The repeated passing around of the wine cup is causing distress to the wine, so bring the entire jar of wine to my lips all at once.
The poet playfully suggests that passing the cup around in endless small measures only agitates the wine and torments the thirsty lover. Refusing to settle for mere drops, he asks for the entire cask to be pressed to his lips all at once. Beyond the tavern imagery, it is a passionate plea for an all-or-nothing approach to love and life, where cautious moderation simply will not do.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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