The Washing and Girding with Rush

Following Cato's instructions, Virgil leads Dante to the shore where the dew fights with the sun. Virgil washes Dante's face with the dew, removing the stains of Hell. He then girds Dante with a humble rush, which immediately springs up again when plucked. This ritual symbolizes the cleansing of sin and the humility required for the journey of purification. The rush, which bends with the waves, represents the virtue of humility, the foundation of the penitent life.