Vinous verse from Mr. Jonson

In honor of February, a time for love to blossom (or at least be Hallmarked) and the briefest month of the year, a couple of sweet wine-oaked stanzas from four centuries ago, courtesy of Ben Jonson (left):

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.

But that which most doth take my muse and me,
Is a pure cup of rich Canary wine,
Which is the mermaid’s now, but shall be mine.