41 8 pPant Tsore, IsieQer^f, and. Isyncy, 



Lotos-eater became oblivious of the world and its cares ; and he 

 relates how the sedudtive fruit of the Lotos-tree possessed of old so 

 potent a charm, that Ulysses, when returning from the Trojan 

 war, dreaded it wovild lure his companions to give up home and 

 friends for ever. In the ninth book of the Odyssey, the poet 

 sings — 



" And whoso tasted of their flowery meat 

 Cared not with tidings to return, but clave 

 First to that tribe, for ever fain to eat — 

 Reckless of home return — the tender Lotos sweet." 



Gerarde describes the Lotos-tree as being as big as a Pear-tree, of 

 a " gallant greene colour tending to blewnesse," with leaves similar 

 to the Nettle, dashed here and there with stripes of a yellowish-white 

 colour. "The beries be round, and hang upon long stalks like 

 Cherries, of a yellowish-white colour at the first, and afterwards 

 red, but being ripe they are somewhat black." The Lotos-eaters 

 were held to have immunity from all stomachic complaints. The 

 fruit which formed their food is described by Theophrastus as being 

 of the size of a Bean, which changed its colour when ripening, 

 like the Grape. In flavour it was sweet, pleasant, harmless, and 

 perfectly wholesome ; the most agreeable sort being that which had 

 no kernel. Whole armies were reported to have been fed with 

 the nutritious food afforded by the Lotos, when passing through 

 Africa. The Lotophagi obtained a wine from their beloved fruit, 

 which, however, Cornelius Nepos says would not endure above 

 ten days. The Lotos and its fruit is dwelt upon by Tennyson, who 

 tells how 



•' The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came, 



Branches they bore of that enchanted stem, 



Laden with flowers and fruit, whereof they gave 



To each ; but whoso did receive of them 



And taste, to him the gushing of the wave 



Far, far away did seem to mourn and rave 



On alien shores." 



The Lotos was considered by Theophrastus to be by nature ever- 

 lasting. Pliny enumerates several very ancient trees growing in 

 Rome, notably one in Vulcan's temple built by Romulus, which 

 was reputed to be as old as the city. It was under the Lotos- 

 tree, beyond which there is no passing, that Mahomed saw the 

 angel Gabriel. 



LOTUS. — The Lotus, as described by Herodotus, is the 

 "Water Lily that grows in the inundated lands of Egypt": it is the 

 Nymphi^a Lotus of Linnaeus, and, according to Grecian mythology, 

 owed its origin to a young girl who was deeply in love with Her- 

 cules, and who, dying of jealousy, was transformed into the Lotus. 

 With the Greeks, the flower was the symbol of beauty and of elo- 

 quence, perhaps because it was reputed to flourish in the fields of 

 Helicon. Young girls twined these flowers into garlands. Theo- 



