In today’s canto, Dante and Beatrice ascend to Venus, the third sphere of Paradise, where they encounter Charles Martel, the Medieval king of Hungary. Dante asks the king how it is, if men are made through the divine harmony of the heavenly spheres, that so much disharmony can arise. Charles Martel rehashes the timeless nature v. nurture debate. Wise words for us to hear, even 700 years later!Trans. John Ciardi

Get full access to Talk Write at brandoncookwriter.substack.com/subscribe