Song: To Celia
Ben Jonson, 1616
Ben Jonson’s love song to Celia, which as a song became famous as “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes”.
Drink to me only with thine eyes,And I will pledge with mine;Or leave a kiss but in the cup,And I’ll not look for wine.The thirst that from the soul doth riseDoth ask a drink divine:But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,I would not change for thine.
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,Not so much honouring thee,As giving it a hope that thereIt could not withered be.But thou thereon didst only breathe,And sent’st it back to me:Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,Not of itself, but thee.