But see how many now cry out “Christ! Christ!”
Who shall be farther from him at the Judgment
Than many who, on earth, did not know Christ.
[Ma vedi: molti gridan “Cristo, Cristo!”,
che saranno in giudicio assai men prope
a lui, che tal che non conosce Cristo.]Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 3 “Paradiso,” Canto 19, l. 206ff (19.106-108) [The Eagle] (1320) [tr. Ciardi (1970)]
(Source)
The Eagle, speaking to Dante. See the Bible, Matt. 7:21-23 and Matt. 8:11-12.
Ciardi and Musa note how here, as elsewhere, Dante only rhymes the name of Christ with itself.
(Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:But many on his Name with boldness call,
Who underneath his righteous doom shall fall,
When virtuous Pagans soar to endless day.
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 23]But lo! of those
Who call ‘Christ, Christ,’ there shall be many found,
In judgment, further off from him by far,
Than such, to whom his name was never known.
[tr. Cary (1814)]But, mark ! many a one shall call 'Christ, Christ,'
Who, in the judgment, shall be far less near
Than those who never chanced his name to hear.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]But look thou, many crying are, 'Christ, Christ!'
Who at the judgment shall be far less near
To him than some shall be who knew not Christ.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]But behold, many cry, Christ, Christ, who in the judgement shall be far less near to Him than such an one that knew not Christ.
[tr. Butler (1885)]But many wilt thou see who cry, Christ, Christ!
Who in the judgment-day will be less near
To Him than some who never heard of Christ.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]But behold, many cry Christ, Christ, who, at the Judgment, shall be far less near to him, than such an one who knew not Christ.
[tr. Norton (1892)]But note, many cry Christ, Christ! who shall be far less near to Him at the Judgement than such as know not Christ.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]But look! how many are crying: ‘Christ! Christ!’
Who at the day of judgment shall be far
Less near to him than such as knew not Christ.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]But see! full many shall cry aloud: Christ! Christ!
Who in the Last Day shall be sent to lodge
Farther from Him than they who know not Christ.
[tr. Sayers/Reynolds (1962)]But see: many there are who cry “Christ, Christ"
Who at the judgement will be much less near
To him than some who do not know Christ.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]But there are many who now cry ‘Christ! Christ!’
who at the Final Judgment shall be far
less close to Him than one who knows not Christ.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1984)]But then there are all those who cry, ‘Christ, Christ!’
and at the Judgment Day will be less close
to Him than will be those who know not Christ.
[tr. Musa (1984)]But see: many cry Christ, Christ! who at the judgment will be much less prope to him, than someone who does not know Christ.
[tr. Durling (2011)]But see, many call out: “Christ, Christ” who shall be further from Him at the Judgement, than those who do not know of Christ.
[tr. Kline (2002)]But see this: many cry out: “Christ! Christ! Christ!”
Yet many will, come Judgement, be to Him less prope
than are those who don’t know Christ.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2007)]But observe that many shout out 'Christ, O Christ!'
who shall be farther off from Him,
on Judgment Day, than such as know not Christ.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]And yet there are many crying out His name
Who at the Day of Judgment will be farther away
From Him than he who has never heard of Christ.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]