upon the land of the Lotophagi, who eat flowers as food. There then we landed on the continent, and drew water; and immediately my companions took supper near the swift ships. But when we had tasted of meat and drink, then at length I sent my companions, having chosen two men, giving a herald as third,[1] in company with them, to go[2] and inquire, what men they were who eat food upon the land. But they, going immediately, were mingled with the Lotus-eating men: nor did the Lotophagi devise destruction for our companions, but they gave them to taste of the lotus. But whoever of them eat of the pleasant food of the lotus, he no longer wished to bring back news, nor to return, but they preferred to remain there with the Lotophagi eating lotus, and to be forgetful of return. Them indeed weeping I by force led to the ships, and dragging, bound them under the benches in the hollow ships. But I exhorted my other beloved companions, to hasten and embark on the swift ships, lest by chance any one eating of the lotus, should be forgetful of return. But they immediately embarked, and sat down on the benches; and sitting in order they smote the hoary sea with their oars.
"And from thence we sailed forward, sorrowing at heart: and we came to the land of the monstrous[3] Cyclops, who have no laws, who, trusting in the immortal gods, neither plant a plant[4] with their hands, nor plough: but all these things unsown, untilled, spring up, wheat and barley, and vines, which bear wine from large clusters, and the shower from Jove nourishes them. Among them [there are] neither assemblies for consulting, nor rights: but they inhabit the summits of lofty mountains in hollow caves; and every one gives judgment to his children and wives; nor do they care for one another. There a long[5] island is stretched out from the haven
- ↑ I am unwilling to deprive my readers of the following brilliant specimen of accurate construing found in the old and (most wisely) anonymous prose translation, "giving a herald to the third." And yet Eustathius had written, ἑταῖροι δύο στέλλονται καὶ τρίτατος κήρυξ.
- ↑ On the Lotophagi the student will find very copious and interesting information in the notes of Loewe on this passage, and of De Pinedo on Steph. Byz. v. λωτοφόρος, p. 432.
- ↑ Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 514, where he regards the Cyclops as "monstrous children of nature, who needed no social or legal relations among themselves, and consequently did not acknowledge them towards others."
- ↑ An antiquated and somewhat oriental style of repetition.
- ↑ See Ernesti. I myself should prefer the reading preserved in Eusta-
