CARL ORFF: CARMINA BURANA – TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI FORTUNE EMPRESS OF THE WORLD 2. FORTUNE PLANGO VULNERA 2. I BEMOAN THE WOUNDS OF 1. O FORTUNA 1. O FORTUNE FORTUNE

O Fortuna, O Fortune, Fortune plango vulnera I bemoan the wounds of Fortune velut Luna Like the moon stillantibus ocellis, with weeping eyes, statu variabilis, You are changeable, quod sua michi munera for the gifts she made me semper crescis ever waxing subtrahit rebellis. she perversely takes away. aut decrescis; and waning. Verum est, quod legitur It is written in truth, vita detestabilis Hateful life, fronte capillata, that she has a fine head of hair, nunc obdurat first oppresses, sed plerumque sequitur but, when it comes to seizing an et tunc curat and then soothes opportunity, ludo mentis aciem, as fancy takes it; Occasio calvata. she is bald. egestatem, poverty, potestatem and power In Fortune solio On Fortune’s throne dissolvit ut glaciem. it melts them like ice. sederam elatus, I used to sit raised up, prosperitatis vario crowned with Sors immanis Fate - monstrous flore coronatus; the many-colored flowers of prosperity; et inanis, and empty, quicquid enim florui though I may have flourished rota tu volubilis, you whirling wheel, felix et beatus, happy and blessed, status malus, you are malevolent, nunc a summo corrui now I fall from the peak vana salus well-being is in vain gloria privatus. deprived of glory. semper dissolubilis, and always fades to nothing, obumbrata shadowed Fortune rota volvitur: The wheel of Fortune turns: et velata and veiled descendo minoratus; I go down, demeaned; michi quoque niteris; you plague me too; alter in altum tollitur; another is raised up; nunc per ludum now through the game nimis exaltatus far too high up dorsum nudum I bring my bare back rex sedet in vertice sits the king at the summit – fero tui sceleris. To your villainy. caveat ruinam! let him fear ruin! nam sub axe legimus for under the axis is written Sors salutis Fate is against me Hecubam reginam. Queen Hecuba. et virtutis in health michi nunc contraria and virtue, I. PRIMO VERE I. SPRING est affectus driven on 3. VERIS LETA FACIES 3. THE MERRY FACE OF SPRING et defectus and weighted down, semper in angaria. always enslaved. Veris leta facies The merry face of spring Hac in hora So at this hour mundo propinatur, turns to the world, sine mora without delay hiemalis acies sharp winter corde pulsum tangite; pluck the vibrating strings; victa iam fugatur, now flees, vanquished; quod per sortem since Fate in vestitu vario bedecked in various colors sternit fortem, strikes down the strong man, Flora principatur, Flora reigns, mecum omnes plangite! everyone weep with me! nemorum dulcisono the harmony of the woods que cantu celebratur. praises her in song. Ah!

Flore fusus gremio Lying in Flora’s lap 5. ECCE GRATUM 5. BEHOLD, THE PLEASANT SPRING Phoebus novo more Phoebus once more risum dat, hoc vario smiles, now covered Ecce gratum Behold the pleasant iam stipate flore in many-colored flowers, et optatum and longed-for Zephyrus nectareo Zephyr breathes nectar- Ver reducit gaudia, spring brings back joyfulness, spirans in odore; scented breezes. purpuratum violet flowers certatim pro bravio Let us rush to compete floret pratum, fill the meadows, curramus in amore. for love’s prize. Ah! Sol serenat omnia, the sun brightens everything, iamiam cedant tristia! sadness is now at an end! Cytharizat cantico In harp-like tones sings Estas redit, Summer returns, dulcis Philomena, the sweet nightingale, nunc recedit now withdraw flore rident vario with many flowers Hyemis sevitia. the rigors of winter. Ah! prata iam serena, the joyous meadows are laughing, salit cetus avium a flock of birds rises up Iam liquescit Now melts silve per amena, through the pleasant forests, et decrescit and disappears chorus promit virginum the chorus of maidens grando, nix et cetera, ice, snow, and the rest, iam gaudia millena. already promises a thousand joys. Ah. bruma fugit, winter flees, et iam sugit, and now 4. OMNIA SOL TEMPERAT 4. THE SUN WARMS EVERYTHING Ver Estatis ubera; spring sucks at summer’s breast: illi mens est misera, A wretched soul is he Omnia Sol temperat The sun warms everything, qui nec vivit, who does not live purus et subtilis, pure and gentle, nec lascivit or lust novo mundo reserat once again it reveals to the world sub Estatis dextera. under summer’s rule. Ah! facies Aprilis, April’s face, ad Amorem properat the soul of man Gloriantur They glory animus herilis, is urged towards love et letantur and rejoice et iocundis imperat and joys are governed in melle dulcedinis in honeyed sweetness deus puerilis. by the boy-god. qui conantur, who strive ut utantur to make use of Rerum tanta novitas All this rebirth premio Cupidinis; Cupid’s prize; in solemni vere in spring’s festivity simus jussu Cypridis At Venus’ command et veris auctoritas and spring’s power gloriantes let us glory iubet nos gaudere; bids us to rejoice; et letantes and rejoice vias prebet solitas, it shows us paths we know well, pares esse Paridis. in being Paris’ equals. Ah! et in tuo vere and in your springtime fides est et probitas it is true and right UF DEM ANGER ON THE GREEN tuum retinere. to keep what is yours. 6. TANZ 6. DANCE

Ama me fideliter! Love me faithfully! 7. FLORET SILVA 7. THE NOBLE WOODS ARE fidem meam nota: See how I am faithful: BURGEONING de corde totaliter With all my heart et ex mente tota and with all my soul, Floret silva nobilis The noble woods are burgeoning sum presentialiter I am with you floribus et foliis. with flowers and leaves, absens in remota. Even when I am far away. Ubi est antiquus Where is the lover quisquis amat taliter, Whoever loves this much meus amicus? Ah! I knew? Ah! volvitur in rota. turns on the wheel. hinc equitavit, He has ridden off! eia, quis me amabit? Oh! Who will love me? Ah! Swaz hie gat umbe, Those who go round, etc.

Floret silva undique, The woods are burgeoning all over, 10. WERE DIU WERLT ALLE MIN 10. IF ALL THE WORLD WERE MINE nah mime gesellen ist mir wê. I am pining for my lover, Gruonet der walt allenthalben, The woods are turning green all over, Were diu werlt alle min If all the world were mine wâ ist min geselle alse lange? why is my lover away so long? Ah! von dem mere unze an den Rin, from the sea to the Rhine, der ist geriten hinnen, He has ridden off, des wolt ih mih darben, I would do without it owî, wer soll mich minnen? Oh woe, who will love me? Ah! daz diu chünegin von Engellant if the Queen of England lege an minen armen. Hei! would lie in my arms. Hey! 8. CHRAMER, GIP DIE VARWE MIR 8. SHOPKEEPER, GIVE ME COLOR II. IN TABERNA II. IN THE TAVERN Chramer, gip die varwe mir, Shopkeeper, give me color 11. ESTUANS INTERIUS 11. BURNING INSIDE die min wengel roete, to make my cheeks red, damit ich die jungen man so that I can make the young men Estuans interius Burning inside an ir dank der minnenliebe noete. love me, against their will ira vehementi with violent anger, in amaritudine bitterly Seht mich an, Look at me, loquor mee menti: I speak my heart: jungen man! young men! factus de materia, Created from matter, lat mich iu gevallen! Let me please you! cinis elementi of the ashes of the elements, similis sum folio, I am like a leaf Minnet, tugentliche man, Good men, love de quo ludunt venti. played with by the winds. minnecliche frouwen! women worthy of love! minne tuot iu hoch gemuot Love ennobles your spirit Cum sit enim proprium If it is the way unde lat iuch in hohen eren schouwen. and gives you honor. viro sapienti of the wise man supra petram ponere to build Seht mich an… Look at me, etc. sedem fundamenti, foundations on stone, stultus ego comparor then I am a fool, like Wol dir werlt, das du bist Hail, world, fluvio labenti, a flowing stream, also freudenriche! so rich in joys! sub eodem tramite which in its course ich will dir sin undertan I will be obedient to you nunquam permanenti. never changes. durch din liebe immer sicherliche. because of the pleasures you afford. Feror ego veluti I am carried along Seht mich an… Look at me, etc. sine nauta navis, like a ship without a steersman, ut per vias aeris and in the paths of the air 9. REIE 9. ROUND DANCE vaga fertur avis; like a light, hovering bird; non me tenent vincula, chains cannot hold me, Swaz hie gat umbe, Those who go round and round non me tenet clavis, keys cannot imprison me, daz sint allez megede, are all maidens, quero mihi similes I look for people like me die wellent an man they want to do without a man et adiungor pravis. and join the wretches. alle disen sumer gan. all summer long. Ah! Sla! Mihi cordis gravitas The heaviness of my heart Chume, chum, geselle min, Come, come, my love, res videtur gravis; seems a burden to me; ih enbite harte din. I long for you. iocus est amabilis it is pleasant to joke dulciorque favis; and sweeter than honeycomb; Suzer rosenvarwer munt, Sweet rose-red lips, quicquid Venus imperat, whatever Venus commands chum unde mache mich gesunt. come and make me better. labor est suavis, is a sweet duty, que nunquam in cordibus she never dwells post vesperam nudus egredietur, after Vespers he will leave naked, habitat ignavis. in a lazy heart. et sic denudatus veste clamabit: and thus stripped of his clothes he will call out: Via lata gradior I travel the broad path more iuventutis, as is the way of youth, Wafna, wafna! Woe! Woe! inplicor et vitiis I give myself to vice, quid fecisti sors turpissima? what have you done, vilest Fate? immemor virtutis, unmindful of virtue, Nostre vite gaudia The joys of my life voluptatis avidus I am eager for the pleasures of the flesh abstulisti omnia! you have taken all away! magis quam salutis, more than for salvation, Haha! Haha! mortuus in anima my soul is dead, curam gero cutis. so I shall look after the flesh. 14. IN TABERNA QUANDO SUMUS 14. WHEN WE ARE IN THE TAVERN

12. OLIM LACUS COLUERAM 12. ONCE I LIVED ON LAKES In taberna quando sumus, When we are in the tavern, non curamus quid sit humus, we do not think how we will go to dust, Cignus ustus cantat: The roasted swan sings: sed ad ludum properamus, but we hurry to gamble, cui semper insudamus. which always makes us sweat, Olim lacus colueram, Once I lived on lakes, Quid agatur in taberna, What happens in the tavern, olim pulcher extiteram, once I looked beautiful ubi nummus est pincerna, where money is host, dum cignus ego fueram. when I was a swan. hoc est opus ut queratur, you may well ask, sic quid loquar, audiatur. and hear what I say. Miser, miser! Misery me! modo niger Now black Quidam ludunt, quidam bibunt, Some gamble, some drink, et ustus fortiter! and roasting fiercely! quidam indiscrete vivunt. some behave loosely. Sed in ludo qui morantur, But of those who gamble, Girat, regirat garcifer; The servant is turning me on the spit; ex his quidam denudantur, some are stripped bare, me rogus urit fortiter: I am burning fiercely on the pyre; quidam ibi vestiuntur, some win their clothes here, propinat me nunc dapifer, the steward now serves me up. quidam saccis induuntur. some are dressed in sacks. Ibi nullus timet mortem, Here no-one fears death, Miser, miser! etc. Misery me! etc. sed pro Baccho mittunt sortem: but they throw the dice in the name of Bacchus. Nunc in scutella iaceo, Now I lie on a plate, et volitare nequeo, and cannot fly anymore, Primo pro nummata vini First of all it is to the wine-merchant dentes frendentes video: I see bared teeth: ex hac bibunt libertini: that the libertines drink, semel bibunt pro captivis, one for the prisoners, Miser, miser! etc. Misery me! etc. post hec bibunt ter pro vivis, three for the living, quater pro Christianis cunctis, four for all Christians, 13. EGO SUM ABBAS 13. I AM THE ABBOT quinquies pro fidelibus defunctis five for the faithful dead. sexies pro sororibus vanis, six for the loose sisters, Ego sum abbas Cucaniensis I am the abbot of Cockaigne septies pro militibus silvanis. seven for the footpads in the wood. et consilium meum est cum bibulis, and my assembly is one of drinkers, et in secta Decii voluntas mea est, and I wish to be in the order of Decius,1 Octies pro fratribus perversis, Eight for the errant brethren, nonies pro monachis dispersis, nine for the dispersed monks, et qui mane me quesierit in taberna, and whoever searches me out at the decies pro navigantibus, ten for the seamen, tavern in the morning, undecies pro discordantibus, eleven for the squabblers, duodecies pro penitentibus, twelve for the penitent, tredecies pro iter angentibus. thirteen for the wayfarers. 1 Decius: the invented Saint of dice-throwers Tam pro papa quam pro rege To the Pope as to the king bibunt omnes sine lege. they all drink without restraint. fit res amarissima. it is a most bitter fate.

Bibit hera, bibit herus, The mistress drinks, the master drinks, 16. DIES, NOX ET OMNIA 16. DAY, NIGHT, AND EVERYTHING bibit miles, bibit clerus, the soldier drinks, the priest drinks, bibit ille, bibit illa, the man drinks, the woman drinks, Dies, nox et omnia Day, night, and everything bibit servus cum ancilla, the servant drinks with the maid, michi sunt contraria, is against me, bibit velox, bibit piger, the swift man drinks, the lazy man drinks, virginum colloquia the chattering of maidens bibit albus, bibit niger, the white man drinks, the black man me fay planszer, makes me weep, drinks, oy suvenz suspirer, and often sigh, bibit constans, bibit vagus, the settled man drinks, the wanderer plu me fay temer. and, most of all, scares me. drinks, bibit rudis, bibit magus. the stupid man drinks, the wise man O sodales, ludite, O friends, you are making fun of me, drinks, vos qui scitis dicite, you do not know what you are saying, michi mesto parcite, spare me, sorrowful as I am, Bibit pauper et egrotus, The poor man drinks, the sick man drinks, grand ey dolur, great is my grief, bibit exul et ignotus, the exile drinks, and the stranger, attamen consulite advise me at least, bibit puer, bibit canus, the boy drinks, the old man drinks, per voster honur. by your honor. bibit presul et decanus, the bishop drinks, and the deacon, bibit soror, bibit frater, the sister drinks, the brother drinks, Tua pulchra facies, Your beautiful face, bibit anus, bibit mater, the old lady drinks, the mother drinks, me fey planszer milies, makes me weep a thousand times, bibit iste, bibit ille, this man drinks, that man drinks, pectus habens glacies, your heart is of ice. bibunt centum, bibunt mille. a hundred drink, a thousand drink. a remender As a cure, statim vivus fierem I would be revived Parum sexcente nummate Six hundred pennies would hardly per un baser. by a kiss. durant cum immoderate suffice, if everyone bibunt omnes sine meta, drinks immoderately and immeasurably. 17. STETIT PUELLA 17. A GIRL STOOD quamvis bibant men te leta, However much the cheerfully drink sic nos rodunt omnes gentes we are the ones whom everyone scolds, Stetit puella A girl stood et sic erimus egentes. and thus we are destitute. rufa tunica; in a red tunic; Qui nos rodunt confundantur May those who slander us be cursed si quis eam tetigit, if anyone touched it, et cum iustis non scribantur. and may their names not be written in the tunica crepuit. the tunic restled. book of the righteous. Eia. Eia!

Io, io, io! … Io, io, io! Stetit puella, A girl stood tamquam rosula; like a little rose: III. COUR D’AMOURS III. THE COURT OF LOVE facie splenduit, her face was radiant 15. AMOR VOLAT UNDIQUE 15. CUPID FLIES EVERYWHERE os eius floruit. and her mouth in bloom. Eia. Eia! Amor volat undique, Cupid flies everywhere captus est libidine. seized by desire. 18. CIRCA MEA PECTORA 18. IN MY HEART Iuvenes, iuvencule Young men and women coniunguntur merito. are rightly coupled. Circa mea pectora In my heart Siqua sine socio, The girl without a lover multa sunt suspiria there are many sighs caret omni gaudio, misses out on all pleasures, de tua pulchritudine, for your beauty, tenet noctis infima she keeps the dark night que me ledunt misere. Ah! which wound me sorely. Ah! sub intimo hidden cordis in custodia: in the depth of her heart; Manda liet, Mandaliet, 21. IN TRUTINA 21. IN THE BALANCE manda liet, mandaliet, min geselle my lover In trutina mentis dubia In the wavering balance of my feelings chumet niet. does not come. fluctuant contraria set against each other lascivus amor et pudicitia. lascivious love and modesty. Tui lucent oculi Your eyes shine Sed eligo quod video, But I choose what I see, sicut solis radii, like the rays of the sun, collum iugo prebeo; and submit my neck to the yoke; sicut splendor fulguris like the flashing of lightening ad iugum tamen suave transeo. I yield to the sweet yoke. lucem donat tenebris. Ah! which brightens the darkness. Ah! 22. TEMPUS EST IOCUNDUM 22. THIS IS THE JOYFUL TIME Mandaliet, etc. Mandaliet, etc. Tempus est iocundum, This is the joyful time, Vellet deus, vellent dii, May God grant, may the gods grant o virgines, O maidens, quod mente proposui: what I have in my mind modo congaudete rejoice with them, ut eius virginea that I may loose vos iuvenes. young men! reserassem vincula. Ah! the chains of her virginity, Ah! Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh! totus floreo, I am bursting out all over! Mandaliet, etc. Mandaliet, etc. iam amore virginali totus ardeo! I am burning all over with first love! novus, novus novus amor est, quo pereo! New, new love is what I am dying of! 19. SIE PUER CUM PUELLULA 19. IF A BOY WITH A GIRL Mea me confortat I am heartened Sie puer cum puellula If a boy with a girl promissio, by my promise, moraretur in cellula, tarries in a little room, mea me deportant I am downcast felix coniunctio. happy is their coupling. negatio. by my refusal. Amore sucrescente, Love rises up, Oh, oh, oh! etc. Oh! oh! oh! etc. pariter e medio and between them propulso procul tedio, prudery is driven away, Tempore brumali In the winter fit ludus ineffabilis an ineffable game begins vir patiens, man is patient, membris, lacertis, labiis. in their limbs, arms and lips. animo vernali the breath of spring lasciviens. makes him lust. 20. VENI, VENI, VENIAS 20. COME, COME, O COME Oh, oh, oh! etc. Oh! oh! oh! etc.

Veni, veni, venias, Come, come, O come, Mea mecum ludit My virginity ne me mori facias, do not let me die, virginitas, makes me frisky, hyrca, hyrca, nazaza, hyrca, hyrce, nazaza, mea me detrudit my simplicity trillirivos! trillirivos! simplicitas. holds me back. Oh, oh, oh! etc. Oh! oh! oh! etc. Pulchra tibi facies, Beautiful is your face, oculorum acies, the gleam of your eye, Veni domicella, Come, my mistress, capillorum series, your braided hair, cum gaudio, with joy, o quam clara species! what a glorious creature! veni, veni, pulchra, come, come, my pretty, iam pereo. I am dying! Rosa rubicundior, Redder than the rose, Oh, oh, oh! etc. Oh! oh! oh! etc. lilio candidior, whiter than the lily, omnibus formosior, lovelier than all others, semper in te glorior! I shall always glory in you!

23. DULCISSIME 23. SWEETEST ONE

Dulcissime, Ah! Sweetest one! Ah! totam tibi subdo me! I give myself to you totally!

BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA BLANCHEFLEUR2 AND HELEL 24. AVE FORMOSISSIMA 24. HAIL, MOST BEAUTIFUL ONE

Ave formosissima, Hail, most beautiful one, gemma pretiosa, precious jewel, ave decus virginum, Hail, Pride among virgins, virgo gloriosa, glorious virgin, ave mundi luminar Hail, light of the world, ave mundi rosa, Hail, rose of the world, Blanziflor et Helena, Blanchefleur and Helen, Venus generosa! noble Venus!

FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI FORTUNE, EMPRESS OF THE WORLD 25. O FORTUNA 25. O FORTUNE

No. 1 repeated No. 1 repeated

2 Heroine of a popular medieval saga