Description of the Lotos-Eaters Land

Study Notes

Courage was declared to the land, stating the wave will roll them shoreward soon.
In the afternoon, the men came to a land where it always seemed like afternoon.
The coast had languid air, breathing like one with a weary dream.
The moon was full-faced above the valley.
The slender stream seemed to fall and pause along the cliff.
The land had streams, some like slow-dropping veils, others breaking through lights and shadows, rolling foam below.
A gleaming river flowed seaward from the inner land.
Three silent, aged, snow-covered mountain tops stood sunset-flushed.
Shadowy pines climbed above the woven copse, dewed with drops.
The sunset lingered low in the red West.
Through mountain clefts, a dale was seen far inland, with yellow down bordered with palm and winding vales.
Meadows set with slender galingale composed a land where all things seemed the same.
Around the keel, the mild-eyed, melancholy Lotos-eaters came with pale, dark faces against the rosy flame.
They bore branches of an enchanted stem laden with flower and fruit, offering them to the men.
Whoever tasted the offering felt the wave mourn and rave on alien shores.
Their fellow's voice sounded thin, and they seemed deep-asleep yet awake, with music in their ears.
The men sat on the yellow sand between the sun and moon.
It was sweet to dream of Fatherland, of child, wife, and slave.
The sea seemed weary, as did the oar and the wandering fields of barren foam.
Someone declared they would return no more.
They all sang together that their island home was far beyond the wave, and they would no longer roam.

Description

This lesson describes the land of the Lotos-Eaters, a place of languid air, where it always seems like afternoon. The land has streams, some like slow-dropping veils, others breaking through lights and shadows, rolling foam below. Around the keel, the mild-eyed, melancholy Lotos-eaters came with pale, dark faces against the rosy flame.