XIV

Well, any how, here the story stays,
   So far at least as I understand;
And, Robert Browning, you writer of plays,
   Here’s a subject made to your hand!

Notes:  “A Light Woman” is the story of a dramatic situation brought about by the speaker’s intermeddling to save his less sophisticated friend from a light woman’s toils.  He deflects her interest and wins her heart, and this is the ironical outcome:  his friendly, dispassionate act makes him seem to his friend a disloyal passion’s slave; his scorn of the light woman teaches him her genuineness, and proves himself lighter than she; his futile assumption of the god manoeuvring souls makes the whole story dramatically imply, in a way dear to Browning’s heart, the sacredness and worth of each individuality.

[I cannot agree with Porter and Clarke’s estimate of the speaker’s act as “friendly, dispassionate.”  They fail to take into account his supercilious attitude toward the man he calls his friend, and he proves to be more self-serving—­and more self-deceiving—­than they are willing to admit.  That is why it is a subject made to Browning’s hand.—­Editor of the pg text]

THE LAST RIDE TOGETHER

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.