[5] Lethaco gurgite: the river of forgetfulness is first mentioned by Plat. Rep. 621 C. Riese cites the (earlier) phrase of Simonides 171 “Λήθης δόμοι” , where the reference, however, is only to the lower world in general (cf. Hor. Carm. 4.7.27 “Lethaea vincula” ). Vergil (Verg. A. 6.705) describes the river as far within the lower world, Lethaeumque domos placidas qui praenatat amnem; but in Verg. Culex 215 “Lethaeas transnare per undas” is clearly meant, as here, the boundary-stream of Orcus, from beyond which there is no return (elsewhere the Styx); cf. Prop. 4.7.91; Tib. 3.3.10 “nudus Lethaea cogerer ire rate” ; Tib. 3.5.24 “cognoscere Lethaeam ratem.”
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Catullus. Catullus. E. T. Merrill. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1893.
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