The Affliction of Richard
The Affliction of Richard
Original Text
Poetical Works of Robert Bridges with The Testament of Beauty
but excluding the eight drama, 2nd edn. (London: Geoffrey Cumberlege,
Oxford University Press, 1953): 302-03.
1 Love not too much. But how,
2When thou hast made me such,
3And dost thy gifts bestow,
4How can I love too much?
5 Though I must fear to lose,
6And drown my joy in care,
7With all its thorns I choose
8The path of love and prayer.
9 Though thou, I know not why,
10Didst kill my childish trust,
11That breach with toil did I
12Repair, because I must:
13 And spite of frighting schemes,
14With which the fiends of Hell
15Blaspheme thee in my dreams,
16So far I have hoped well.
17 But what the heavenly key,
18What marvel in me wrought
19Shall quite exculpate thee,
20I have no shadow of thought.
21 What am I that complain?
22The love, from which began
23My question sad and vain,
Notes
24] Echoing the opening of John Milton's Paradise Lost, Book I, 24-26: "That to the highth of this great argument / I may assert Eternal Providence, / And justify the ways of God to men." Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1894
Publication Notes
Shorter Poems, Book V
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2003
Rhyme
Form