Toynbee "Letè"

Virgil having named the rivers of Hell without mentioning Lethe ([Inf. xiv. 116]), D. asks where it is to be found ([Inf. xiv. 130-131]), V. replies that D. shall see it, not in Hell, but in Purgatory ([Inf. xiv. 136-138]). Guido Guinizelli (in Circle VII of Purgatory) declares that he is so touched by D.'s kindly bearing toward him that not even the waters of Lethe will be able to make him forget it, [Purg. xxvi. 106-108]. Eventually D. sees the stream of Lethe in the Terrestrial Paradise, where it appears as a rivulet, purer than any earthly stream, flowing from S. to N. through a wood, which perpetually shades it from the sun and moon, [Purg. xxviii. 25-33]; on the further bank he sees a solitary lady (Matilda) gathering flowers and singing as she goes, whom he prays to come near to the stream that he may hear what she sings ([Purg. xxvii. 34-51]); she approaches the opposite bank and smiles upon him across the stream, which is but three paces wide, yet forms as effectual a barrier between her and D. as did the Hellespont between Hero and Leander ([Purg. xxvii. 52-75]); she addresses D. and explains to him that Eunoè and Lethe both issue from one source which is of divine not natural origin, the waters being constantly and supernaturally replenished ([Purg. xxvii. 121-126]); the waters of one branch (Lethe) have the power of taking away from man the memory of sin ([Purg. xxvii. 127-128]); those of the other branch (Eunoè) have the power of restoring to him the recollection of his good actions ([Purg. xxvii. 129]); to produce these effects the waters, whose savour is sovereign, must in each case be tasted ([Purg. xxvii. 131-133]). After Matilda has ceased speaking, she walks along the bank against the course of the stream (i.e. to the S.), D keeping pace with her on the other bank ([Purg. xxix. 7-9]); they have not gone more than fifty paces when the stream gives a sharp turn towards the E. ([Purg. xxix. 10-12]), and shortly after D. perceives a bright light and hears a sweet melody ([Purg. xxix. 13-23]); presently there appears a wondrous pageant, forming a mystical Procession, which halts opposite to where D. is standing with Virgil and Statius ([Purg. xxix. 43-154]); then Beatrice appears, standing on the mystic car, and admonishes D., who drops his eyes to the stream, but, seeing his shame reflected in it, withdraws his gaze ([Purg. xxx. 64-78]); when B. has finished upbraiding him, D. makes confession of his fault, and is then drawn through the stream of Lethe to the opposite bank by Matilda, who plunges him under the water and causes him to swallow some of it ([Purg. xxxi. 1-102]. Subsequently, Matilda, at B.'s bidding, takes D. to drink also of the waters of Eunoe, the 'sweet draught' of which completes the process by which he has become fit to ascend to Heaven ([Purg. xxxiii. 127-145]) [Eunoè].