Explanation:

Why are we weighed upon with heaviness?

And utterly consumed with sharp distress,

While all things else have rests from wariness?

All things have rest: why should we toil alone,

We only toil.

Answer: These conspicuous and remarkable lines have been taken from the famous poem, “The Lotos-Eaters” composed by Alfred Lord Tennyson who is the representative poet in the Victorian Period. Here the poet says that the mariners are charmed by the peace and tranquility that they find in every object of nature in the Lotos-land.

The war of Troy is over. The Greek hero Ulysses is returning home along with his fellow mariners. One day in the afternoon, they reached an island. After reaching there, the mariners are charmed by the beauty of the island. On this island, they ate lotos of fruits. Having eaten them, they do not want to move. In the choric song, the mariners give a beautiful description of the music they hear. The music in Lotos-land is extremely soft, sweet, and soothing. Its sound is softer than that of the falling pelts of roses. In the lotos-island, they are now leading a happy life. They are free from the toil and care of life. They have observed that all objects of nature take a rest. All things enjoy the pleasure of rest. That is why, they no longer want to take up fresh actions. They think that it is better to stay on the island for the rest of their life.

Thus the poet draws a contrast between human life and all other things on this earth. The mariners want to rationalize their plan to live on this island in a state of permanent rest, peace, and tranquility.