Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

Ben Jonson (correct spelling) 1573? – 1637)

That famous line is from Jonson’s “To Celia.” The beautiful reading in this video is by Ken Ross and the quoted text begins at 0:40.

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 rise
⁠Doth 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 there
⁠It could not wither’d 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!