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,
eia, quis me amabit?
Floret silva undique,
nah mime gesellen ist mir wê.
Gruonet der walt allenthalben,
wâ ist min geselle alse lange?
der ist geriten hinnen,
owî, wer soll mich minnen?
8. CHRAMER, GIP DIE VARWE MIR
Chramer, gip die varwe mir,
die min wengel roete,
damit ich die jungen man
an ir dank der minnenliebe noete.
Seht mich an,
jungen man!
lat mich iu gevallen!
Minnet, tugentliche man,
minnecliche frouwen!
minne tuot iu hoch gemuot
unde lat iuch in hohen eren schouwen.
Seht mich an…
Wol dir werlt, das du bist
also freudenriche!
ich will dir sin undertan
durch din liebe immer sicherliche.
Seht mich an…
9. REIE
Swaz hie gat umbe,
daz sint allez megede,
die wellent an man
alle disen sumer gan.
Chume, chum, geselle min,
ih enbite harte din.
Suzer rosenvarwer munt,
chum unde mache mich gesunt.
He has ridden off!
Oh! Who will love me? Ah! Swaz hie gat umbe,
The woods are burgeoning all over, 10. WERE DIU WERLT ALLE MIN
I am pining for my lover,
The woods are turning green all over, Were diu werlt alle min
why is my lover away so long? Ah! von dem mere unze an den Rin,
He has ridden off, des wolt ih mih darben,
Oh woe, who will love me? Ah! daz diu chünegin von Engellant
lege an minen armen. Hei!
8. SHOPKEEPER, GIVE ME COLOR
II. IN TABERNA
Shopkeeper, give me color 11. ESTUANS INTERIUS
to make my cheeks red,
so that I can make the young men Estuans interius
love me, against their will ira vehementi
in amaritudine
Look at me, loquor mee menti:
young men! factus de materia,
Let me please you! cinis elementi
similis sum folio,
Good men, love de quo ludunt venti.
women worthy of love!
Love ennobles your spirit Cum sit enim proprium
and gives you honor. viro sapienti
supra petram ponere
Look at me, etc. sedem fundamenti,
stultus ego comparor
Hail, world, fluvio labenti,
so rich in joys! sub eodem tramite
I will be obedient to you nunquam permanenti.
because of the pleasures you afford.
Feror ego veluti
Look at me, etc. sine nauta navis,
ut per vias aeris
9. ROUND DANCE vaga fertur avis;
non me tenent vincula,
Those who go round and round non me tenet clavis,
are all maidens, quero mihi similes
they want to do without a man et adiungor pravis.
all summer long. Ah! Sla!
Mihi cordis gravitas
Come, come, my love, res videtur gravis;
I long for you. iocus est amabilis
dulciorque favis;
Sweet rose-red lips, quicquid Venus imperat,
come and make me better. labor est suavis,
Those who go round, etc.
10. IF ALL THE WORLD WERE MINE
If all the world were mine
from the sea to the Rhine,
I would do without it
if the Queen of England
would lie in my arms. Hey!
II. IN THE TAVERN
11. BURNING INSIDE
Burning inside
with violent anger,
bitterly
I speak my heart:
Created from matter,
of the ashes of the elements,
I am like a leaf
played with by the winds.
If it is the way
of the wise man
to build
foundations on stone,
then I am a fool, like
a flowing stream,
which in its course
never changes.
I am carried along
like a ship without a steersman,
and in the paths of the air
like a light, hovering bird;
chains cannot hold me,
keys cannot imprison me,
I look for people like me
and join the wretches.
The heaviness of my heart
seems a burden to me;
it is pleasant to joke
and sweeter than honeycomb;
whatever Venus commands
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
Cignus ustus cantat:
Olim lacus colueram,
olim pulcher extiteram,
dum cignus ego fueram.
Miser, miser!
modo niger
et ustus fortiter!
Girat, regirat garcifer;
me rogus urit fortiter:
propinat me nunc dapifer,
Miser, miser! etc.
Nunc in scutella iaceo,
et volitare nequeo,
dentes frendentes video:
Miser, miser! etc.
13. EGO SUM ABBAS
Ego sum abbas Cucaniensis
et consilium meum est cum bibulis,
et in secta Decii voluntas mea est,
et qui mane me quesierit in taberna,
1 Tam pro papa quam pro rege
Decius: the invented Saint of dice-throwers
12. ONCE I LIVED ON LAKES
The roasted swan sings:
Once I lived on lakes,
once I looked beautiful
when I was a swan.
Misery me!
Now black
and roasting fiercely!
The servant is turning me on the spit;
I am burning fiercely on the pyre;
the steward now serves me up.
Misery me! etc.
Now I lie on a plate,
and cannot fly anymore,
I see bared teeth:
Misery me! etc.
13. I AM THE ABBOT
I am the abbot of Cockaigne
and my assembly is one of drinkers,
and I wish to be in the order of Decius,1
and whoever searches me out at the
tavern in the morning,
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,
sic quid loquar, audiatur.
Quidam ludunt, quidam bibunt,
quidam indiscrete vivunt.
Sed in ludo qui morantur,
ex his quidam denudantur,
quidam ibi vestiuntur,
quidam saccis induuntur.
Ibi nullus timet mortem,
sed pro Baccho mittunt sortem:
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.
Octies pro fratribus perversis,
nonies pro monachis dispersis,
decies pro navigantibus,
undecies pro discordantibus,
duodecies pro penitentibus,
tredecies pro iter angentibus.
When we are in the tavern,
we do not think how we will go to dust,
but we hurry to gamble,
which always makes us sweat,
What happens in the tavern,
where money is host,
you may well ask,
and hear what I say.
Some gamble, some drink,
some behave loosely.
But of those who gamble,
some are stripped bare,
some win their clothes here,
some are dressed in sacks.
Here no-one fears death,
but they throw the dice in the name of
Bacchus.
First of all it is to the wine-merchant
that the libertines drink,
one for the prisoners,
three for the living,
four for all Christians,
five for the faithful dead.
six for the loose sisters,
seven for the footpads in the wood.
Eight for the errant brethren,
nine for the dispersed monks,
ten for the seamen,
eleven for the squabblers,
twelve for the penitent,
thirteen for the wayfarers.
To the Pope as to the king
bibunt omnes sine lege.
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.
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 iste, bibit ille,
bibunt centum, bibunt mille.
Parum sexcente nummate
durant cum immoderate
bibunt omnes sine meta,
quamvis bibant men te leta,
sic nos rodunt omnes gentes
et sic erimus egentes.
Qui nos rodunt confundantur
et cum iustis non scribantur.
Io, io, io! …
III. COUR D’AMOURS
15. AMOR VOLAT UNDIQUE
Amor volat undique,
captus est libidine.
Iuvenes, iuvencule
coniunguntur merito.
Siqua sine socio,
caret omni gaudio,
tenet noctis infima
sub intimo
cordis in custodia:
they all drink without restraint. fit res amarissima. it is a most bitter fate.
The mistress drinks, the master drinks, 16. DIES, NOX ET OMNIA 16. DAY, NIGHT, AND EVERYTHING
the soldier drinks, the priest drinks,
the man drinks, the woman drinks, Dies, nox et omnia Day, night, and everything
the servant drinks with the maid, michi sunt contraria, is against me,
the swift man drinks, the lazy man drinks, virginum colloquia the chattering of maidens
the white man drinks, the black man me fay planszer, makes me weep,
drinks, oy suvenz suspirer, and often sigh,
the settled man drinks, the wanderer plu me fay temer. and, most of all, scares me.
drinks,
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,
The poor man drinks, the sick man drinks, grand ey dolur, great is my grief,
the exile drinks, and the stranger, attamen consulite advise me at least,
the boy drinks, the old man drinks, per voster honur. by your honor.
the bishop drinks, and the deacon,
the sister drinks, the brother drinks, Tua pulchra facies, Your beautiful face,
the old lady drinks, the mother drinks, me fey planszer milies, makes me weep a thousand times,
this man drinks, that man drinks, pectus habens glacies, your heart is of ice.
a hundred drink, a thousand drink. a remender As a cure,
statim vivus fierem I would be revived
Six hundred pennies would hardly per un baser. by a kiss.
suffice, if everyone
drinks immoderately and immeasurably. 17. STETIT PUELLA 17. A GIRL STOOD
However much the cheerfully drink
we are the ones whom everyone scolds, Stetit puella A girl stood
and thus we are destitute. rufa tunica; in a red tunic;
May those who slander us be cursed si quis eam tetigit, if anyone touched it,
and may their names not be written in the tunica crepuit. the tunic restled.
book of the righteous. Eia. Eia!
Io, io, io! Stetit puella, A girl stood
tamquam rosula; like a little rose:
III. THE COURT OF LOVE facie splenduit, her face was radiant
15. CUPID FLIES EVERYWHERE os eius floruit. and her mouth in bloom.
Eia. Eia!
Cupid flies everywhere
seized by desire. 18. CIRCA MEA PECTORA 18. IN MY HEART
Young men and women
are rightly coupled. Circa mea pectora In my heart
The girl without a lover multa sunt suspiria there are many sighs
misses out on all pleasures, de tua pulchritudine, for your beauty,
she keeps the dark night que me ledunt misere. Ah! which wound me sorely. Ah!
hidden
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