I

   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 seemed 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,                      10

           Your leave for one more last ride with me.

   II

   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,                           20

   So, one day more am I deified.

           Who knows but the world may end tonight?

   III

   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,                           30

   Till flesh must fade for heaven was here!—

   Thus leant she and lingered—joy and fear!

           Thus lay she a moment on my breast.

   IV

   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.                              40

   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.

   V

   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                            50

   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.

   VI

   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?                         60

           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.

   VII

   What does it all mean, poet? Well,

   Your brains beat into rhythm, you tell

   What we felt only; you expressed                               70

   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 turned a rhyme?

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

   VIII

   And you, great sculptor—so, you gave

   A score of years to Art, her slave,                            80

   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 grey

   With notes and nothing else to say,

   Is this your sole praise from a friend,

   "Greatly his opera's strains intend,

   Put in music we know how fashions end!"

           I gave my youth; but we ride, in fine.

   IX

   Who knows what's fit for us? Had fate                          90

   Proposed bliss here should sublimate

   My being—had I signed 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.

   X

   And yet—she has not spoke so long!                           100

   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 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, forever ride?                    110

   NOTES:

   "The Last Ride Together."  The rapture of a rejected lover

   in the one more last ride which he asks for and obtains,

   discovers for him the all-sufficing glory of love in itself.

   Soldiership, statesmanship, art are disproportionate in their

   results; love can be its own reward, yes, heaven itself.