| . |
Carmina Burana |
|
|
Cover Introduction Main Index Further Study Carmina Burana 1. O Fortuna 2. Fortunae plango vulnera 3. Veris laeta facies 4. Omnia sol temperata 5. Ecce gratum 6. Tanz - (instrumental) 7. Floret silva nobilis 8. Chramer, gip die varwe mir 9. Swaz hie gat umbe 10.Were diu werlt alle min 11. Aestuans interius 12. Olim lacus colueram 13. Ego sum abbas 14. In taberna quando sumus 15. Amor volat undique 16. Dies, nox, et omnia 17. Stetit puella 18. Circa mea pectora 19. Si puer cum puella 20. Veni, veni, venias 21. In trutina 22. Tempus est iocundum 23. Dulcissime 24. Ave formosissima |
2. FORTUNAE PLANGO VULNERAAnother song against Fortune, rather more clearly expressed than the previous one. In the first stanza Opportunity is described as having hair only on the front of her head - she can be seized as she approaches, but once she has passed, a person grabs futilely at the back of her head. In the second and third stanzas reference is made to the Wheel of Fortune, a common motif in the Middle Ages and often represented in art, where it was conceived as a primitive Ferris wheel accommodating four - one up, one down, one about to achieve prosperity, one about to be plunged into misery. The name of Hecuba was a suitable inscription for the axle as she was the supreme example of Fortune's malice. From being Queen of Troy, after its sack she suffered such misery as a captive of the Greeks that the gods, out of pity, turned her into a dog. FORTUNAE PLANGO VULNERAFortunae plango vulnera stillantibus ocellis, quod sua mihi munera subtrahit rebellis. verum est, quod legitur fronte capillata, sed plerumque sequitur Occasio calvata. In Fortunae solio sederam elatus, prosperitatis vario flore coronatus; quicquid enim florui felix et beatus nunc a summo corrui gloria privatus. Fortunae rota volvitur; descendo minoratus; alter in altum tollitur; nimis exaltatus rex sedet in vertice caveat ruinam! nam sub axe legimus Hecubam reginam. I mourn the blows of Fortune with flowing eyes, because her gifts she has treacherously taken back from me. Opportunity is rightly described as having hair on her forehead, but there usually follows the bald patch at the back. On the throne of Fortune I had sat elated, crowned with the gay flower of prosperity; however much I flourished, happy and blessed, now I have fallen from the pinnacle, deprived of my glory. The wheel of Fortune turns; I sink, debased; another is raised up; lifted too high, a king sits on the topólet him beware of ruin! Under the axle we read, Queen Hecuba. |
|