Seminar XXIV Final Sessions 1 - Lacan in Ireland

have to cut it, as I might say to express myself in a metaphorical fashion,you have to cut it lengthways (2) for it to be freed. [cut 1, 2]The condition therefore that the torus should only be cut in one single way,even though it could be done in two ways, is something that deserves to beremembered in what I would call on this occasion, not a metaphor but astructure; for the difference there is between the metaphor and the structure,is that the metaphor is justified by the structure.Now in following what is at stake in the Dante in question, I was led toreread an old book that my bookseller brought me, since he comes fromtime to time to bring me things, it is by someone called Delescluze, whichwas published in 1864, he was a pal of Baudelaire, it is called Dante et lapoésie amoureuse (Dante and love poetry) and it is not very reassuring; it isall the less reassuring in that as I said earlier, Dante had begun on thisparticular occasion, on the occasion of the aforesaid love poetry, began toact the buffoon.He created, not what I have not created, namely, a metalanguage, he createdwhat one can call a new tongue, what could be called a metatongue, sinceafter all, every new tongue is a metatongue, but like all new tongues, it isformed on the model of ancient ones, which is to say that it fails.What kind of fate is it which ensures that, whatever may be the genius ofsomeone, he always recommences along the same rail, along this rail which93