Bibit puer, bibit canus,
Bibit praesul, et decanus,
Bibit soror, bibit frater,
Bibit anus, bibit mater,
Bibit ista, bibit ille,
Bibunt centum, bibunt mille.
The intimate association between wine and love, as if by a chain of causality, has been established since proto-historical times. All ancient records, chronicles, supplications, ceremonials abundantly exemplify this thematic synthesis. Especially so in poetry, of all nations, and at all times.
Drink to me only with thine eyes
and I will pledge with mine
is merely a transposed symbolic formula for the same theme.