Translation: Carmina Burana
Fortunæ plango vulnera
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Latin
Fortunæ plango vulnera
stillantibus ocellis,
quod sua michi munera
subtrahit rebellis.
verum est, quod legitur
fronte capillata,
sed plerumque sequitur
Occasio calvata.
In Fortunæ solio
sederam elatus,
prosperitatis vario
flore coronatus;
quicquid enim florui
felix et beatus
nunc a summo corrui
gloria privatus.
Fortunæ rota volvitur;
descendo minoratus;
alter in altum tollitur;
nimis exaltatus
rex sedet in vertice
caveat ruinam!
nam sub axe legimus
Hecubam reginam.
English
The wounds of Fortune I bewail,
my eyes deep-set with mourning.
The gifts she gave me ere prevailed,
but she stole them without warning.
It is true, what’s said of her:
that her locks are plenty;
but at times it will occur,
that her crown is empty!
Atop Fortune’s high throne
increased my powers,
Wealth’s goodly crown then called their home
garlands of varied flowers.
Be it though that I had reigned,
happy and contented,
I fall down now to the plain,
of my glory wrenchèd!
The wheel of Fortune spins around;
I descend thence full of shame;
another’s soaring heaven-bound,
carried thither by his fame.
Prosp’rous king who rules on high,
Wary be of falling!
For it’s written ‘neath the sky:
Hecuba is calling!
The translation can be sung to Carl Orff’s music.