THE LOTOS-EATERS
«f* OURAGE" he said, and pointed toward the land,
^ This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon.'
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always-afternoon.
All round the coast the languid air did swoon, 5
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.
A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, 10
Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go;
And some thro* wavering lights and shadows broke,
Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.
They saw the gleaming river seaward flow
From the inner land : far off, three mountain-tops, 15
Three silent pinnacles of aged snow,
Stood sunset-flush'd: and, dew'd with showery drops.
Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse.
The charmed sunset linger'd low adown
In the red West: thro* mountain clefts the dale 20
Was seen far inland, and the yellow down
Border'd with palm, and many a winding vale
And meadow, set with slender galingale:
A land where all things always seem'd the same!
^And round about the keel with faces pale, 25
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,
The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.
Branches they bore of that enchanted stem,
Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave
To oach, but whoso did receive of them,
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