Carmina Burana, Introduction, Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi: Fortune plango vulnera

Fortune plango vulnera (I bemoan the wounds of Fortune)

stillantibus ocellis (with weeping eyes,)

quod sua michi munera (for the gifts she made me)

subtrahit rebellis. (she perversely takes away.)

Verum est, quod legitur, (It is written in truth,)

fronte capillata, (that she has a fine head of hair,)

sed plerumque sequitur but,)when it comes to seizing an opportunity)

Occasio calvata. (she is bald.)

In Fortune solio (On Fortune's throne)

sederam elatus, (I used to sit raised up,)

prosperitatis vario (crowned with)

flore coronatus; (the many-coloured flowers of prosperity;)

quicquid enim florui (though I may have flourished)

felix et beatus, (happy and blessed,)

nunc a summo corrui (now I fall from the peak)

gloria privatus. (deprived of glory.)

Fortune rota volvitur: (The wheel of Fortune turns;)

descendo minoratus; (I go down, demeaned;)

alter in altum tollitur; (another is raised up;)

nimis exaltatus (far too high up)

rex sedet in vertice (sits the king at the summit)

caveat ruinam! (let him fear ruin!)

nam sub axe legimus (for under the axis is written)

Hecubam reginam. (Queen Hecuba.)