Commentary Par XVII 85

Poletto (DDP Poletto.Par.XVII.85-87) makes the point that only Beatrice ([Par XXXI 88]) and the Virgin ([Par XXXIII 20]) are allowed to share this word with Cangrande.  See also the first word of the dedication to him of Epistle XIII, 'Magnifico' (Epist.XIII.1).

Vianello (Vian.1968.1), p. 582, suggests that Dante's shame about his actual father, a person of little consequence and not particularly honest ways, lies behind his portrait of Cacciaguida as his 'true' father.