Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEATH OF ROLLA, by ALFRED DE MUSSET


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DEATH OF ROLLA, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Marie then, smiling, looked into the glass
Last Line: And for a moment two had tasted bliss.
Subject(s): Death; Farewell; Happiness; Kisses; Man-woman Relationships; Dead, The; Parting; Joy; Delight; Male-female Relations


Marie then, smiling, looked into the glass:
There she saw Rolla, but so pale, alas!
That she grew faint, and paler still than he.
"Ah!" she said trembling," what doth trouble thee?
"Trouble?" said Rolla, "Hast thou not heard tell
That I am ruined utterly, ma belle?
I came to see thee, and to say 'good-bye':
Men know that I am ruined—I must die!"
" Didst lose at play?" "My ruin is complete.
And all is over—ask no further, sweet."
"Ruined! she cried; and, like a statue, gazed
Downwards, with eyes dilated and amazed.
"Ruined! Thou hast no mother, then, alive?
No friends? no kin? no comrades that survive?
And thou wilt kill thyself? Oh! wherefore die?"
The fond sweet gaze grew fonder in her eye.

More she scarce dared to question—so she laid
Her lips to his, and kissed him, half-afraid.
"One thing, however, more I would be told,"
At length, she said: "Ah me! I have no gold—
E'en when I have, my mother takes it all—
But here's my necklace. True, it is but small,
Still, it is gold, dear; tell me, shall I go
And sell it for thee? Nobody will know
And thou canst take the money for thy play."
With a soft smile grave Rolla turned away.

Draining a small dark phial, no word he said;
But kissed her necklace, bending down his head:
She raised it tenderly—the man was dead!

His soul departed in that one chaste kiss,
And for a moment two had tasted bliss.





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