Dante, Inferno
Agnello’s Merged Form
A six-footed serpent grips a human figure’s arms, belly, cheeks and thighs, its tail fastening behind him. Their bodies melt together, compared to wax and to the changing colour of paper before it burns. The other figures cry out to Agnello that he is neither double nor single. Two heads become one, and the resulting form moves away after all traces of the separate earlier shapes have disappeared.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryA six-footed serpent grips a human figure’s arms, belly, cheeks and thighs, its tail fastening behind him. Their bodies melt together, compared to wax and to the changing colour of paper before it burns.
Further detail
LiteraryThe other figures cry out to Agnello that he is neither double nor single. Two heads become one, and the resulting form moves away after all traces of the separate earlier shapes have disappeared.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. It describes Dante’s literary vision, distinguishing its assignments and reported claims from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established accounts of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
a serpent with six feet Springs forth on one, and fastens full upon him: His midmost grasp'd the belly, a forefoot Seized On each arm (whileOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 170
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0170
- Original scan leaf
- 177
- Recorded leaf number
- 177
- Current Reader position
- 170
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Agnello! See! thou art nor double now, Nor only one." The two heads now became One, and two figures blended in one form Appear'd, where bothOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 171
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0171
- Original scan leaf
- 178
- Recorded leaf number
- 178
- Current Reader position
- 171
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Alichino and Calcabrina’s Quarrel
The failed pursuit that sends two guardians into their own sticky pool.
Same subject and traditionCrossing the Centre of the World
Virgil’s reversal while climbing Lucifer explains the change from descent to ascent.
Same subject and traditionMistaken for Boniface
An inverted speaker mistakes Dante’s arrival for that of a future condemned pope.
Same subject and traditionThe Cord Cast into the Abyss
Dante’s loosened belt becomes Virgil’s signal for the creature below.