E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Hell (Rivers of).
Classic authors tell us that the Inferno is encompassed by five rivers: Ach&echeck;ron, Coc&ymacr;tus, Styx, Phleg&echeck;thon, and Leth. Acheron from the Greek achos-reo, grief-flowing; Cocytus, from the Greek kkuo, to weep, supposed to be a flood of tears; Styx, from the Greek stug&echeck;o, to loathe; Phlegethon, from the Greek phl&echeck;go, to burn; and Lethê, from the Greek letl, oblivion.
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Five hateful rivers round Inferno run,
Grief comes the first, and then the Flood of tears,
. Acheron from the Greek achos-reo, grief-flowing; Cocytus, from the Greek k
kuo, to weep, supposed to be a flood of tears; Styx, from the Greek stug&echeck;o, to loathe; Phlegethon, from the Greek phl&echeck;go, to burn; and Lethê, from the Greek letl
