食莲人（Lotus-eaters），或吃忘忧树的人，生活在非洲北部海岸的神话人物。他们以莲的果实为食，这种果实会使人满足和健忘。在《奥德赛》中，荷马描述了三名来自奥德赛(奥德修斯)探险队的水手，他们被派到岸上探索食莲人的家园。当他们品尝过这种果实后，三名水手就失去了要返回船上的念头，不得不由别人强行将他们带回。

原文

食莲人

“鼓起勇气！”他说，指着前方的陆地，

“潮水很快会送我们靠岸登陆。”

下午．他们果然到达了一块陆地，

这地方的时辰仿佛永远是下午。

慵懒昏醉的空气围着海岸飘浮，

像是在困倦的梦里，呼吸微微。

满月的圆脸升起，映着山谷，

悬崖边飞落下淙淙的溪水，

像一缕轻烟欲落还停，在半空悬垂。

遍地溪涧！有的像悬垂的烟，

又像蝉翼轻纱，缓缓地落下，

有的穿过飘动的光和影飞溅，

在下方激起一片催眠的水花。

但见闪光的河从内陆奔向海涯，

而内陆深处是三座寂静的山峰，

千年雪封，映着日落的红霞；

还有沾满雨珠的苍郁的老松

挺起了身躯，超出那层层交织的树丛。

被魔力拴住的夕阳欲落不落，

在红霞里低回；从山口遥望内陆，

能望见棕榈镶边的黄色山坡，

还有平川和许多迂回的溪谷，

还有草地，有细细的莎草被覆，——

这片土地的一切似乎永不变更！

岛上的食莲人来了，把船围住．

这些忧郁的人长着温柔的眼睛，

绯红的霞光映衬着他们暗淡的面影。

他们带来具有魔力的莲花茎枝，

把花和果实向远方来客分送，

不论是谁，只要尝一尝莲子，

在他耳中这海浪的澎湃汹涌

立即远远离去，化为彼岸的嗡嗡；

而伙伴的语声也渐去渐弱，

变得隐隐约约，有如发自墓中；

他仿佛深深入睡却又完全醒觉，

自己心音的节律在耳中化作了音乐。

岛民请远方来客在黄沙上就坐，

坐在海边，太阳与月亮之间；

他们沉入了甜蜜的梦，梦见祖国，

梦死妻子儿女和奴仆．但是永远

不再操桨掌舵．大海已令人厌倦，

他们己厌倦了动荡荒凉的海洋。

于是有人说道：“我们不再回家园。”

于是大家齐声唱道；“岛上的家乡

在茫茫大海彼方，我们不愿再流浪。”

The Lotus-Eaters by Lord Alfred Tennyson

(1809-1892)

"Courage!" 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,

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,

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,

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

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,

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 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; and if his fellow spake,

His voice was thin, as voices from the grave;

And deep-asleep he seem'd, yet all awake,

And music in his ears his beating heart did make.

They sat them down upon the yellow sand,

Between the sun and moon upon the shore;

And sweet it was to dream of Fatherland,

Of child, and wife, and slave; but evermore

Most weary seem'd the sea, weary the oar,

Weary the wandering fields of barren foam.

Then some one said, "We will return no more";

And all at once they sang, "Our island home

Is far beyond the wave; we will no longer roam."