The Last Ride Together

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1. I said—Then, dearest, since 'tis so,
2. Since now at length my fate I know,
3. Since nothing all my love avails,
4. Since all my life seemed meant for, fails,
5. Since this was written and needs must be—
6. My whole heart rises up to bless
7. Your name in pride and thankfulness!
8. Take back the hope you gave,—I claim
9. Only a memory of the same,
10. —And this beside, if you will not blame,
11. Your leave for one more last ride with me.
12.  
13. My mistress bent that brow of hers,
14. Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs
15. When pity would be softening through,
16. Fixed me a breathing-while or two
17. With life or death in the balance—Right!
18. The blood replenished me again:
19. My last thought was at least not vain.
20. I and my mistress, side by side
21. Shall be together, breathe and ride,
22. So one day more am I deified.
23. Who knows but the world may end to-night?
24.  
25. Hush! if you saw some western cloud
26. All billowy-bosomed, over-bowed
27. By many benedictions—sun's
28. And moon's and evening-star's at once—
29. And so, you, looking and loving best,
30. Conscious grew, your passion drew
31. Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star-shine too
32. Down on you, near and yet more near,
33. Till flesh must fade for heaven was here!—
34. Thus leant she and lingered—joy and fear!
35. Thus lay she a moment on my breast.
36.  
37. Then we began to ride. My soul
38. Smoothed itself out, a long-cramped scroll
39. Freshening and fluttering in the wind.
40. Past hopes already lay behind.
41. What need to strive with a life awry?
42. Had I said that, had I done this,
43. So might I gain, so might I miss.
44. Might she have loved me? just as well
45. She might have hated,—who can tell?
46. Where had I been now if the worst befell?
47. And here we are riding, she and I.
48.  
49. Fail I alone, in words and deeds?
50. Why, all men strive and who succeeds?
51. We rode; it seemed my spirit flew,
52. Saw other regions, cities new,
53. As the world rushed by on either side.
54. I thought, All labour, yet no less
55. Bear up beneath their unsuccess.
56. Look at the end of work, contrast
57. The petty Done the Undone vast,
58. This present of theirs with the hopeful past!
59. I hoped she would love me. Here we ride.
60.  
61. What hand and brain went ever paired?
62. What heart alike conceived and dared?
63. What act proved all its thought had been?
64. What will but felt the fleshly screen?
65. We ride and I see her bosom heave.
66. There's many a crown for who can reach.
67. Ten lines, a statesman's life in each!
68. The flag stuck on a heap of bones,
69. A soldier's doing! what atones?
70. They scratch his name on the Abbey-stones.
71. My riding is better, by their leave.
72.  
73. What does it all mean, poet? well,
74. Your brain's beat into rhythm—you tell
75. What we felt only; you expressed
76. You hold things beautiful the best,
77. And pace them in rhyme so, side by side.
78. 'Tis something, nay 'tis much—but then,
79. Have you yourself what's best for men?
80. Are you—poor, sick, old ere your time—
81. Nearer one whit your own sublime
82. Than we who never have turned a rhyme?
83. Sing, riding's a joy! For me, I ride.
84.  
85. And you, great sculptor—so you gave
86. A score of years to art, her slave,
87. And that's your Venus—whence we turn
88. To yonder girl that fords the burn!
89. You acquiesce and shall I repine?
90. What, man of music, you, grown grey
91. With notes and nothing else to say,
92. Is this your sole praise from a friend,
93. "Greatly his opera's strains intend,
94. "But in music we know how fashions end!"
95. I gave my youth—but we ride, in fine.
96.  
97. Who knows what's fit for us? Had fate
98. Proposed bliss here should sublimate
99. My being; had I signed the bond—
100. Still one must lead some life beyond,
101. —Have a bliss to die with, dim-descried.
102. This foot once planted on the goal,
103. This glory-garland round my soul,
104. Could I descry such? Try and test!
105. I sink back shuddering from the quest—
106. Earth being so good, would Heaven seem best?
107. Now, Heaven and she are beyond this ride.
108.  
109. And yet—she has not spoke so long!
110. What if Heaven be, that, fair and strong
111. At life's best, with our eyes upturned
112. Whither life's flower is first discerned,
113. We, fixed so, ever should so abide?
114. What if we still ride on, we two,
115. With life for ever old yet new,
116. Changed not in kind but in degree,
117. The instant made eternity,—
118. And Heaven just prove that I and she
119. Ride, ride together, for ever ride?