Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine. 
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I'll not ask for wine. 
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sip, 
I would not change for thine.

你如敬酒请用秋波
我一定回敬你
你在杯中留下香吻
那美酒我不在意
心灵中泛起无限的渴念
盼望喝一杯圣液
但纵然有琼浆玉露
都不能与你相比

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much hon'ring 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.

我曾送你玫瑰花环
向你真诚致意
但愿它承受你的恩惠
永远不再枯萎
请你轻轻在花上呼吸
把它再还给我
从此玫瑰鲜艳芬芳
也沾染了你的香气

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The origin of the English archaic tune is not known. It does not appear earlier than around 1770. The words are Ben Johnson's poem, "To Celia," written in 1616. According to the Oxford Companion to Music, the tune cannot be traced back beyond about 1770. 

I'm moved by the connotation and elegance of the song. On a luxury feast, no words or gestures, a pair of lovers just pass tenderness and love through eyes. Compare with ardent and passionate Italian love songs such as "My Sun", English ballads are graceful and euphemistical - just like the climate in England - cool and moisture. Imagine a lassie wandering in a delicate garden, with maple leaves rustling in the autumnal air - elegant as it is, no emotion of dreariness. I also cherish the archaic words like "thine" and "Doth", the consonants trickling between tongue and teeth bring aromatic aftertaste to me.

Click the following link to download the MIDI file by Barry Taylor:

http://www.contemplator.com/midimusic/drink2me.mid