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
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.

This passage from Robert Browning's "The Last Ride Together" captures the speaker's introspection following unrequited love. Despite the personal setback, he finds solace in recognizing a universal struggle. He questions whether he alone faces failure, then concludes that striving and falling short is a common human condition. As they ride, his imagination soars beyond the immediate rejection, symbolizing a desire to transcend his personal disappointment. Browning's reflection on "the petty done, the undone vast" underscores the contrast between modest achievements and grand, unfulfilled aspirations. The juxtaposition of "this present" with "the hopeful past" hints at a melancholic nostalgia for what might have been. Yet, even in disillusionment, the act of riding together becomes a shared moment of beauty and connection, offering a sense of closure to the speaker's unrequited affections.