In the last episode of WALKING WITH DANTE, I helped you understand the sources and textual problems in this second metamorphosis from the seventh of the evil pouches (the malebolge) in INFERNO's great ring of fraud. Two become one, two beasts become one, and both become nothing.

Now let's talk through the implications of the passage and follow out some of its premises and conclusions. We're about to get very meta. But you knew that already.

Here are the episodes of this episode of the podcast WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:49] Once again, as in the last episode, my English translation of this passage: INFERNO, Canto XXV, lines 34 - 78. If you'd like to read along, you can find this translation on my website: markscarbrough.com

[04:43] Six implications from this passage. First, gay panic.

[06:58] Second, questions about the nature of the self as a created thing.

[10:06] Third, questions about what exactly is fusing here.

[11:50] Fourth, theological blasphemy.

[14:37] Fifth, literary blasphemy.

[17:30] Sixth, Dante the poet's fears exposed.