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Robert Graves

Robert Graves, the versatile English writer, was the son of the Irish poet Alfred Percival Graves. Robert Graves established his reputation with Good-bye to All That (1929), an outspoken

Down, Wanton, Down!

by Robert Graves (1895–1985)

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16

Down, wanton, down! Have you no shame

That at the whisper of Love's name,

Or Beauty's, presto! up you raise

Your angry head and stand at gaze?

Poor bombard-captain, sworn to reach

The ravelin and effect a breach—

Indifferent what you storm or why,

So be that in the breach you die!

Love may be blind, but Love at least

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