The Last Ride Together (after Browning) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDDEFFGGGE AADDHIIDDDI IIIIBEEDDDB IIIICJKLLLC IIMMINNEEEI DDGGEOOIIIE EEBBIPPBBBI EEQQIAADDD| From Her Point of View | A |
| - | |
| When I had firmly answered 'No' | B |
| And he allowed that that was so | C |
| I really thought I should be free | D |
| For good and all from Mr B | D |
| And that he would soberly acquiesce | E |
| I said that it would be discreet | F |
| That for a while we should not meet | F |
| I promised I would always feel | G |
| A kindly interest in his weal | G |
| I thanked him for his amorous zeal | G |
| In short I said all I could but 'yes' | E |
| - | |
| I said what I'm accustomed to | A |
| I acted as I always do | A |
| I promised he should find in me | D |
| A friend a sister if that might be | D |
| But he was still dissatisfied | H |
| He certainly was most polite | I |
| He said exactly what was right | I |
| He acted very properly | D |
| Except indeed for this that he | D |
| Insisted on inviting me | D |
| To come with him for 'one more last ride' | I |
| - | |
| A little while in doubt I stood | I |
| A ride no doubt would do me good | I |
| I had a habit and a hat | I |
| Extremely well worth looking at | I |
| The weather was distinctly fine | B |
| My horse too wanted exercise | E |
| And time when one is riding flies | E |
| Besides it really seemed you see | D |
| The only way of ridding me | D |
| Of pertinacious Mr B | D |
| So my head I graciously incline | B |
| - | |
| I won't say much of what happened next | I |
| I own I was extremely vexed | I |
| Indeed I should have been aghast | I |
| If anyone had seen what passed | I |
| But nobody need ever know | C |
| That as I leaned forward to stir the fire | J |
| He advanced before I could well retire | K |
| And I suddenly felt to my great alarm | L |
| The grasp of a warm unlicensed arm | L |
| An embrace in which I found no charm | L |
| I was awfully glad when he let me go | C |
| - | |
| Then we began to ride my steed | I |
| Washer fresh too fresh indeed | I |
| And at first I thought of little save | M |
| The way to escape an early grave | M |
| As the dust rose up on either side | I |
| My stern companion jogged along | N |
| On a brown old cob both broad and strong | N |
| He looked as he does when he's writing verse | E |
| Or endeavouring not to swear and curse | E |
| Or wondering where he has left his purse | E |
| Indeed it was a sombre ride | I |
| - | |
| I spoke of the weather to Mr B | D |
| But he neither listened nor spoke to me | D |
| I praised his horse and I smiled the smile | G |
| Which was wont to move him once on a while | G |
| I said I was wearing his favourite flowers | E |
| But I wasted my words on the desert air | O |
| For he rode with a fixed and gloomy stare | O |
| I wonder what he was thinking about | I |
| As I don't read verse I shan't find out | I |
| It was something subtle and deep no doubt | I |
| A theme to detain a man for hours | E |
| - | |
| Ah there was the corner where Mr S | E |
| So nearly induced me to whisper 'yes' | E |
| And here it was that the next but one | B |
| Proposed on horseback or would have done | B |
| Had his horse not most opportunely shied | I |
| Which perhaps was due to an unseen flick | P |
| He received from my whip 'twas a scurvy trick | P |
| But I never could do with that young man | B |
| I hope his present young woman can | B |
| Well I must say never since time began | B |
| Did I go for a duller or longer ride | I |
| - | |
| He never smiles and he never speaks | E |
| He might go on like this for weeks | E |
| He rolls a slightly frenzied eye | Q |
| Towards the blue and burning sky | Q |
| And the cob bounds on with tireless stride | I |
| If we aren't at home for lunch at two | A |
| I don't know what Papa will do | A |
| But I know full well he will say to me | D |
| 'I never approved of Mr B | D |
| It's the very devil that you and he | D |
| Ride ride together for ever ride ' | - |
James Kenneth Stephen
(1)
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