Chapter 21

21  Lotus Eaters

 

On the tenth day after leaving Troy，Odysseus and his men came to an island，where the people only took lotus fruit and flowers as their food．This plant had such a magic effect on its  eaters  that it could make them forget their past and produce a dreamy laziness over them．When Odysseus' men arrived，they were kindly invited by the people on the is land to eat the sweet food．Its magic power began to work on the mimmediately．They fell into a deep daydream．They lost all wishes for future，To them the sea and ship appeared dull and hateful．And they were not eager to see wife，child and kingdom．When he saw no trace of his  men  coming back，Odysseus became suspicious．He set out with some well armed men to find out the truth．It did not take him long to find out the magic effect of the food．Not allowing his followers to touch the plant，he ordered them to drag their lazy friends back to their ship．There he had them tied to the benches until they slept off the harmful effect of the  lotus ．Without hesitation  they set sail，leaving the dreamy lotuseaters behind．

 
21 吃忘忧树的人

 

离开特洛伊城的第10天，奥德修斯和他的随从来到了一个岛上。岛上的居民只以忘忧树的果实和花为食物。这种神奇的植物，魔力极大，谁只要吃了它，就会忘记往事，而陷入恍恍惚惚的昏睡状态。当奥德修斯的随从到达时，岛上居民友好地邀请他们吃这种甜美的食物。花果的魔力立即在他们身上起作用，使他们陷入了深沉的昏睡状态。他们失去了对未来的希望。海和船在他们看来无聊而可恶。他们也不再急于见到妻儿和王国。奥德修斯见不到随从返回的迹象，就顿生疑心。他和一些全副武装的随从出发了。他们要去查出事情的真相。不久，他就发现了那种食物神奇的魔力。他不许随从碰这种植物，并发出命令：把那些懒倦的伙伴拖回船上；并把他们捆在凳子上。直到他们睡够了，才解除了忘忧树有害的魔力。他们毫不犹豫地扬帆起程，离开因吃忘忧树上花果而昏睡的岛上居民向前驶去。