Carmina burana

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FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI
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1. O Fortuna (Chorus) (O Fortune)
O Fortuna | O Fortune, |
velut luna | like the moon |
statu variabilis, | you are changeable, |
semper crescis | ever waxing |
aut decrescis; | and waning; |
vita detestabilis | hateful life |
nunc obdurat | first oppresses|
et tunc curat | and then soothes |
ludo mentis aciem, | as fancy takes it; |
egestatem, | poverty |
potestatem | and power |
dissolvit ut glaciem. | it melts them like ice. |
Sors immanis | Fate - monstrous |
et inanis, | and empty, |
rota tu volubilis, | you whirling wheel, |
status malus, | you are malevolent, |
vana salus | well-being is vain |
semper dissolubilis, |and always fades to nothing, |
obumbrata | shadowed |
et velata | and veiled |
michi quoque niteris; | you plague me too; |
nunc per ludum | now through the game |
dorsum nudum | I bring my bare back |
fero tui sceleris. | to your villainy. |
Sors salutis | Fate is against me |
et virtutis | in health |
michi nunc contraria, | and virtue, |
est affectus | driven on |
etdefectus | and weighted down, |
semper in angaria. | always enslaved. |
Hac in hora | So at this hour |
sine mora | without delay |
corde pulsum tangite; | pluck the vibrating strings; |
quod per sortem | since Fate |
sternit fortem, | strikes down the strong man, |
mecum omnes plangite! | everyone weep with me! |
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2. Fortune plango vulnera(I bemoan the wounds of Fortune)
Fortune plango vulnera | I bemoan the wounds of Fortune |
stillantibus ocellis | with weeping eyes, |
quod sua michi munera | for the gifts she made me |
subtrahit rebellis. | she perversely takes away. |
Verum est, quod legitur, | It is written in truth, |
fronte capillata, | that she has a fine head of hair, |
sed plerumque sequitur | but, when itcomes to seizing an opportunity |
Occasio calvata. | she is bald. |
In Fortune solio | On Fortune's throne |
sederam elatus, | I used to sit raised up, |
prosperitatis vario | crowned with |
flore coronatus; | the many-coloured flowers of prosperity; |
quicquid enim florui | though I may have flourished |
felix et beatus, | happy and blessed, |
nunc a summo corrui | now I fall fromthe peak |
gloria privatus. | deprived of glory. |
Fortune rota volvitur: | The wheel of Fortune turns; |
descendo minoratus; | I go down, demeaned; |
alter in altum tollitur; | another is raised up; |
nimis exaltatus | far too high up |
rex sedet in vertice | sits the king at the summit - |
caveat ruinam! | let him fear ruin! |
nam sub axe legimus | for under the axis is written|
Hecubam reginam. | Queen Hecuba. |
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PRIMO VERE (SPRING)
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3. Veris leta facies (The merry face of spring)
Veris leta facies | The merry face of spring |
mundo propinatur, | turns to the world, |
hiemalis acies | sharp winter |
victa iam fugatur, | now flees, vanquished; |
in vestituvario | bedecked in various colours |
Flora principatur, | Flora reigns, |
nemorum dulcisono | the harmony of the woods |
que cantu celebratur. | praises her in song. Ah! |
Flore fusus gremio | Lying in Flora's lap |
Phebus novo more | Phoebus once more |
risum dat, hac vario | smiles, now covered |
iam stipate flore. | in many-coloured flowers, |
Zephyrus nectareo | Zephyr breathesnectar- |
spirans in odore. | scented breezes. |
Certatim pro bravio | Let us rush to compete |
curramus in amore. | for love's prize. Ah! |
Cytharizat cantico | In harp-like tones sings |
dulcis Philomena, | the sweet nightingale, |
flore rident vario | with many flowers |
prata iam serena, | the joyous meadows are laughing, |
salit cetus avium | a flock of birds rises up |...