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Song: To Celia ("Drink to me only with thine eyes") by Ben Jonson

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A man tells the woman he loves that just a look from her or a kiss on his cup means more to him than any wine could.

Poet
Ben Jonson
Composed
1616 · Renaissance
Core theme
Beauty
The PoemFull text

Song: To Celia ("Drink to me only with thine eyes")

Ben Jonson, 1616

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!

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A man tells the woman he loves that just a look from her or a kiss on his cup means more to him than any wine could. He sends her a wreath of roses, wishing that her presence will keep them alive, and when she breathes on it and sends it back, the flowers carry her scent instead of their own. The entire poem is a delightful way of expressing that she is more intoxicating than anything the gods could provide.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Drink to me only with thine eyes, / And I will pledge with mine;

    Editor's note

    The speaker begins with a toast—but not with wine. He invites his beloved to 'drink' to him solely with her gaze, and vows to do the same in return. 'Pledge' was the usual term for responding to a toast, so Jonson is transforming a common social ritual by substituting a drink with a look. The underlying message is that her attention alone is sufficient to fulfill him.

  2. Or leave a kiss but in the cup / And I'll not look for wine.

    Editor's note

    He goes further: if she just presses her lips to the cup before handing it to him, he won’t even need real wine. The kiss turns an ordinary drinking vessel into something holy. This establishes the poem's main argument — that her love offers a deeper kind of intoxication.

  3. The thirst that from the soul doth rise / Doth ask a drink divine;

    Editor's note

    Here, the speaker transitions from playful flirtation to a more serious tone. The 'thirst' he experiences isn't just physical; it stems from deep within his soul, requiring a divine drink to satisfy it. This transforms his desire from simple lust or social enjoyment into something more spiritual and almost reverent.

  4. But might I of Jove's nectar sup, / I would not change for thine.

    Editor's note

    Jove is another name for Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods, and nectar is the drink of immortality reserved solely for the gods. The speaker expresses that even if he had the chance to drink it, he would turn it down in favor of whatever she offers. This is the poem's most daring compliment: she is more important than the gods.

  5. I sent thee late a rosy wreath, / Not so much honouring thee

    Editor's note

    The poem shifts to a brief story. He recently sent her a wreath of roses—but he quickly clarifies that his motive wasn't just to flatter her. This self-correction comes off as genuine and a bit self-deprecating, making the compliment that follows hit even harder.

  6. As giving it a hope that there / It could not wither'd be;

    Editor's note

    His true motivation for sending the wreath was surprisingly selfish: he believed that being close to her would prevent the roses from wilting. He suggests that her presence has a rejuvenating effect that overcomes natural decay. The flowers would thrive longer in her company than anywhere else.

  7. But thou thereon didst only breathe, / And sent'st it back to me;

    Editor's note

    She didn't keep the wreath — she simply breathed on it and handed it back. This small, almost dismissive act feels insignificant, yet the speaker turns it into something extraordinary. Her breath, an entirely ordinary and automatic human action, somehow creates a sense of magic.

  8. Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, / Not of itself but thee!

    Editor's note

    The closing couplet brings the poem's final, delightful twist: the returned wreath now flourishes and gives off a scent — but this time, it's not roses; it's *her*. The exclamation mark reveals Jonson's excitement. It's a clever, warm, and truly romantic ending that beautifully connects the entire poem.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is warm, playful, and full of admiration — it feels like the voice of someone in love who also knows how to express it beautifully. There's a lightness, even a teasing edge, particularly in the opening toast idea. Yet beneath the humor lies true sincerity; the speaker truly thinks this woman is remarkable. Jonson skillfully avoids letting the poem slide into overly sentimental territory, as the cleverness keeps it steady. It comes across as a compliment offered with a grin instead of a wistful sigh.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Eyes / the gaze
The eyes represent the entire person and the essence of love. A gaze from the beloved is likened to wine — it can intoxicate, satisfy, and nourish. Jonson taps into a rich Renaissance tradition that views the eye as the gateway for love to enter the soul.
Wine / the cup
Wine embodies simple, earthly enjoyment. By consistently comparing it to what the beloved provides, Jonson uses it as a benchmark — and she always comes out on top. The cup also resonates with the Eucharist, subtly adding a sacred dimension to the act of drinking from something she has held.
Jove's nectar
The drink of the gods symbolizes the ultimate pleasure possible beyond human love. By claiming he would turn it down for her, the speaker elevates her above the divine — an exaggeration common in Renaissance love poetry, yet Jonson presents it with enough charm to keep it feeling new.
The rosy wreath
The wreath of roses is a classic symbol of love, but Jonson gives it a new twist. Rather than simply honoring her beauty, it transforms into a vessel that captures her essence. Roses traditionally represent love and the fleeting nature of life — they fade — so the idea that hers now blooms and carries her scent instead of wilting suggests that her love triumphs over time and decay.
Her breath
Breath is the most intimate and involuntary sign of being alive. The fact that she breathes on the wreath — without any conscious act of love — and yet changes it entirely, implies that her influence over the speaker is effortless and possibly even unconscious for her.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
iambic tetrameter
Rhyme
ABABAB AB ABABAB AB

§07Historical context

Historical context

Ben Jonson crafted this lyric around 1616, drawing significantly from a collection of Greek prose love letters linked to the philosopher Philostratus, which date back to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. He essentially wove together multiple passages from those letters into a single English poem — a typical and respected practice during the Renaissance, where emulating classical sources showcased one's learning rather than being seen as plagiarism. This poem was included in Jonson's collection *The Forest*, published alongside his plays and other poetry. Jonson was part of the Cavalier poets' tradition, valuing wit, elegance, and the refined expression of emotions over more intense feelings. Later, the poem was set to music and became one of the most beloved songs in England, which is why 'Song' features in its title. By Jonson's time, lyric poetry and song were still closely intertwined forms.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

What does 'Drink to me only with thine eyes' actually mean?

It's a metaphor for a toast. During Jonson's time, people would lift their cups and make eye contact as a sign of affection or respect. The speaker is saying: forget the wine, just look at me — your gaze is the only drink I require. It conveys that her attention is more intoxicating than any alcohol.

Is this poem a sonnet?

No. It's a lyric poem consisting of sixteen lines arranged in a single stanza, sometimes displayed as two octaves of eight lines each. The poem follows an ABABCDCD rhyme scheme and possesses a song-like, musical quality — exactly what Jonson aimed for, as it was intended to be set to music.

Who is Celia?

We can't say for sure. 'Celia' is a common name in Renaissance love poetry — it originates from the Latin caelum, which translates to 'heaven' or 'sky', aligning with the poem's theme of the beloved being divine. She might be based on a real person Jonson admired, or she could simply be a literary creation. Most scholars view her as a fictional character.

Did Jonson write this poem himself, or did he steal it?

Both, in the Renaissance sense. Jonson adapted passages from the Epistles of Philostratus, a Greek writer from about 1,400 years earlier. However, during Jonson's era, drawing inspiration from and reshaping classical sources was seen as a mark of artistry, not plagiarism. He took existing material and crafted it into something fresh and uniquely his.

What is 'Jove's nectar'?

Jove is the Roman name for Jupiter, the king of the gods. Nectar, the mythical drink of the gods, granted immortality to those who consumed it. By stating that he would refuse even nectar in favor of what his beloved offers, the speaker is giving the highest compliment possible: she is more valuable than immortality itself.

Why does the speaker send a wreath of roses?

On the surface, it seems like a romantic gesture, but the speaker quickly reveals his true intention: he believed that by being close to her, he could prevent the roses from wilting. He suggests that her presence has a rejuvenating effect that counters natural decay. It’s a witty and somewhat self-aware compliment — he acknowledges that he was being a bit self-serving.

What happens to the wreath at the end of the poem?

She breathes on it and sends it back. But when the speaker receives it, he discovers it’s still growing and now smells not of roses but of her. Her breath has changed it. It’s a magical, romantic ending that implies her essence is so strong it can surpass nature itself.

What is the poem's main message?

The love for this particular woman outshines all other pleasures — wine, the gaze of gods, the drink of immortality. Jonson develops this argument through a series of comparisons, each one elevating the stakes a bit more, culminating in the final image of the scented wreath, which conveys the message in a tangible, sensory manner rather than merely stating it.

Key quotes

Key quotes

“Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine;”
The famous opening conceit establishes the poem's central idea: that a loving gaze is more intoxicating than wine itself. The word "pledge" (to toast) cleverly treats the exchange of glances as a drinking ritual, immediately blending the physical act of drinking with spiritual devotion.
“The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth ask a drink divine;”
This couplet elevates the poem's argument from playful compliment to something more serious — the speaker's longing is not bodily but spiritual. The word "divine" signals that Celia's love is placed above even the gods' nectar, preparing the reader for the next line's bold claim.
“But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I would not change for thine.”
This is the poem's most hyperbolic and memorable declaration: the speaker would refuse the drink of the king of the gods in favour of Celia's gaze. By invoking classical mythology only to dismiss it, Jonson flatters Celia as surpassing divinity itself.
“But thou thereon didst only breathe, And sent'st it back to me;”
This is the quiet, surprising turn of the second stanza. Celia's single breath onto the wreath — a small, almost dismissive gesture — becomes the miraculous act that transforms it. It shows how effortlessly and unconsciously she radiates a power the speaker can only marvel at.
“Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee!”
The exclamatory closing line delivers the poem's final conceit: the wreath now carries Celia's scent rather than its own. The emphatic "I swear" gives the line a breathless, personal sincerity, and ending on "thee" ties the whole poem back to its central subject — Celia herself.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Jonson, Ben. "Song: To Celia ("Drink to me only with thine eyes")." 1616. Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/song-to-celia-drink-to-me-only-with-thine-eyes-ben-jonson/.

APA

Jonson, B. (1616). Song: to celia ("drink to me only with thine eyes"). Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/song-to-celia-drink-to-me-only-with-thine-eyes-ben-jonson/

Text source: en.wikisource.org

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In 'Song: To Celia,' Ben Jonson constructs a speaker whose desire has been so thoroughly spiritualized that the beloved's mere breath becomes a more potent force than divine nectar, ultimately arguing that authentic love transforms the …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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