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.