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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  185. To Celia

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Ben Jonson. 1573–1637

185. To Celia

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         5
  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  10
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,  15
  Not of itself but thee!