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Carmina Burana |
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O Fortune, like the moon you are changeable, ever waxing and waning; hateful life first oppresses and then soothes as fancy takes it; poverty and power it melts them like ice. Fate - monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel, you are malevolent, well-being is vain and always fades to nothing, shadowed and veiled you plague me too; now through the game I bring my bare back to your villainy. Fate is against me in health and virtue, driven on and weighted down, always enslaved. So at this hour without delay pluck the vibrating strings; since Fate strikes down the strong man, everyone weep with me! |
2. I bemoan the wounds of Fortune I bemoan the wounds of Fortune with weeping eyes, for the gifts she made me she perversely takes away. It is written in truth, that she has a fine head of hair, but, when it comes to seizing an opportunity she is bald. On Fortune's throne I used to sit raised up, crowned with the many-coloured flowers of prosperity; though I may have flourished happy and blessed, now I fall from the peak deprived of glory. The wheel of Fortune turns; I go down, demeaned; another is raised up; far too high up sits the king at the summit - let him fear ruin! for under the axis is written Queen Hecuba. |
The merry face of spring turns to the world, sharp winter now flees, vanquished; bedecked in various colours Flora reigns, the harmony of the woods praises her in song. Ah! Lying in Flora's lap Phoebus once more smiles, now covered in many-coloured flowers, Zephyr breathes nectar- scented breezes. Let us rush to compete for love's prize. Ah! In harp-like tones sings the sweet nightingale, with many flowers the joyous meadows are laughing, a flock of birds rises up through the pleasant forests, the chorus of maidens already promises a thousand joys. Ah! |
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The sun warms everything, pure and gentle, once again it reveals to the world April's face, the soul of man is urged towards love and joys are governed by the boy-god. All this rebirth in spring's festivity and spring's power bids us to rejoice; it shows us paths we know well, and in your springtime it is true and right to keep what is yours. Love me faithfully! See how I am faithful: with all my heart and with all my soul, I am with you even when I am far away. Whosoever loves this much turns on the wheel. |
5. Behold, the pleasant spring (Chorus) Behold, the pleasant and longed-for spring brings back joyfulness, violet flowers fill the meadows, the sun brightens everything, sadness is now at an end! Summer returns, now withdraw the rigours of winter. Ah! Now melts and disappears ice, snow and the rest, winter flees, and now spring sucks at summer's breast: a wretched soul is he who does not live or lust under summer's rule. Ah! They glory and rejoice in honeyed sweetness who strive to make use of Cupid's prize; at Venus' command let us glory and rejoice in being Paris' equals. Ah! |
(Chorus) The noble woods are burgeoning with flowers and leaves. (Small Chorus) Where is the lover I knew? Ah! He has ridden off! Oh! Who will love me? Ah! (Chorus) The woods are burgeoning all over, I am pining for my lover. (Small Chorus) The woods are turning green all over, why is my lover away so long? Ah! He has ridden off, Oh woe, who will love me? Ah! |
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(Semi-Chorus) Shopkeeper, give me colour to make my cheeks red, so that I can make the young men love me, against their will. Look at me, young men! Let me please you! Good men, love women worthy of love! Love ennobles your spirit and gives you honour. Look at me, young men! Let me please you! Hail, world, so rich in joys! I will be obedient to you because of the pleasures you afford. Look at me, young men! Let me please you! |
Swaz hie gat umbe Those who go round and round are all maidens, they want to do without a man all summer long. Ah! Sla! Chume, chum, geselle min Come, come, my love, I long for you, I long for you, come, come, my love. Sweet rose-red lips, come and make me better, come and make me better, sweet rose-red lips. Swaz hie gat umbe Those who go round and round are all maidens, they want to do without a man all summer long. Ah! Sla! |
Were all the world mine from the sea to the Rhine, I would starve myself of it so that the queen of England might lie in my arms. |
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Burning inside with violent anger, bitterly I speak to 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, the 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 like a burden to me; it is pleasant to joke and sweeter than honeycomb; whatever Venus commands is a sweet duty, she never dwells in a lazy heart. I travel the broad path as is the way of youth, I give myself to vice, unmindful of virtue, I am eager for the pleasures of the flesh more than for salvation, my soul is dead, so I shall look after the flesh. |
Once I lived on lakes, once I looked beautiful when I was a swan. (Male chorus) Misery me! Now black and roasting fiercely! (Tenor) The servant is turning me on the spit; I am burning fiercely on the pyre: the steward now serves me up. (Male Chorus) Misery me! Now black and roasting fiercely! (Tenor) Now I lie on a plate, and cannot fly anymore, I see bared teeth: (Male Chorus) Misery me! Now black and roasting fiercely!
I am the abbot of Cockaigne and my assembly is one of drinkers, and I wish to be in the order of Decius, and whoever searches me out at the tavern in the morning, after Vespers he will leave naked, and thus stripped of his clothes he will call out: (Baritone and Male Chorus) Woe! Woe! what have you done, vilest Fate? the joys of my life you have taken all away! |
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 the 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 they all drink without restraint. The mistress drinks, the master drinks, the soldier drinks, the priest drinks, the man drinks, the woman drinks, the servant drinks with the maid, the swift man drinks, the lazy man drinks, the white man drinks, the black man drinks, the settled man drinks, the wanderer drinks, the stupid man drinks, the wise man drinks, The poor man drinks, the sick man drinks, the exile drinks, and the stranger, the boy drinks, the old man drinks, the bishop drinks, and the deacon, the sister drinks, the brother drinks, the old lady drinks, the mother drinks, this man drinks, that man drinks, a hundred drink, a thousand drink. Six hundred pennies would hardly suffice, if everyone drinks immoderately and immeasurably. However much they cheerfully drink we are the ones whom everyone scolds, and thus we are destitute. May those who slander us be cursed and may their names not be written in the book of the righteous. |
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Cupid flies everywhere seized by desire. Young men and women are rightly coupled. (Soprano) The girl without a lover misses out on all pleasures, she keeps the dark night hidden in the depth of her heart; (Boys) it is a most bitter fate. |
Day, night and everything is against me, the chattering of maidens makes me weep, and often sigh, and, most of all, scares me. O friends, you are making fun of me, you do not know what you are saying, spare me, sorrowful as I am, great is my grief, advise me at least, by your honour. Your beautiful face, makes me weep a thousand times, your heart is of ice. As a cure, I would be revived by a kiss. |
A girl stood in a red tunic; if anyone touched it, the tunic rustled. Eia! A girl stood like a little rose: her face was radiant and her mouth in bloom. Eia! |
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(Baritone and Chorus) In my heart there are many sighs for your beauty, which wound me sorely. Ah! Mandaliet, mandaliet, my lover does not come. Your eyes shine like the rays of the sun, like the flashing of lightening which brightens the darkness. Ah! Mandaliet, mandaliet, my lover does not come. May God grant, may the gods grant what I have in mind: that I may loose the chains of her virginity. Ah! Mandaliet, mandaliet, my lover does not come.
If a boy with a girl tarries in a little room, happy is their coupling. Love rises up, and between them prudery is driven away, an ineffable game begins in their limbs, arms and lips.
Come, come, O come Come, come, O come, do not let me die, hycra, hycre, nazaza, trillirivos! Beautiful is your face, the gleam of your eye, your braided hair, what a glorious creature! redder than the rose, whiter than the lily, lovelier than all others, I shall always glory in you!
In the wavering balance of my feelings set against each other lascivious love and modesty. But I choose what I see, and submit my neck to the yoke; I yield to the sweet yoke. |
This is the joyful time, O maidens, rejoice with them, young men! (Baritone) Oh! Oh! Oh! I am bursting out all over! I am burning all over with first love! New, new love is what I am dying of! (Women) I am heartened by my promise, I am downcast by my refusal (Soprano and boys) Oh! Oh! Oh! I am bursting out all over! I am burning all over with first love! New, new love is what I am dying of! (Men) In the winter man is patient, the breath of spring makes him lust. (Baritone) Oh! Oh! Oh! I am bursting out all over! I am burning all over with first love! New, new love is what I am dying of! (Women) My virginity makes me frisky, my simplicity holds me back. (Soprano and Boys) Oh! Oh! Oh! I am bursting out all over! I am burning all over with first love! New, new love is what I am dying of! (Chorus) Come, my mistress, with joy, come, come, my pretty, I am dying! (Baritone, Boys and Chorus) Oh! Oh! Oh! I am bursting out all over! I am burning all over with first love! New, new love is what I am dying of! |
Sweetest one! Ah! I give myself to you totally!
Hail, most beautiful one, precious jewel, Hail, pride among virgins, glorious virgin, Hail. light of the world, Hail, rose of the world, Blanchefleur and Helen, noble Venus!
O Fortune, like the moon you are changeable, ever waxing and waning; hateful life first oppresses and then soothes as fancy takes it; poverty and power it melts them like ice. Fate - monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel, you are malevolent, well-being is in vain and always fades to nothing, shadowed and veiled you plague me too; now through the game I bring my bare back to your villainy. Fate is against me in health and virtue, driven on and weighted down, always enslaved. So at this hour without delay pluck the vibrating strings; since Fate strikes down the strong man, everybody weep with me! |
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