--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/…" description: "\"Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/ Into the burning Lake their baleful streams;/Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate,/Sad Acheron of sorrow, blac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/john-milton-191_black_of-four-infernal-rivers-that-disgorge-in_1166022.png" --- # Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/ Into the burning… ![“Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/ Into the burning Lake their baleful streams;/Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate,/Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep;/Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud/ Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon/ Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage./ Far…” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/john-milton-191_black_of-four-infernal-rivers-that-disgorge-in_1166022.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/john-milton-191_black_of-four-infernal-rivers-that-disgorge-in_1166022.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/john-milton-191_black_of-four-infernal-rivers-that-disgorge-in_1166022.png) > “Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/ Into the burning Lake their baleful streams;/Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate,/Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep;/Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud/ Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon/ Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage./ Far off from these a slow and silent stream,/ Lethe the River of Oblivion rolls/ Her wat'ry Labyrinth whereof who drinks,/ Forthwith his former state and being forgets,/ Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Four hellish rivers symbolize different aspects of suffering, while Lethe erases memory, ending pain and joy alike. **In simple terms:** Rivers represent varied torment; Lethe wipes all feeling. Key Takeaway Recognize how different pains affect us and the desire to forget. Themes suffering memory mythology Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative writing - philosophical discussion Key Concepts psychology eternal punishment Questions to Reflect On - Can we learn from pain without remembering it? - What role does memory play in identity? A Different Perspective Forgetting may also erase valuable lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abhorred Styx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abhorred-styx-3359041/) [Acheron Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acheron-sorrow-3359039/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Fierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fierce/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Infernal Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infernal-rivers-3359040/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy and grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-and-grief/) [Labyrinth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labyrinth/) [Lakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakes/) [Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loud/) [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain and pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-and-pleasure/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure And Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-and-pain/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Rueful Stream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rueful-stream-3359042/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams/) [Streams Abhorred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams-abhorred-3359038/) [Styx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/styx/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) ## Related quotes > [Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls his watery labyrinth, which whoso drinks forgets both joy and grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/lethe-the-river-of-oblivion-rolls-his-watery-labyrinth-which-whoso/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“The travelers emerged into a spacious square. 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