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Dante – The Divine Comedy Purgatorio XXXI

Then when life had flowed back to my limbs
I saw above me the girl I had found alone
And she said 'Hold on to me, hold on to me'
 
She had dragged me into the river up to my neck
And pulling me after her she was going along
On top of the water, as lightly as a skiff.

When I was nearly at the blessed bank
I heard 'Aspeges me' so sweetly
That I cannot remember, much less describe it

The lovely woman opened her arms wide;
She put them round my head and ducked me under
So that I had to swallow the water

She pulled me out, and conducted me, all wet
Into the midst of the four lovely dancers
And each one of them put her arm over me

…............

So I replied to her 'I cannot remember
That I ever strayed away from you
Nor does my conscience bite me on that account'

'And if you cannot recall any of that'
She answered smiling, 'now bring to your mind
How you have drunk the water of Lethe today;'