CONCERT Texts & translations

Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

Songs from the manuscript collection of Benediktbeuern

Mvt.	Original Text	English Translation
	FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI	FORTUNE, EMPRESS OF THE WORLD
1	O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem.	O Fortune, like the moon you are variable, ever waxing and waning; detestable life, first you mistreat us and then whimsically heed our desires; poverty and power you dissolve like ice.
	Sors immanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis, obumbrata et velata michi quoque niteris; nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris.	Fate—monstrous and empty— you turning wheel, you are mean; good health is vain and always dissolves; obscured and veiled you attack me also; now through the game I bring my bare back to your cruel pleasure.
	Sors salutis et virtutis michi nunc contraria, est affectus et defectus semper in angaria. Hac in hora sine mora corde pulsum tangite; quod per sortem sternit fortem, mecum omnes plangite!	In health and virtue Fate is against me, I am driven on and weighed down, always enslaved. Therefore, at this hour, without delay, let us pluck the vibrating strings, since Fate crushes the brave, let everyone mourn with me!
2	Fortune plango vulnera stillantibus ocellis, quod sua michi munera subtrahit rebellis. Verum est, quod legitur, fronte capillata, sed plerumque sequitur Occasio calvata.	I lament Fortune’s blows with weeping eyes, for the gifts she made me she perversely takes away. It is written in truth that she has a fine forelock, but, when it comes to seizing the opportunity, she is bald.
	In Fortune solio sederam elatus, prosperitatis vario flore coronatus; quicquid enim florui felix et beatus, nunc a summo corrui gloria privatus.	On Fortune’s throne I once sat raised up, crowned with many-colored flowers of prosperity; though I may have flourished happy and blessed, now I fall from the peak, robbed of glory.
	Fortune rota volvitur: descendo minoratus; alter in altum tollitur; nimis exaltatus rex sedet in vertice— caveat ruinam! nam sub axe legimus Hecubam reginam.	The wheel of Fortune turns; I go down, deposed; another is lifted up; far too high up the king sits at the summit— let him beware ruin! for beneath the axle is written Queen Hecuba.
PART I
	PRIMO VERE	SPRING
3	Veris leta facies mundo propinatur, hiemalis acies victa iam fugatur, in vestitu vario Flora principatur, nemorum dulcisono que cantu celebratur.	The bright face of spring shows itself to the world; cold winter now flees, vanquished; robed in various colors Flora reigns; the harmony of the woods praises her in song.
	Flore fusus gremio Phebus novo more risum dat, hoc vario iam stipatur flore. Zephyrus nectareo spirans in odore; certatim pro bravio curramus in amore.	Lying in Flora’s lap, Phoebus once again laughs, now surrounded by many-colored flowers; Zephyr breathes nectar- scented breezes. Let us rush to compete for the prize of love.
	Cytharizat cantico dulcis Philomena, flore rident vario prata iam serena, salit cetus avium silve per amena, chorus promit virginum iam gaudia millena.	In harp-like tones sings the sweet nightingale; with many flowers the bright meadows laugh; a flock of birds flies through the pleasant woods; the chorus of maidens brings a thousand joys.
4	Omnia sol temperat purus et subtilis, novo mundo reserat faciem Aprilis, ad amorem properat animus herilis, et iocundis imperat deus puerilis.	The sun warms everything; pure and fine, once again it reveals to the world the face of April; the heart of man rushes to love, and joys are ruled by the boy-god.
	Rerum tanta novitas in solemni vere et veris auctoritas iubet nos gaudere, vias prebet solitas, et in tuo vere fides est et probitas tuum retinere.	All this rebirth in spring’s festivity and spring’s power commands us to rejoice; it shows us ways we know well, and in your springtime it is true and right to keep what is yours.
	Ama me fideliter, fidem meam nota de corde totaliter et ex mente tota, sum presentialiter absens in remota: quisquis amat taliter, volvitur in rota.	Love me faithfully! See how I am faithful: with all my heart and with all my mind; I am with you even when I am far away. Whoever loves this much turns upon the wheel.
5	Ecce gratum et optatum ver reducit gaudia, purpuratum floret pratum, sol serenat omnia, iamiam cedant tristia! Estas redit, nunc recedit hyemis sevitia.	Behold, the welcome and long-awaited spring brings back joy; purple flowers fill the meadows, the sun brightens all things. Sadness is now at an end! Summer returns, now withdraws the cold of winter.
	Iam liquescit et decrescit grando, nix et cetera, bruma fugit, et iam sugit ver estatis ubera: illi mens est misera, qui nec vivit, nec lascivit sub estatis dextera.	Now melts and disappears ice, snow and the rest; the frost flees, and now spring sucks at summer’s breast: miserable is he who neither lives nor lusts under summer’s spell.
	Gloriantur et letantur in melle dulcedinis qui conantur, ut utantur premio Cupidinis; simus iussu Cypridis gloriantes et letantes pares esse Paridis.	They glory and rejoice in honeyed sweetness who vie to obtain Cupid’s prize; at Venus’ command let us glory and rejoice, emulating Paris.
	UF DEM ANGER	ON THE GREEN
6	TANZ	DANCE
7	Floret silva nobilis floribus et foliis.	The noble wood burgeons with flowers and leaves.
	Ubi est antiquus meus amicus? Hinc equitavit, eia, quis me amabit?	Where is the lover I knew of old? He has ridden off! Oh! Who will love me?
	Floret silva undique, nah mime gesellen ist mir wê.	The wood burgeons all over, I am longing for my lover.
	Gruonet der walt allenthalben, wâ ist min geselle alse lange?	The wood turns green all over, why is my lover gone so long?
	Der ist geriten hinnen, o wî, wer sol mich minnen?	He has ridden off! Oh woe, who will love me?
8	Chramer, gip die varwe mir, diu min wengel roete, da mit ich die jungen man an ir dank der minnenliebe noete.	Shopkeeper, give me color to make my cheeks red, so I can make the young men love me, against their will.
	Seht mich an, jungen man! Lat mich iu gevallen!	Look at me, young men! Let me please you!
	Minnet, tugentliche man, minnecliche frouwen! Minne tuot iu hoch gemuot unde lat iuch in hohen eren schouwen.	Good men, love women worthy of love! Love ennobles your spirit and gives you honor.
	Seht mich an, etc.	Look at me, etc.
	Wol dir, Werlt, daz du bist also freudenriche! Ich will dir sin undertan durch din liebe immer sicherliche.	Hail, world, so rich in joys! I will obey you because of the pleasures you afford.
	Seht mich an, etc.	Look at me, etc.
9	REIE	ROUND DANCE
	Swaz hie gat umbe, daz sint alles megede, die wellent an man alle disen sumer gan!	Those who go round and round are all maidens, they want to do without a man all summer long!
	Chume, chum, geselle min, ih enbite harte din, ih enbite harte din, chume, chum, geselle min.	Come, come, my love, I long for you, I long for you, come, come, my love.
	Suzer rosenvarwer munt, chum uñ mache mich gesunt, chum uñ mache mich gesunt, suzer rosenvarwer munt.	Sweet rose-red lips, come and heal me, come and heal me, sweet rose-red lips.
	Swaz hie gat umbe, etc.	Those who go round, etc.
10	Were diu werlt alle min von deme mere unze an den Rin, des wolt ih mih darben, daz diu chünegin von Engellant lege an minen armen.	Were all the world mine from the sea to the Rhine, I would gladly forsake it to have the queen of England lying in my arms.
PART II
	IN TABERNA	IN THE TAVERN
11	Estuans interius ira vehementi in amaritudine loquor mee menti: factus de materia, cinis elementi similis sum folio de quo ludunt venti.	Burning inside with violent rage, 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.
	Cum sit enim proprium viro sapienti supra petram ponere sedem fundamenti, stultus ego comparor fluvio labenti, sub eodem tramite nunquam permanenti.	If it is the way of the wise man to build his foundations upon the rock, then I am a fool, like a gliding river, which in its path is never constant.
	Feror ego veluti sine nauta navis, ut per vias aeris vaga fertur avis; non me tenent vincula, non me tenet clavis, quero mihi similes, et adiungor pravis.	I am swept away like a pilotless ship, 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 depraved.
	Mihi cordis gravitas res videtur gravis; iocus est amabilis dulciorque favis; quicquid Venus imperat labor est suavis, que nunquam in cordibus habitat ignavis.	The burdens of my heart weigh heavily upon me; it is pleasant to jest and sweeter than honeycomb; whatever Venus commands is a sweet labor; she never dwells in a lazy heart.
	Via lata gradior more iuventutis, inplicor et vitiis immemor virtutis, voluptatis avidus magis quam salutis, mortuus in anima curam gero cutis.	I travel the broad road, as is the way of youth; I am entangled in vice, unmindful of virtue, greedy for lust more than for salvation; my soul is dead, and I care only for the flesh.
12	CIGNUS USTUS CANTAT	THE ROASTED SWAN SINGS
	Olim lacus colueram, olim pulcher extiteram, dum cignus ego fueram.	Once I dwelt on the lakes, once I was beautiful when I was a swan.
	Miser, miser! modo niger et ustus fortiter!	Misery me! Now black and roasting fiercely!
	Girat, regirat garcifer; me rogus urit fortiter: propinat me nunc dapifer.	The cook turns me on the spit; I burn fiercely over the fire: the steward now serves me up.
	Miser, miser! etc.	Misery me! etc.
	Nunc in scutella iaceo, et volitare nequeo, dentes frendentes video:	Now I lie on a platter, and can no longer fly; I see gnashing teeth.
	Miser, miser! etc.	Misery me! etc.
13	Ego sum abbas Cucaniensis, et consilium meum est cum bibulis, et in secta Decii voluntas mea est, et qui mane me quesierit in taberna, post vesperam nudus egredietur, et sic denudatus veste clamabit:	I am the abbot of Cockaigne, and my assembly is with the drinkers, and I wish to belong to the sect of Decius, and he who seeks to play dice with me at the tavern will leave naked by Vespers, and thus stripped of his clothes he will call out:
	Wafna, wafna! quid fecisti sors turpissima? Nostre vite gaudia abstulisti omnia!	Wafna! Wafna! What have you done, vilest Fate? The joys of my life you have taken all away!
14	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, si quid loquar, audiatur.	When we are in the tavern, unmindful of the grave, we hurry to gamble, over which we always sweat. What happens in the tavern, where money is the host, you may well ask, and listen to my tale.
	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:	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 gambles in Bacchus’ name.
	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,	First to the wine-merchant the libertines drink, the second for the prisoners, three for the living, four for all Christians, five for the faithful dead, six for the loose sisters, seven for the forest soldiers,
	Octies pro fratribus perversis, nonies pro monachis dispersis, decies pro navigantibus, undecies pro discordantibus, duodecies pro penitentibus, tredecies pro iter agentibus. Tam pro papa quam pro rege bibunt omnes sine lege.	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 travellers. To the Pope as to the king, all drink without restraint:
	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,	The mistress, the master, the soldier, the priest, the man, the woman, the servant with the maid, the swift man, the lazy man, the white man, the black man, the settled man, the wanderer, the stupid man, the wise man.
	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 ista, bibit ille, bibunt centum, bibunt mille.	The poor man, the sick man, the exile and the stranger, the youngster, the old man, the bishop and the deacon, the sister, the brother, the old woman, the mother, this woman, that man, a hundred drink, a thousand drink.
	Parum sexcente nummate durant, cum immoderate bibunt omnes sine meta. Quamvis bibant mente leta, sic nos rodunt omnes gentes et sic erimus egentes. Qui nos rodunt confundantur et cum iustis non scribantur.	Six hundred coins are not enough for this aimless and intemperate drinking. Though we are cheerful, everyone scolds us, and so we are destitute. May our slanderers be cursed, not counted among the just.
PART III
	COUR D’AMOUR	THE COURT OF LOVE
15	Amor volat undique, captus est libidine. Iuvenes, iuvencule coniunguntur merito.	Cupid flies everywhere, seized by desire. Young men and women are rightly coupled.
	Siqua sine socio, caret omni gaudio, tenet noctis infima sub intimo cordis in custodia: fit res amarissima.	The girl without a lover misses out on all pleasures, she keeps the dark night hidden in the depth of her heart; it is a most bitter fate.
16	Dies, nox et omnia michi sunt contraria, virginum colloquia me fay planszer, oy suvenz suspirer, plu me fay temer.	Day, night and all things are against me; the chattering of maidens makes me weep, and often sigh, and, most of all, scares me.
	O sodales, ludite, vos qui scitis dicite, michi mesto parcite, grand ey dolur, attamen consulite per voster honur.	O friends, you mock me, speaking as you please. Spare me, sorrowful as I am, great is my grief; advise me at least, by your honor.
	Tua pulchra facies me fay planszer milies, pectus habet glacies. A remender statim vivus fierem per un baser.	Your lovely face makes me weep a thousand times; your heart is of ice. As a cure, I would be revived by a kiss.
17	Stetit puella rufa tunica; si quis eam tetigit, tunica crepuit. Eia.	A girl stood in a red tunic; if anyone touched it, the tunic rustled. Eia!
	Stetit puella, tamquam rosula; facie splenduit, os eius floruit. Eia.	A girl stood like a little rose: her face was radiant, her mouth in bloom. Eia!
18	Circa mea pectora multa sunt suspiria de tua pulchritudine, que me ledunt misere.	In my heart there are many sighs for your beauty, which wound me sorely.
	Manda liet, manda liet, min geselle chumet niet.	Manda liet, manda liet, my lover does not come.
	Tui lucent oculi sicut solis radii, sicut splendor fulguris lucem donat tenebris.	Your eyes shine like the rays of the sun, like the flashes of lightning which brighten the darkness.
	Manda liet, etc.	Manda liet, etc.
	Vellet deus, vellent dii, quod mente proposui: ut eius virginea reserassem vincula.	May God, may the gods grant what I have in mind: that I may undo the chains of her virginity.
	Manda liet, etc.	Manda liet, etc.
19	Si puer cum puellula moraretur in cellula, felix coniunctio. Amore suscrescente, pariter e medio avulso procul tedio, fit ludus ineffabilis membris, lacertis, labiis.	If a boy with a girl tarries in a little room, happy is their coupling. Love rises up, and between them modesty is driven away; an ineffable game begins in their limbs, arms and lips.
20	Veni, veni, venias, ne me mori facias, hyrca hyrce nazaza trillirivos…	Come, come, O come, do not let me die, hyrca, hyrce, nazaza, trillirivos!
	Pulchra tibi facies, oculorum acies, capillorum series, o quam clara species!	Beautiful is your face, the gleam of your eye, your braided hair, what a glorious creature!
	Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior!	Redder than the rose, whiter than the lily, lovelier than all others, I shall always glory in you!
21	In trutina mentis dubia fluctuant contraria lascivus amor et pudicitia. Sed eligo quod video, collum iugo prebeo; ad iugum tamen suave transeo.	I am held in doubt, my mind wavering between lascivious love and modesty. But I choose what I see, and submit to the yoke; I yield to the sweet yoke.
22	Tempus est iocundum, o virgines, modo congaudete vos iuvenes.	This is the pleasant season, O maidens; rejoice with them, young men!
	Oh, oh, oh, totus floreo, iam amore virginali totus ardeo, novus, novus amor est, quo pereo.	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!
	Mea me confortat promissio, mea me deportat negatio.	I am heartened by my promise; I am downcast by my refusal.
	Oh, oh, oh, etc.	Oh, oh, oh, etc.
	Tempore brumali vir patiens, animo vernali lasciviens.	In the winter man is patient, the breath of spring makes him lust.
	Oh, oh, oh, etc.	Oh, oh, oh, etc.
	Mea mecum ludit virginitas, mea me detrudit simplicitas.	My virginity makes me frisky; my simplicity holds me back.
	Oh, oh, oh, etc.	Oh, oh, oh, etc.
	Veni, domicella, cum gaudio, veni, veni, pulchra, iam pereo.	Come, my mistress, with joy; come, come, my pretty, I am dying!
	Oh, oh, oh, etc.	Oh, oh, oh, etc.
23	Dulcissime, totam tibi subdo me!	Sweetest one! I give my all to you!
	BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA	BLANCHEFLEUR AND HELEN
24	Ave formosissima, gemma pretiosa, ave decus virginum, virgo gloriosa, ave mundi luminar, ave mundi rosa, Blanziflor et Helena, Venus generosa!	Hail, most beautiful one, most precious jewel; hail, pride among virgins, most glorious virgin; hail, light of the world, hail, rose of the world, Blanchefleur and Helen, noble Venus!
	FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI	FORTUNE, EMPRESS OF THE WORLD
25	O Fortuna, etc.	O Fortune, etc.

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