Commentary, Line 501: L'if through Line 596: Points at the puddle in his basement room Summary

Kinbote comments that "L'if" is the French word for a yew tree, that "the grand potato" is a pun term for death stemming from a quote by Rabelais, that he knows the real name of I.P.H., and that he disagrees with some of the poet's views on religion. Kinbote maintains that the Christian God drives destiny and that sins will be punished. He blames Sybil Shade for drawing her husband away from religion.

Kinbote relates a conversation with Shade about religion. Shade says pride, lust, and sloth are necessary for poetry, and Kinbote brings up original sin, which Shade says he doesn't understand. Kinbote says that sin is disobeying divine will, and Shade claims not to know...