Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi
|
Fortune, Empress of the World
|
1. O Fortuna
(Chorus)
|
O Fortune
|
O Fortuna,
velut Luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem,
potestatem
dissolvit ut glaciem.
|
O Fortune!
Like the moon
ever-changing,
rising first
then declining;
hateful life
treats us badly
then with kindness
making sport with our desires,
causing power
and poverty alike
to melt like ice.
|
Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis,
obumbrata
et velata
michi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.
|
Dread destiny
and empty fate,
an ever-turning wheel,
who make adversity
and fickle health
alike turn to nothing,
in the dark
and secretly
you work against me;
how through your trickery
my naked back
is turned to you unarmed.
|
Sors salutis
et virtutis
michi nunc contraria.
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
Hac in hora
sine mora
corde pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!
|
Good fortune
and strength
now are turned from me.
Affection
and defeat
are always on duty.
Come now,
pluck the strings
without delay;
and since by fate
the strong are overthrown
weep ye all with me.
|
2. Fortune plango vulnera
(Chorus)
|
I Lament the Wounds That Fortune Deals
|
Fortune plango vulnera
stillantibus ocellis,
quod sua michi munera
subtrahit rebellis.
Verum est, quod legitur
fronte capillata,
sed plerumque sequitur
occasio calvata.
|
I lament the wounds that Fortune deals
with tear-filled eyes,
for returning to the attack
she takes her gifts from me.
Is it true
as they say,
the well-thatched pate
may soonest lose its hair.
|
In Fortune solio
sederam elatus,
prosperitatis vario
flore coronatus;
quicquid enim florui
felix et beatus,
nunc a summo corrui
gloria privatus.
|
Once on Fortune’s throne
I sat exalted,
crowned with a wreath
of Prosperity’s flowers.
But from my happy
flower-decked paradise
I was struck down
and stripped of all my glory.
|
Fortune rota volvitur:
descendo minoratus;
alter in altum tollitur;
nimis exaltatus
rex sedet in vertice—
caveat ruinam!
Nam sub axe legimus
Hecubam reginam.
|
The wheel of Fortune turns;
dishonored I fall from grace,
and another is raised on high.
Raised to over dizzy heights of power
the king sits in majesty—
but let him beware his downfall!
For ’neath the axle of Fortune’s wheel
behold Queen Hecuba.
|
I. Primo Vere
|
Springtime
|
3. Veris leta facies(Small Chorus)
|
The Joyous Face of Spring
|
Veris leta facies
mundo propinatur
hiemalis acies
victa iam fugatur,
in vestitu vario
Flora principatur,
nemorum dulcisono
que cantu celebratur.
|
The joyous face of spring
is presented to the world.
Winter’s army
is conquered and put to flight.
In colorful dress
Flora is arrayed,
and the woods are sweet
with birdsong in her praise.
|
Flore fusus gremio
Phebus novo more
risum dat, hoc vario
iam stipatur flore.
Zephyrus nectareo
spirans in odore;
certatim pro bravio
curramus in amore.
|
Reclining in Flora’s lap
Phoebus again
laughs merrily
covered with many colored flowers.
Zephyr breathes around
the scented fragrance;
eagerly striving for the prize
let us compete in love.
|
Cytharizat cantico
dulcis Philomena,
flore rident vario
prata iam serena,
salit cetus avium
silve per amena,
chorus promit virginum
iam gaudia millena.
|
Trilling her song
sweet Philomel is heard,
and smiling with flowers
the peaceful meadows lie.
A flock of wild birds
rises from the woods;
the chorus of maidens
brings a thousand joys.
|
4. Omnia sol temperat
(Baritone)
|
All Things Are Tempered
|
Omnia sol temperat
purus et subtilis,
novo mundo reserat
faciem Aprilis,
ad amorem properat
animus herilis,
et iocundis imperat
deus puerilis.
|
All things are tempered by the sun
so pure and fine.
In a new world are revealed
the beauties of April,
to thoughts of love
the mind of man is turned,
and in pleasure’s haunts
the youthful god holds sway.
|
Rerum tanta novitas
in solemni vere
et veris auctoritas
iubet nos gaudere;
vias prebet solitas,
et in tuo vere
fides est et probitas
tutum retinere.
|
Nature’s great renewal
in solemn spring
and spring’s example
bid us rejoice;
they charge us keep to well-worn paths,
and in your springtime
there is virtue and honesty
in being constant to your lover.
|
Ama me fideliter!
fidem meam nota:
de corde totaliter
et ex mente tota
sum presentialiter
absens in remota.
Quisquis amat taliter,
volvitur in rota.
|
Love me truly!
Remember my constancy.
With all my heart
and all my mind
I am with you
even when far away.
Whoever knows such love
knows the torture of the wheel.
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5. Ecce gratum
(Chorus)
|
Behold the Welcome
|
Ecce gratum
et optatum
Ver reducit gaudia,
purpuratum
floret pratum,
Sol serenat omnia,
Iamiam cedant tristia!
Estas redit,
nunc recedit
Hyemis sevitia.
|
Behold the welcome
long-awaited
spring which brings back pleasure,
and with crimson flowers
adorns the fields.
The sun brings peace to all around;
away with sadness!
Summer returns
and now departs
cruel winter.
|
Iam liquescit
et decrescit
grando, nix etcetera,
bruma fugit,
et iam sugit
Ver Estatis ubera:
illi mens est misera,
qui nec vivit,
nec lascivit
sub Estatis dextera.
|
Melt away
and disappear
hail, ice, and snow.
The mists flee
and spring is fed
at summer’s breast;
wretched is the man
who neither lives
nor lusts
under summer’s spell.
|
Gloriantur
et letantur
in melle dulcedinis
qui conantur,
ut utantur.
premio Cupidinis;
simus jussu Cypridis
gloriantes
et letantes
pares esse Paridis.
|
They taste delight
and honeyed sweetness
who strive for
and gain
Cupid’s reward.
Let us submit
to Venus’s rule
and joyful
and proud
be equal to Paris.
|
Uf dem Anger
|
On the Green
|
6. Dance
(Orchestra)
|
Dance
|
7. Floret silva
(Chorus)
|
The Noble Forest
|
Floret silva nobilis
floribus et foliis.
Ubi est antiquus
meus amicus?
hinc equitavit,
eia, quis me amabit?
|
The noble forest
is decked with flowers and leaves.
Where is my old
my long-lost lover?
He rode away on his horse.
Alas, who will love me now?
|
Floret silva undique.
nah mime gesellen ist mir we.
Gruonet der walt allenthalben,
wa ist min geselle alse lange?
der ist geriten hinnen,
owi, wer sol mich minnen?
|
The forest all around is in flower.
I long for my lover.
The forest all around is in flower;
whence is my lover gone?
He rode away on his horse.
Alas, who will love me now?
|
8. Chramer, gip die varwe mir
(Chorus)
|
Salesman! Give Me Colored Paint
|
Chramer, gip die varwe mir,
die min wengel roete,
damit ich die jungen man
an ir dank der minnenliebe noete.
|
Salesman! give me colored paint,
to paint my cheeks so crimson red,
that I may make these bold young men
whether they will or no, to love me.
|
Seht mich an,
jungen man!
lat mich iu gevallen!
|
Look at me,
young men all!
Am I not well pleasing?
|
Minnet, tugentliche man,
minnecliche frouwen!
minne tuot iu hoch gemuot
unde lat iuch in hohlen eren schouwen.
|
Love, all you right-thinking men,
women worthy to be loved!
Love shall raise your spirits high
and put a spring into your step.
|
Seht mich an,
jungen man!
lat mich iu gevallen!
|
Look at me,
young men all!
Am I not well pleasing?
|
Wol dir, Werlt, das du bist
also freudenriche!
ich wil dir sin undertan
durch din liebe immer sicherliche.
|
Hail to thee, O world that art
in joy so rich and plenteous!
I will ever be in thy debt
surely for thy goodness’s sake!
|
Seht mich an,
jungen man!
lat mich iu gevallen!
|
Look at me,
young men all!
Am I not well pleasing?
|
9. Reie
(Orchestra)
|
Reie
|
Swaz hie gat umbe
(Chorus)
|
They Who Here Go Dancing Round
|
Swaz hie gat umbe,
daz sint allez megede,
die wellent an man
alle disen sumer gan.
|
They who here go dancing round
are young maidens all
who will go without a man
this whole summer long.
|
Chume, chum geselle min
(Small Chorus)
|
Come, Come, Dear Heart of Mine
|
Chume, chum geselle min,
ih enbite harte din,
ih enbite harte din,
chume, chum geselle min.
|
Come, come, dear heart of mine,
I so long have waited for thee.
I so long have waited for thee;
come, come, dear heart of mine!
|
Suzer roservarwer munt,
chum un mache mich gesunt,
chum un mache mich gesunt,
suzer roservarwer munt.
|
Sweetest rosy-colored mouth,
come and make me well again!
Come and make me well again!
Sweetest rosy-colored mouth.
|
Swaz hie gat umbe
(Chorus)
|
They Who Here Go Dancing Round
|
Swaz hie gat umbe,
daz sint allez megede,
die wellent an man
alle disen sumer gan.
|
They who here go dancing round
are young maidens all,
who will go without a man
This whole summer long.
|
10. Were diu werlt alle min
(Chorus)
|
If the Whole World Were but Mine
|
Were diu werlt alle min
von deme mere unze an den Rin,
des wolt ih mih darben,
daz diu chünegin von Engellant
lege an minen armen.
|
If the whole world were but mine
from the sea right to the Rhine,
gladly I’d pass it by
if the queen of England fair
in my arms did lie.
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II. In Taberna
|
In the Tavern
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11. Estuans interius
(Baritone)
|
Seething Inside
|
Estuans interius
ira vehementi
in amaritudine
loquor mee menti:
factus de materia,
cinis elementi
similis sum folio,
de quo ludunt venti.
|
Seething inside
with boiling rage
in bitterness
I talk to myself.
Made of matter
risen from dust
I am like a leaf
tossed in play by the winds.
|
Cum sit enim proprium
viro sapienti
supra petram ponere
sedem fundamenti,
stultus ego comparor,
fluvio labenti
sub eodem tramite
nunquam permanenti.
|
But whereas it befits
a wise man
to build his house
on a rock,
I, poor fool,
am like a meandering river
never keeping
to the same path.
|
Feror ego veluti
sine nauta navis,
ut per vias aeris
vaga fertur avis;
non me tenent vincula,
non me tenet clavis,
quero mihi similes,
et adiungor pravis.
|
I drift along
like a pilotless ship
or like an aimless bird.
Carried at random through the air
no chains hold me captive.
No lock holds me fast;
I am looking for those like me,
and I join the depraved.
|
Mihi cordis gravitas
res videtur gravis;
iocus est amabilis
dulciorque favis;
quicquid Venus imperat,
labor est suavis,
que nunquam in cordibus
habitat ignavis.
Via lata gradior
more iuventutis,
inplicor et vitiis,
immemor virtutis,
voluptatis avidus
magis quam salutis,
mortuus in anima
curam gero cutis.
|
The burdens of the heart
seem to weigh me down;
jesting is pleasant
and sweeter than the honeycomb.
Whatever Venus commands
is pleasant toil
she never dwells
In craven hearts.
On the broad path I wend my way
as is youth’s wont;
I am caught up in vice
and forgetful of virtue,
caring more for voluptuous pleasure
than for my health;
dead in spirit,
I think only of my skin.
|
12. Olim lacus colueram
(Tenor and Male Chorus)
|
Once in Lakes I Made My Home
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Olim lacus colueram,
olim pulcher extiteram
dum cignus ego fueram.
Miser, miser!
modo niger
et ustus fortiter!
|
Once in lakes I made my home,
once I dwelt in beauty;
that was when I was a swan.
Alas, poor me!
Now I am black
and roasted to a turn!
|
Girat, regirat garcifer;
me rogus urit fortiter:
propinat me nunc dapifer,
Miser, miser!
modo niger
et ustus fortiter!
|
On the spit I turn and turn;
the fire roasts me through.
Now I am presented at the feast;
alas, poor me!
Now I am black
and roasted to a turn!
|
Nunc in scutella iaceo,
et volitare nequeo,
dentes frendentes video:
Miser, miser!
modo niger
et ustus fortiter!
|
Now in a serving dish I lie,
and can no longer fly.
Gnashing teeth confront me.
Alas, poor me!
Now I am black
and roasted to a turn!
|
13. Ego sum abbas
(Baritone and Male Chorus)
|
I Am the Abbot
|
Ego sum abbas Cucaniensis
et consilium meum est cum bibulis,
et in secta Decii voluntas mea est,
et qui mane me quesierit in taberna,
|
I am the abbot of Cucany
and I like to drink with my friends.
I belong from choice to the sect of Decius,
and whoever meets me in the morning at the tavern
|
post vesperam nudus egredietur,
et sic denudatus veste clamabit:
Wafna, wafna!
quid fecisti sors turpissima?
Nostre vite gaudia
abstulisti omnia!
|
by evening has lost his clothes,
and thus stripped of his clothes cries out:
Wafna! Wafna!
What has thou done, O wicked fate?
All the pleasures of this life
thus to take away!
|
14. In taberna quando sumus
(Male Chorus)
|
When We Are in the Tavern
|
In taberna quando sumus,
non curamus quid sit humus,
sed ad ludum properamus,
cui semper insudamus.
Quid agatur in taberna,
ubi nummus est pincerna,
hoc est opus ut queratur,
si quid loquar, audiatur.
|
When we are in the tavern,
we spare no thought for the grave
but rush to the gaming tables
where we always sweat and strain.
What goes on in the tavern
where a coin gets you a drink,
if this is what you would know
then listen to what I say.
|
Quidam ludunt, quidam bibunt,
Qiudam indiscrete vivunt.
Sed in ludo qui morantur,
ex his quidam denudantur,
quidam ibi vestiuntur,
quidam saccis induuntur.
Ibi nullus timet mortem,
sed pro Bacho mittunt sortem:
|
Some men gamble, some men drink,
some indulge in indiscretions.
But of those who stay to gamble,
some lose their clothes,
some win new clothes,
while others put on sackcloth.
There no one is afraid of death
but for Bacchus plays at games of chance.
|
Primo pro nummata vini;
ex hac bibunt libertini,
semel bibunt pro captivis,
post hec bibunt ter pro vivis,
quater pro Christianis cunctis,
quinquies pro fidelibus defunctis,
sexies pro sororibus vanis,
septies pro militibus silvanis.
|
First the dice are thrown for wine;
this the libertines drink.
Once they drink to prisoners,
then three times to the living,
four times to all Christians,
five to the faithful departed,
six times to the dissolute sisters,
seven to the bush-rangers.
|
Octies pro fratribus perversis,
nonies pro monachis dispersis,
decies pro navigantibus,
undecies pro discordantibus,
duodecies pro penitentibus,
tredecies pro iter angentibus.
Tam pro papa quam pro rege,
bibunt omnes sine lege.
|
Eight times to delinquent brothers,
nine to the dispersed monks,
ten times to the navigators,
eleven to those at war,
twelve to the penitent,
thirteen to travelers.
They drink to the pope and king alike;
all drink without restraint.
|
Bibit hera, bibit herus,
bibit miles, bibit clerus,
bibit ille, bibit illa,
bibit servus cum ancilla,
bibit velox, bibit piger,
bibit albus, bibit niger,
bibit constans, bibit vagus,
bibit rudis, bibit magus.
|
The mistress drinks, the master drinks,
the soldier drinks, the man of God.
This man drinks, this woman drinks,
the manservant with the serving maid;
the quick man drinks, the sluggard drinks,
the white man and the black man drink,
the steady man drinks, the wanderer drinks,
the simpleton drinks, the wise man drinks.
|
Bibit pauper et egrotus,
bibit exul et ignotus,
bibit puer, bibit canus,
bibit presul et decanus,
bibit soror, bibit frater,
bibit anus, bibit mater,
bibit ista, bibit ille,
bibunt centum, bibunt mille.
|
The poor man drinks, the sick man drinks,
the exile drinks and the unknown;
the boy drinks, the old man drinks,
the bishop drinks and the deacon;
sister drinks and brother drinks,
the old crone drinks, the mother drinks,
this one drinks, that one drinks,
a hundred drink, a thousand drink.
|
Parum sexcente nummate
durant cum immoderate
bibunt omnes sine meta.
Quamvis bibant mente leta;
sic nos rodunt omnes gentes,
et sic erimus egentes.
Qui nos rodunt confudantur
et cum iustis non scribantur.
|
Six hundred coins are not enough
when all these drink too much
and without restraint,
although they drink cheerfully.
Many people censure us,
and we shall always be short of money.
May our critics be confounded
and never be numbered among the just.
|
III. Cour d’amours
|
The Courts of Love
|
15. Amor volat undique
(Soprano and Children’s Choir)
|
Love Flies Everywhere
|
Amor volat undique,
captus est libidine.
Iuvenes, iuvencule
coniuguntur merito.
Siqua sine socio,
caret omni gaudio,
tenet noctis infima
sub intimo
cordis in custodia
fit res amarissima.
|
Love flies everywhere
and is seized by desire.
Young men and women
are matched together.
If a girl lacks a partner
she misses all the fun;
in the depths of her heart
is darkest night;
it is a bitter fate.
|
16. Dies, nox et omnia
(Baritone)
|
Day, Night, and All the World
|
Dies, nox et omnia
mihi sunt contraria,
virginum colloquia
me fay planszer,
oy suvenz suspirer,
plu me fay temer.
|
Day, night, and all the world
are against me.
The sound of maidens’ voices
makes me weep.
I often hear sighing,
and it makes me more afraid.
|
O sodales, ludite,
vos qui scitis dicite,
michi mesto parcite,
grand ey dolur,
attamen consulite
per voster honur.
|
O friends, be merry;
say what you will,
but have mercy on me, a sad man,
for great is my sorrow,
yet give me counsel
for the sake of your honor.
|
Tua pulchra facies,
me fey planszer milies,
pectus habet glacies,
a remender
statim vivus fierem
per un baser.
|
Your lovely face
makes me weep a thousand tears
because your heart is of ice,
but I would be restored
at once to life
by one single kiss.
|
17. Stetit puella
(Soprano)
|
There Stood a Young Girl
|
Stetit puella
rufa tunica;
si quis eam tetigit,
tunica crepuit.
Eia.
Stetit puella,
tamquam rosula;
facie splenduit,
os eius floruit,
Eia.
|
There stood a young girl
in a red tunic;
if anyone touched her
the tunic rustled.
Heigho.
There stood a girl
fair as a rose;
her face was radiant,
her mouth like a flower.
Heigho.
|
18. Circa mea pectora
(Baritone and Chorus)
|
My Breast
|
Circa mea pectora
multa sunt, suspiria
de tua pulchritudine,
que me ledunt misere.
Manda liet,
manda liet,
min geselle
chumet niet.
Tui lucent oculi
sicut solis radii,
sicut splendor fulguris
lucem donat tenebris.
Manda liet,
manda liet,
min geselle
chumet niet.
|
My breast
is filled with sighing
for your loveliness,
and I suffer grievously.
Manda liet,
manda liet,
my sweetheart
comes not.
Your eyes shine
like sunlight,
like the splendor of lightning
in the night.
Manda liet,
manda liet,
my sweetheart
comes not.
|
Vellet deus, vellent dii,
quod mente proposui,
ut eius virginea
reserassem vincula.
Manda liet,
manda liet,
min geselle
chumet niet.
|
May God grant, may the gods permit
the plan I have in mind
to undo the bonds
of her virginity.
Manda liet,
manda liet,
my sweetheart
comes not.
|
19. Si puer cum puellula
(Male Voices)
|
If a Boy and a Girl
|
Si puer cum puellula
moraretur in cellula,
felix coniunctio.
Amore suscrescente,
pariter e medio
avulso procul tedio,
fit ludus ineffabilis
membris, lacertis, labiis.
|
If a boy and a girl
linger together,
happy is their union;
increasing love
leaves tedious
good sense far behind,
and inexpressible pleasure fills
their limbs, their arms, their lips.
|
20. Veni, veni, venias
(Double Chorus)
|
Come, Come, Pray Come
|
Veni, veni, venias,
ne me mori facias,
hyrca, hyrca, nazaza,
trillirivos ...
|
Come, come, pray come,
do not let me die,
hyrca, hyrca, nazaza,
trillirivos ...
|
Pulchra tibi facies,
oculorum acies,
capillorum series,
o quam clara species!
|
Lovely is your face,
the glance of your eyes,
the braids of your hair;
oh, how beautiful you are!
|
Rosa rubicundior,
lilio candidior,
omnibus formosior,
semper in te glorior!
|
Redder than the rose,
whiter than the lily,
comelier than all the rest;
always I shall glory in you.
|
21. In trutina
(Soprano)
|
In the Scales
|
In trutina mentis dubia
fluctuant contraria
lascivus amor et pudicitia.
Sed eligo quod video,
collum iugo prebeo;
ad iugum tamen suave transeo.
|
In the scales
of my wavering indecision,
physical love and chastity are weighed.
But I choose what I see.
I bow my head in submission
and take on the yoke which is after all sweet.
|
22. Tempus est iocundum
(Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Children’s Choir)
|
Pleasant Is the Season
|
Tempus est iocundum,
o virgines,
mondo congaudete
vos iuvenes.
|
Pleasant is the season,
O maidens,
now rejoice together,
young men.
|
Oh—oh,
totus floreo,
iam amore virginali
totus ardeo,
novus, novus amor
est, quo pereo.
|
Oh, oh,
I blossom
now with pure love;
I am on fire!
This love is new, is new,
of which I perish.
|
Mea me confortat
promissio,
mea me deportat
negatio.
|
My love brings me comfort,
when she promises,
but makes me distraught
with her refusal.
|
Oh—oh,
totus floreo,
iam amore virginali
totus ardeo,
novus, novus amor
est, quo pereo.
|
Oh, oh,
I blossom
now with pure love;
I am on fire!
This love is new, is new,
of which I perish.
|
Tempore brumali
vir patiens,
animo vernali
lasciviens.
|
In wintertime
the man is lazy;
in spring he will get
gaily.
|
Oh—oh,
totus floreo,
iam amore virginali
totus ardeo,
novus, novus amor,
est, quo pereo.
|
Oh, oh,
I blossom
now with pure love;
I am on fire!
This love is new, is new,
of which I perish.
|
Mea mecum ludit
virginitas,
mea me detrudit
simplicitas.
|
My chastity
teases me,
but my innocence
holds me back!
|
Oh—oh,
totus floreo,
iam amore virginali
totus ardeo,
novus, novus amor
est, quo pereo.
|
Oh, oh,
I blossom,
now with pure young love
I am on fire!
This love is new, is new,
of which I perish.
|
Veni, domicella,
cum gaudio,
veni, veni, pulchra,
iam pereo.
|
Come my darling,
come with joy;
come with beauty,
for already I die!
|
Oh—oh,
totus floreo,
iam amore virginali
totus ardeo,
novus, novus amor
est, quo pereo.
|
Oh, oh,
I blossom,
now with pure young love
I am on fire!
This love is new, is new,
of which I perish.
|
23. Dulcissime
(Soprano)
|
Sweetest Boy
|
Dulcissime,
totam tibi subdo me!
|
Sweetest boy,
I give my all to you!
|
Blanziflor et Helena
|
Blanziflor and Helena
|
24. Ave formosissima
(Chorus)
|
Hail to Thee
|
Ave formosissima,
gemma pretiosa,
ave decus virginum,
virgo gloriosa,
ave mundi luminar
ave mundi rosa,
Blanziflor et Helena,
Venus generosa.
|
Hail to thee, most lovely,
most precious jewel;
hail, pride of virgins!
Most glorious virgin!
Hail, light of the world!
Hail, rose of the world!
Blanziflor and Helena!
Noble Venus, hail.
|
Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi
|
Fortune, Empress of the World
|
25. O Fortuna
(Chorus)
|
O Fortune
|
O Fortuna,
velut Luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curats
ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem,
potestatem
dissolvit ut glaciem.
|
O Fortune!
Like the moon
ever-changing,
rising first
then declining;
hateful life
treats us badly,
then with kindness
making sport with our desires,
causing power
and poverty alike
to melt like ice.
|
Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis,
obumbrata
et velata
michi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.
|
Dread destiny
and empty fate,
an ever-turning wheel,
who make adversity
and fickle health
alike turn to nothing,
in the dark
and secretly
you work against me;
how through your trickery
my naked back
is turned to you unarmed.
|
Sors salutis
et virtutis
michi nunc contraria
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
Hac in hora
sine mora
corde pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!
|
Good fortune
and strength
now are turned from me.
Affection
and defeat
are always on duty;
come now,
pluck the strings
without delay;
and since by fate
the strong are overthrown,
weep ye all with me.
|