Carmina Burana (selections) 1

Latin original · 6 verses · some words can be tapped for a gloss

1:1

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. Sors immanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis; obumbrata et velata mihi quoque niteris; nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris. Sors salutis et virtutis mihi nunc contraria est; in miseria; in miseria! nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem.

O Fortune, changeable in state like the moon, ever waxing or waning; loathsome life now hardens, and then soothes, in play, the sharpness of the mind; poverty and power it melts away like ice. Monstrous and empty Fate, thou turning wheel, evil thy state, vain thy welfare, ever dissolving; shadowed and veiled, against me too thou dost strive; now through thy play I bear a bared back beneath thy wickedness. The lot of health and of virtue is now turned against me; in misery, in misery! Now it hardens, and then it soothes, in play, the sharpness of the mind.

命運之神啊，你境況多變如月亮，時盈時虧；可憎的人生，時而以戲弄使人心智的鋒芒變得頑鈍，時而又加以撫慰；它把貧窮和權勢都像冰一樣消融。殘酷而虛妄的命運啊，你是旋轉的輪子，你的狀態邪惡，你的福祉虛幻，永遠瓦解；你被陰影籠罩、被面紗遮掩，卻也要與我為敵；如今我藉著你的戲弄，在你的惡行之下裸露著脊背。健康與美德的籤運如今與我作對；在苦難中，在苦難中！它時而以戲弄使人心智的鋒芒變得頑鈍，時而又加以撫慰。

1:2

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 quaeratur; si quid loquar, audiatur. 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.

When we are in the tavern, we do not care what the ground is, but we hasten to the game, over which we always sweat. What goes on in the tavern, where money is the cup-bearer—this is the business worth inquiring after; if I say anything, let it be heard. Some gamble, some drink, some live without restraint. But of those who linger at the game, some are stripped bare, some are clothed there, some are dressed in sacks. There no one fears death, but for Bacchus they cast lots.

我們在酒館裡的時候，不理會泥土算甚麼，只急忙投入賭局，並為它終日揮汗。酒館裡發生甚麼事——那裡錢財作了斟酒人——這才是值得追問的正事；我若說甚麼，且讓人聽。有人賭博，有人豪飲，有人放縱無度地過活。但那些流連賭局的人當中，有人被剝得精光，有人在那裡添了衣裳，有人卻披上麻袋。在那裡無人懼怕死亡，反倒為酒神巴克斯擲骰抽籤。

1:3

Iam iam virent prata, iam iam virgines iocundantur in prato floridae: ecce iam redeunt gaudia. Hiems saeva transivit, hirundinum iam adventant examina; nemus revirescit, chorus virginum nunc gaudet Veneris gratia. Prata iam rident, flores iam surgunt, philomela iam cantat dulciter, et nos ad amorum gaudia invitat.

Now, now the meadows grow green, now, now the maidens, blossoming, take their delight in the meadow: behold, now the joys return. Fierce winter has passed away, and now the swarms of swallows draw near; the grove grows green again, the chorus of maidens now rejoices by the grace of Venus. The meadows now laugh, the flowers now spring up, the nightingale now sings sweetly, and invites us to the joys of love.

如今，如今草原轉綠，如今，如今含苞的少女們在草原上歡欣：看哪，喜樂如今歸來。凜冽的寒冬已然消逝，燕子的群隊如今臨近；樹林重新泛綠，少女的合唱如今因維納斯的恩澤而歡躍。草原如今含笑，繁花如今綻放，夜鶯如今甜美歌唱，並邀我們同享愛的歡愉。

1:4

Stetit puella rufa tunica; si quis eam tetigit, tunica crepuit. Eia! Stetit puella tamquam rosula: facie splenduit et os eius floruit. Eia! Infit ad virginem: 'Rore me tangeres vel sinu tangeres, mea filia.' Posuit gremium, flexit geniculam, induxit virginem in choream. Cantando carmina vario sono, ad plausus virginis virgines procedite.

A girl stood in a red tunic; if anyone touched her, the tunic rustled. Aha! A girl stood like a little rose: her face shone bright and her mouth blossomed. Aha! He begins, addressing the maiden: 'With dew thou shouldst touch me, or touch me with thy bosom, my daughter.' He laid down his lap, bent his little knee, led the maiden into the dance. Singing songs in varied tones, to the maiden's applause come forth, ye maidens.

一個少女站著，身著紅色長衫；若有人觸碰她，那長衫便沙沙作響。啊呀！一個少女站著，宛如一朵小玫瑰：她的臉龐明豔生輝，她的口綻放如花。啊呀！他向那少女開口道：「願你以露水觸我，或以你的胸懷觸我，我的女兒。」他放下膝頭，屈下小腿，引那少女進入舞蹈。以各樣音調唱著歌曲，伴著少女的喝采，前來吧，眾少女啊。

1:5

Tempus est iocundum, o virgines! modo congaudete vos iuvenes. Oh! Oh! totus floreo! iam amore virginali totus ardeo; novus, novus amor est, quo pereo. Mea mecum ludit virginitas; trahit me Venus in amorem illum. Oh! Oh! totus floreo! Flos est puellarum, quam diligo, et rosa rosarum, quam serniper volo. Tua spe per singulas noctium vices, tu me solvis poenas. Oh! Oh! totus floreo!

The time is joyful, O maidens! Now rejoice together, you young men. Oh! Oh! I am all in bloom! Now with maidenly love I am all afire; new, new is the love by which I perish. My maidenhood sports with me; Venus draws me into that love. Oh! Oh! I am all in bloom! She is the flower of girls whom I love, and the rose of roses whom I always desire. In hope of thee, through every turn of the nights, thou dost release me from my pains. Oh! Oh! I am all in bloom!

時光歡愉，少女們啊！如今一同歡欣吧，你們這些青年。噢！噢！我整個人都在綻放！如今我因少女般的愛戀通體燃燒；那叫我消殞的愛是新的、是新的。我的童貞與我嬉戲；維納斯把我引入那愛戀。噢！噢！我整個人都在綻放！她是我所愛的眾女中之花，是我永遠渴慕的眾玫瑰中之玫瑰。因著對你的盼望，在每一個夜晚的更次，你解除了我的苦楚。噢！噢！我整個人都在綻放！

1:6

Estuans intrinsecus ira vehementi in amaritudine loquor mee menti; factus de materia levioris elementi folio sum similis de quo ludunt venti. Cum sit enim proprium viro sapienti supra petram ponere sedem fundamenti, stultus ego comparor fluvio labenti sub eodem tramite nunquam permanenti. 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 adiugar pravis.

Burning inwardly with vehement anger, in bitterness I speak to my own mind; made of the matter of a lighter element, I am like a leaf with which the winds make sport. Whereas it is proper to a wise man to set the seat of his foundation upon a rock, I, a fool, am like a flowing river, never staying still beneath the same course. I am borne along like a ship without a sailor, as a wandering bird is carried through the ways of the air; no chains hold me, no key holds me; I seek out my likes and am joined to the depraved.

我內心因猛烈的怒火而燃燒，在苦澀中對自己的心說話；我由較輕元素的質料造成，宛如一片任憑眾風戲弄的樹葉。智者本當把根基的座位安在磐石之上，我這愚人卻像奔流的河水，從不在同一河道下停駐。我被帶著漂流，如同沒有水手的船，又如漂泊的飛鳥被帶過空中的途徑；沒有鎖鏈束縛我，沒有鑰匙拘禁我；我尋求與我同類的人，並與墮落者為伍。