The last word

Theos, Greek: God (It follows the word Diu which suggests L. Dieu: God) [I don't quite understand the annotation in brackets; what's meant by "follows"? can anyone explain?]

In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God [και θεος ην ο λογος]. (john 1:1) [as in the beginning so in the end]

F thé = tea; the river Liffey, being tea coloured (something joyce keeps stressing); joined with the article it's "le thé" or "Lethe", the underground river of oblivion in hades (greek mythology).

(and: "le" and "the", both being articles, bear as little significance as possible, and so are "unsubstantial" and virtually invisible - as the hidden meanings in the wake's night-language. cf. Joyce on Ulysses' "yes": "least forceful word [...] barely pronounced, which denotes

acquiescence,

self-abandon,

relaxation,

the end of all resistance")