Robert Seymour Bridges

Here you will find the Poem The Affliction Of Richard of poet Robert Seymour Bridges

The Affliction Of Richard

Love not too much. But how, 
When thou hast made me such, 
And dost thy gifts bestow, 
How can I love too much? 
Though I must fear to lose, 
And drown my joy in care, 
With all its thorns I choose 
The path of love and prayer. 

Though thou, I know not why, 
Didst kill my childish trust, 
That breach with toil did I 
Repair, because I must: 
And spite of frighting schemes, 
With which the fiends of Hell 
Blaspheme thee in my dreams, 
So far I have hoped well. 

But what the heavenly key, 
What marvel in me wrought 
Shall quite exculpate thee, 
I have no shadow of thought. 
What am I that complain? 
The love, from which began 
My question sad and vain, 
Justifies thee to man.