Ben Jonson — Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

1903

Little is known of the early history of "Rare Ben Johnson," so-called on his tomb in Westminster Abbey.

He was a prolific writer of plays and poems, and ranks next to Shakespeare in early English dramatic history. Dryden calls him the "Virgil of dramatic poets."

He was born June 11, 1574, and in 1798 his play of "Every Man In His Humor" brought him into public notice. In 1619 King James I created him poet laureate, with an annual pension of $500 and a tierce of Spanish wine. He died Aug. 6, 1637.

His plays are rarely acted or even read, except by scholars, but some of his poems are still very popular. The song quoted is from the play of "The Forest," a translation from the Greek poet, Philostratus. The air by which it is sung is from Mozart.

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 honoring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It 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!