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, @3ma belle?@1 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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEATH OF THE DAY by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS by ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE BURDEN OF NINEVEH by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI HEALTHFUL OLD AGE, FR. AS YOU LIKE IT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE A FRAGMENT FROM THE AGAMEMNON OF AESCHYLOS by AESCHYLUS |