Commentary Par XXXI 17-18

In Dante's lovely transposition, these bees, now having gathered the 'pollen' (God's love) from the hive, bring 'honey' back from the hive to the souls: a celestial variant on nature's apiary artistry.  These flowers have a second chance to enjoy their own (now enhanced) sweetness.  Dante's 'honey,' like God's love and their love for Him, is bidirectional.

As Augustine knew and taught, mortal love can never satisfy or be satisfied: 'inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescat in te' (restless is our heart until it find rest in you -- Conf. I.1).  These two words, pace and ardore ('peace' and 'love'), can be found together only here in the Empyrean, never in Dante's world below.