≡ The Sailor's Lament ≡
Three — Decomposed
They walked off with smiles over the dunes, and went about among the Lotophagi, seeing all manner of their customs and appearances, and their peaceful and pleasant life upon the island. The Lotophagi, for their part, did them no harm, but instead gave generously of their lotus flowers, as hospitality to the strangers. At first my men took no heed of the flowers — after all, they lay strewn all about the place, and who has need of flowers after such a fine meal? But then the smell of the flowers — which, it is said, smell properly like heaven — began to waft into their heads. My men partook.
