunset, the moonrise , the stars seem to have been drawn closer to you as if descending from the sky and you would appear so engrossed in the heavenly blessings as if your flesh, your body had faded and you had become one with them. You would find yourself fully engaged in observing and appreciating the beauty. You would find the beauty so divine as if you were consumed by the experience. And this is how I felt when my mistress leaned upon my bosom and lingered there giving a feeling to me of both fear and joy together.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The stanza begins with an apostrophe. The speaker here addresses the reader directly to listen carefully. He suggests him (the reader) to imagine that he (the reader) had witnessed the captivating and picturesque sight around him. He says that in such acse he (the reader) would be more aware and appreciative of the beauty around him and he (the reader) would be so engrossed in enjoying the beauty around him that his physical self would be lost in the beauty. This stanza incorporates a set of vivid imagery like "western cloud", "billowy-bosom'd" and "over-bow'd", evoking a sense of awe and grandeur, emphasizing the beauty of the natural world. The readers experience the accumulation of a series of imagery presenting natural phenomena. As the reader's passion grows, the speaker suggests that the elements of nature, such as the cloud, the sunset, the moonrise, and the star-shine, seem to be drawn closer to the reader, descending from the sky and becoming more intimate. The reader is so consumed by the experience that it appears to him as if heaven has arrived, overshadowing the mortal existence. The imagery appeals to the senses evoking closeness to nature. Parallel structure "Conscious grew, your passion drew" adds a rhythmic quality to the stanza. This stanza incorporates the quality of transferred epithet. It is not the reader who is engrossed in the beauty of the cloud, the sun, the moon and the star but it is the speaker who experiences such a state. By his suggestive description he lets the reader experience the beauty and then he finally reveals that he felt the suggested state when his mistress, in a moment of shared intimacy, leaned on the speaker and lingered in his presence. The speaker feels fear and joy together. The juxtaposition of "joy and fear" creates a contrast of emotions. On the other hand the speaker suggests that he felt as if he had got the opportunity to see the billowy blossomed cloud, the sunset, the moonrise and the starry sky together leaving his body consumed by the experience, when his mistress leaned on his breast. He suggests that his mistress' intimacy was like the experience of the scene described here.

Stanza 4

Then we began to ride. My soul

Smooth'd itself out, a long-cramp'd 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.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

Then we began our ride, the journey. My soul felt liberated from the restrictions like a paper scroll which was cramped into a ball under the pressure of restrictions which I myself had imposed. My soul, like a paper cramp, liberated itself in the air like a long scroll freshening and fluttering in the wind as if feeling a lot of freedom and freshness. The scroll was long and had a lot of thoughts. Past hopes were already left behind. What is the use of striving for a life which has already deviated from its course. There is no use of thinking if I had done this or that, this might have happened or that might have happened. I might have gained and I might have lost also. Similarly, there was a possibility that she might have loved me and who can tell she might have hated me as well. If the worst had befallen upon me, where would I have been? But whatever happened, happened for the good because we are riding. She and I are riding together.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The speaker feels liberated from the restrictions like a long paper scroll which was cramped into a ball. The scroll unwinds itself in the freshness of the air and begins to flutter in the air of freedom. Here the restrictions are self imposed by the speaker which leads to the cramping of the soul. These restrictions are social restrictions or may be moral restrictions also. The speaker's soul is compared to a "long-cramp'd scroll" that smooths itself out. This metaphorical comparison emphasizes the sense of liberation and unfolding of the speaker's inner self. The stanza contains the image of the soul "freshening and fluttering in the wind" creates a visual and tactile impression of the soul's release and rejuvenation.

The speaker feels that the past hopes are already left behind. There is no use of thinking if he had done this or if he had done that. There is every possibility. He might have gained or he might have lost also. The repetition of the phrase "so might I" in the lines "Had I said that, had I done this, / So might I gain, so might I miss" creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes the speaker's contemplation of different possibilities and outcomes.

Similarly, his mistress might have loved him also or hated him as well. He reflects if the worst had come to him, where would he have been? But he feels lucky that he is riding with his mistress. The questions posed by the speaker, such as "Might she have loved me?" and "Where had I been now if the worst befell?" are rhetorical in nature, as they do not necessarily require explicit answers. The act of riding together is a symbol representing a shared experience or journey.

Stanza 5

Fail I alone, in words and deeds?

Why, all men strive and who succeeds?

We rode; it seem'd my spirit flew,

Saw other regions, cities new,

As the world rush'd 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.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

Am I alone who failed in what I had wished to achieve and what I actually achieved? No I am not alone who failed in their endeavour because all men strive for success but only a few succeed. As we rode, my spirit seemed to soar and we saw other regions and new cities. As we moved the world rushed by on either side and I pondered that although people do not succeed in their endeavour yet they continue to do a lot of hard labour. If you see the result at the end of the work and compare what was done and what was achieved, you will find that the achievement was trivial and they still have to accomplish a lot. Their present shows that they have a lot of unaccomplished parts of their dream although they worked very hard in the past with great hopes of success. I hoped that I would win her love but she rejected me and I could get a trivial success. It is that we are riding together on my horse now, however, it is not less.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The speaker begins with a rhetorical question whether it is he only who has failed in executing his words or dreams into action or reality. It expresses the speaker's sense of frustration and wonder at the universal human struggle and the elusive nature of success. All men strive but those who succeed are very few. While the speaker was riding together, his spirit felt elated as if soaring in the sky. He uses the image of riding to convey a feeling of exhilaration and freedom. They see new regions and other cities. As they move past, the world rushes by on either side. It depicts the rapid passing of different places and the sense of vastness and exploration. He keeps on pondering. Although people do not succeed yet they keep on working hard. If their achievement is compared with the work done, one can see that their achievement is very trivial; they still need to do a vast amount of work and accomplish a lot. The speaker employs contrast to convey his thoughts on the nature of labor and its outcomes. He juxtaposes the idea of continuous effort in the face of unfulfilled goals. The speaker contrasts the completed, insignificant tasks ("the petty done") with the grand, unrealized ambitions (“undone vast”). The speaker thinks about himself that he hoped to win the hand of his mistress but he was rejected and his trivial achievement is that he is riding with her. The speaker employs irony here. Though it is a trivial achievement yet the speaker says that it is not less. At least, he is riding with her. He is content with his achievement.

Stanza 6

What hand and brain went ever pair'd?

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.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

What hands and brain were so perfectly aligned that whatever brain thought was realised by hands? What heart was there which was capable of conceiving great ideas and bravely executing them? Which act has proved that it was thought so well that it was executed with hundred percent success? Which strong will power is there that has not suffered the limitations of the fleshly screen of our body which acts as a barrier against our aspirations and will power? Our mind or our will power wants to do many things but our body acts as a barrier and we are unable to do it as desired. We are riding and I see that her bosom is heaving. She takes a deep breath due to a mix of emotions of fear and excitement. There are many rewards and accolades for the persons who accomplish extraordinary achievements but how many people do such achievement? Only ten lines about a statesman on his tomb for his accomplishments and this is all his doing. Only a flag stuck on the heap of bones of a soldier who sacrificed his life for his nation. What reward can compensate for the sacrifice of a soldier? You scratch his name on the Abbay Stone. Can scratching the name of the soldier on the Abbay Stone compensate for his sacrifice? My ride is better than how they left the world. I feel that my achievement is better than these achievements.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The speaker begins this stanza with a series of rhetorical questions: what people were ever there whose hands and brain were so perfectly aligned that the hands achieved one hundred percent what the brain had planned and what people were ever there with a heart conceiving the ideas and executing them bravely and which act was ever there which proved that its planning was so perfect that its execution was a hundred percent success and what people were ever there whose strong will power broke the barriers of the blood, flesh and bones of the body and forced their bodies to achieve hundred percent. The purpose of these rhetorical questions is to emphasize the rarity or unavailability of such people or acts and evoke contrast between rarity of perfect alignment and imperfections of human nature. The speaker employs repetition of ‘what’ for the emphasis and rhythmic effect and invites the readers to consider it seriously. The speaker is content with his achievement that he is riding with his mistress. The speaker here employs a vivid imagery that the bosom of her mistress heaves due to deep breath out emotions of fear and excitement. The speaker employs irony when he depicts that there are ten lines only on the tomb of a statesman for all his life’s achievements and only a flag is stuck on the heap of bones of a soldier and his name is scratched on his tomb. The speaker asks a rhetorical question to emphasize that no reward in the world can compensate for the sacrifice of a soldier. The speaker here uses symbols of how people remember the people who sacrificed their lives or made achievements and died for their nation. People do it just by scratching their names or writing some lines on Abbay Stones. However, the speaker reassures that his ride is better than all these achievements.

Stanza 7

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.

'Tis something, nay 'tis 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 turn'd a rhyme?

Sing, riding 's a joy! For me, I ride.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

What is the meaning of all this? Poet! Your brains beat in the rhythm of the poetry which makes your language musical. You are capable of expressing things beautifully in the best manner what we can only feel. You have a unique ability to perceive and appreciate beauty in the world and add value to them by your poetic skills and make them best. Besides this, you can write your best expressions in a rhyming pattern or verse very fast as well. Of course, it is something very remarkable or of great importance. No, No, but it is much more than that. But have you yourself got what is best for men? Aren’t you poor and sick? Haven't you gotten old prematurely? Isn't it that we who never wrote a single line of verse are just a step closer to your own best that you dreamt and wanted to achieve. Now dear readers, sing in my praise that I am riding with my mistress. Riding is a joy for me and here I am riding.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The speaker addresses a poet and begins this stanza with a rhetorical question: what it all meant. He asks this question because he has something interesting to reveal about the poet. The speaker praises the attributes of the poet. His brains beat in the rhythm of the poem which makes his language musical and which an ordinary person cannot do. An ordinary person like the speaker can only feel but a poet can express it in a poem. A poet has a unique ability to perceive beauty in the world and then he can add value in those beautiful things by writing poems about them and thus make them best. Besides this, he can create rhyming patterns very fast and speak in rhyming patterns of poetry. This quality of a poet is very extraordinary. However, he immediately changes his remark and says that this quality is much greater than just being a very extraordinary quality. The speaker makes rhetorical questions to the poet whether he has achieved what is best for men and whether it is not true that he is sick, poor and prematurely old or whether he has achieved his own sublime. The speaker challenges the poet and creates a contrast that in spite of being a very extraordinary person, his achievements are not any greater than those of commoners like the speaker who have never written any rhyme. Now the speaker addresses the readers to sing in his parise that his achievement is better than all these achievements and he is riding and enjoying the ride.

Stanza 8

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.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

And you sculptor! You devoted scores of your years to the art of sculpture in creating your Venus. You devoted days and nights to your Venus, your masterpiece, like a slave. And this is your Venus that I see. But a simple girl crossing the ford can can catch my attention better than your Venus and you admit it. Should I express dissatisfaction that even after giving the whole of your life to sculpture, a simple girl has more attraction than the piece of your art? And now you, the man of music! Your hair has turned gray in the service of music. You were always busy with notes of music but you got no more praise from your friend than a simple observation that the music of opera is significant. But fashion in music ends very soon. But in contrast to the sculptor and musician, I gave my youth only and here we are riding and I am elated.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The stanza opens with the speaker directly addressing a sculptor who spent twenty years in the pursuit of his art for the sake of art. He dedicated his days and nights in creating his masterpiece, his Venus. He became her slave. (Here, the enjambment creates a sense of flow and allows the idea to spill over in the next line, maintaining the continuity of thought. Besides enjambment, the readers find an allusion to the goddess Venus.) The speaker looks at his Venus but in the meantime, an ordinary girl crosses the stream and she attracts the attention of the speaker and he finds his Venus less attractive than even an ordinary girl and the sculptor too acknowledges it. The speaker asks a rhetorical question to the sculptor whether he should express discontent with his art and that it has no power. The next character that is discovered is a musician. The speaker directly addresses the musician. He devoted his whole life to music. His hair turned gray and he became prematurely old. He had nothing else to say but he said everything through his music. He experimented with music notes and created new music. But the only praise for his music that he gets from his friend is that his music for the opera is great.(Here, the readers find a brief dialogue from the musician’s friend on his music) But everybody knows that fashion in music is very short lived and it dies very soon. In spite of devoting his whole life to music, he creates music only to retire very soon. (Here, the speaker creates a contrast that in spite of devoting a large part of his life to music, the musician has little new to contribute) But the speaker is very positive about his own achievement and says that he has devoted his youth only and here he is riding with his mistress. His ride is much better.

Stanza 9

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-descried.

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.

Paraphrase of the above stanza

Who knows what is right for us? Nobody knows it. Had I been fortunate enough to get what I dreamt. Had God showered bliss upon me. Had God sublimated my being by blessing me with what I wanted. Had I married my mistress. Would the journey of my life have ended at that very point? Would it be the end of all my aspirations and dreams? Wouldn't there be more life ahead? Wouldn't I wish for more blisses to die with them? Wouldn't I wish for more successes before dying. I cannot foresee clearly what would happen. I cannot foresee clearly whether I would be able to plant my foot on the goal I dreamt of and the garland of glory would be round my neck. One can know it only by trying or testing. I can know it only by trying and testing. When I think of trying and testing I recoil from it because there are chances of both failure or success. I may fail also or I may pass as well. When the earth is so good, I am not able to believe in the fact that heaven is better than earth or it will be the best place in the universe. My mistress and heaven are similar here. If I had married my mistress, I am not sure she might have proved good to me. Similarly, nobody knows about heaven and it may prove to be worse than the earth also. I can enjoy my present moments only in the same way I am enjoying my ride with my mistress at present.

Analysis of the above stanza with the explanation of literary devices

The stanza opens with a rhetorical question who knows what is better for a person or what is right for him. Nobody knows it. The speaker goes into the unreal past and assumes if God had showered His bliss upon him and he had attained his sublime. He had got what he had dreamed. He had married his mistress. But that would not be the end of the journey of life. There still is more life to be lived. He must have more blisses with whom he should die. The speaker cannot foresee clearly. He feels that he cannot say for certain that he would be a winner and achieve what he wished. He cannot foresee that he has planted his foot on his goal with a glory garland round his neck. (Here, the readers come across imagery of his planting foot on the goal with a glory garland round his neck.) The speaker is not sure whether he can imagine such a victory. He thinks that there is no way except trying and testing. But the speaker shudders at the discovery of the result of trying and testing because there is a possibility of anything like failure or success. The speaker wonders whether heaven would be better if the earth is so good. He believes that only the earth is good. The speaker compares heaven with his mistress. He actually means to say that heaven and mistress are very much alike. They are good but the speaker is not sure that if he had married his mistress, she might have proved good to him. Heaven is good but one can know it only after death and after death nobody knows what happens. Heaven may prove to be a wrong place also.

Stanza 10

And yet—she has not spoke so long!

What if heaven be that, fair and strong

At life's best, with our eyes upturn'd

Whither life's flower is first discern'd,

We, fix'd so, ever should so abide?

What if we still ride on, we two

With life for ever 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?

Paraphrase of the above stanza

I enjoy my present moment of riding together yet she has not spoken for a long time. Would that! God is so fair and strong with us. Would that! God is so pleased and favorable with us that when I have got the best of my life and I find life is best now and my love has blossomed best, as we have fixed it for riding together, we keep on riding together forever. What if we keep on riding together? Our life remains old forever. It does change not in kind but in degrees. We get older but we keep on riding. What if this particular moment becomes eternity and God is so favourable to us that I and she ride and ride and ride together eternally.

Analysis of the above stanza with explanation of literary devices

The stanza opens with the speaker saying that his mistress has not spoken anything for a long time. The speaker goes into the unreal past and wishes that if God were so blissful and favourable to him that at that time when the speaker and his mistress are looking up at and enjoying beauty around them. He gets the best of his life. The speaker employs a powerful imagery that they are looking up at the sky. Besides this, the speaker uses a metaphor “life’s flower first discerned.” It means that it is for the first time his life’s flower has blossomed. They are riding together because they decided to do so. The speaker here asks a rhetorical question emphasizing that they should keep on riding together forever. Their lives remain forever old but always new. The speaker wishes that their lives change not in quality but in degree. The speaker wishes that God is so favourable to them that this instant is changed into eternity and they keep on riding together forever. The speaker repeats the word ‘ride’ to emphasize that they keep on riding forever.

About The Author, Robert Browning

Robert Browning belongs to the Victorian era of the English Literature. He was a prominent English poet and playwright who is widely recognized for his innovative poetic techniques, complex psychological insights, and exploration of dramatic monologues.

He was born on May 7, 1812, in Camberwell, London. He was the son of a well-paid Bank clerk in the Bank of England. His mother Sarrah Anna to whom he was very close was a talented musician

Browning's early works did not gain much critical acclaim, but he gained recognition and popularity later in life. He began writing poetry at a young age and was influenced by Romantic poets such as Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Wordsworth. Browning was also well-versed in classical and Renaissance literature, which greatly influenced his writing style.

One of Browning's significant contributions to poetry was the development of the dramatic monologue. His dramatic monologues are characterized by a single speaker who reveals their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Browning delved into the depths of the human psyche, exploring the complexities of human nature and the moral ambiguities of his characters.

One of Browning's most famous works is the collection "Men and Women" (1855), which includes his renowned dramatic monologues such as "My Last Duchess," "The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed's Church," and "Fra Lippo Lippi." In these poems, Browning portrays various characters from different walks of life, capturing their distinctive voices and psychological nuances.

Another notable work by Browning is the long narrative poem "The Ring and the Book" (1868-1869). Browning's poetry often tackles complex moral and philosophical themes, such as love, jealousy, the nature of art, the existence of God, and the role of faith. His writing style can be dense and intricate, requiring close reading and careful analysis to fully appreciate its richness.

Despite his success as a poet, Browning also faced some criticism during his lifetime. His style was seen as challenging and unconventional by some, and his subject matter occasionally pushed the boundaries of Victorian sensibilities. Nevertheless, he remains a highly regarded figure in English literature, and his works continue to be studied and admired for their depth and artistic merit. He passed away on December 12, 1889, in Venice, Italy.