SONG: TO CELIA - BEN JONSON

Song: To Celia – Ben Jonson (1573 – 1637)

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 withered be.

But thou thereon did’st only breathe,

And sent’st it back to me;

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,

Not of itself, but thee!

to pledge: to drink to the health of someone

Jove: Jupiter, chief of Roman Gods               

nectar: the drink of gods that make them immortal    

wreath: a garland                    

wither: become dry     

swear: say a promise (sth) very seriously of solemnly.

To Celia – Ben Johnson

“To Celia” is a typical love lyric begins abruptly with a bold line “drink to me”.  We have no imagine in which the lovers face each other in a moment of intimate passion. There is a passionate appeal inviting the beloved to enjoy the sweetness of love. At the same time, the lover observes the courtly / bold manners of complementing his lover.

The poet asks his beloved to drink abundant quantities of love from his eyes. He says he will ‘pledge’ with his love drinking ‘love from her eyes’. The poet Ben Johnson magnanimously asks his lover to leave a kiss in the cup and he will not look for. His soul wants to taste a divine drink and not ordinary wine. Even if he is offered Jove’s nectar he will refuge it though Jove’s heavenly nectar may assure him immortality. The poet prefers the cup of love offered by his beloved to the heavenly wine/nectar.

In the second stanza Ben Johnson says that he sent his beloved a garland of roses as a token of love. It is not sent with the intention of either honouring her or pleasing her. The beautiful roses wither away soon. He wants his beloved to kiss the roses and prolong their life for some more time. Celia’s kisses have such a rejuvenating effect from them. When she sends the roses back to him, it will and spread its fragrance of Celia’s kisses. This poem is considered as one of the best love poems in English Literature. This poem is the best gift to his dearest Love in which Ben Johnson shows his great love to his beloved. This is really a great loving tribute to his beloved through this poem.

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