As the group of the souls of the sodomites run by, one of them approaches Dante and Virgil. It is Dante’s old teacher, Brunetto Latini. The two have a brief discussion and Dante learns that these souls must always keep moving, or will be forced to lie on the ground for 100 years unable to brush off the rain of fire. Brunetto points out some other residents of Hell that Dante knows (some political friends as well as enemies), and then runs off. Dante expresses grief and compassion for the fate of his old teacher, unlike some other residents of Hell.

Three more souls approach, and in order to keep moving while speaking with Dante, they form a circle around him, constantly walking and talking. Dante the poet compares this to a strange dance, like wrestlers circling each other before a match. The eternal aimless wandering of the souls of the sodomites, is a similar theme to that of the souls in the circle of the lustful who are constantly buffeted by the wind.

After this group races off, Dante and Virgil approach a deafening waterfall. Virgil then takes the cord that Dante had tied around his waste and throws it into the abyss where the waterfall empties. Dante is shocked by what he sees next. …continue…or …go back…