Commentary Par VI 118-123

In the following pair of tercets (these twelve verses indeed form a group, the two equal parts of which are joined by a triumphant 'But'), Justinian, as has frequently been noted, sounds very much like Piccarda ([Par III 70-87]).  We can safely assume that neither he nor Romeo would be among the higher petals of the Rose in Paradiso XXXII; but that only makes them love God the more, for accepting them in Heaven with a history of such galling imperfections.