O Fortuna
O Fortune,

velut luna
like the moon

statu variabilis,
you are changeable,

semper crescis
ever waxing

aut decrescis;
and waning;

vita detestabilis
hateful life

nunc obdurat
first oppresses

et tunc curat
and then soothes

ludo mentis aciem,
as fancy takes it;

egestatem,
poverty

potestatem
and power

dissolvit ut glaciem.
it melts them like ice.




Sors immanis
Fate - monstrous

et inanis,
and empty,

rota tu volubilis,
you whirling wheel,

status malus,
you are malevolent,

vana salus
well-being is vain

semper dissolubilis,
and always fades to nothing,

obumbrata
shadowed

et velata
and veiled

michi quoque niteris;
you plague me too;

nunc per ludum
now through the game

dorsum nudum
I bring my bare back

fero tui sceleris.
to your villainy.




Sors salutis
Fate is against me

et virtutis
in health

michi nunc contraria,
and virtue,

est affectus
driven on

et defectus
and weighted down,

semper in angaria.
always enslaved.

Hac in hora
So at this hour

sine mora
without delay

corde pulsum tangite;
pluck the vibrating strings;

quod per sortem
since Fate

sternit fortem,
strikes down the string man,

mecum omnes plangite!
everyone weep with me!