Friday, September 5, 2014

I Will Pledge With Mine



Roses by Simona

Song: to Celia [“Drink to me only with thine eyes”]
by Ben Jonson

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 didst only breathe,
     And sent’st it back to me;
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
     Not of itself, but thee.






Want one more? The Opera Babes also sing it.

The Poetry Friday round-up host is Laura at Author Amok.

15 comments:

  1. I've never heard Johnny Cash sing that... thank you. :)

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  3. Beautiful Jonson poem, Tabatha! How wonderful that it has inspired so many adaptations!

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  4. Lovely post, T! My dad used to sing this at weddings. It was interesting to hear the different covers -- I think Johnny Cash's is my favorite. :)

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  5. Love the different variations, Tabatha. Always a treat to visit your blog. = )

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  6. You just find the best things and share them in the coolest way - always! Thank you, and happy PF!

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  7. Love hearing this from all the different singers, Tabatha. I sang this in high school choir. Have forgotten it. My favorite close to it was She Walks In Beauty... Thank you!

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  9. Love this poem - my husband once (when were in college - long ago!) recited it to me from memory...and all three of my kids sang it in their high school choir years. Johnny Cash, though, that's a surprise!

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  10. I guess Johnny Cash is a total surprise to most of us! Who knew?

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  11. I didn't know either! What a treat, Tabatha - thank you for sharing all.

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  12. Oh I so loved this Ben Jonson poem when I was younger - this is what love poems are all about. Enjoyed the video clips thoroughly as well - and the flowers! :)

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  13. Oh Johnny!! Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. xo

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  14. What a contrast to go from version to version...but the words staying the same through all these years and generations and interpretations. Ah, the power of art!

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  15. The romance runneth over in this poem. Enjoyed all the different musical versions you found.

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