O Fortuna

Fortune’s wheel

O Fortune,
why do you turn on me so?
Like the phases of the moon
your favor comes and goes.
You bring happiness
then sow sorrow
spark hopes to be dashed
raise courage
that soon melts as ice.

You’re evil to
trick me with favors,
torment without mercy,
yet always I fall for your guiles.
Your wheel turns
without justice
fickle and blind
you care not at all
about virtue.

Can you not pity me?
Fate soon enslaves us
with poverty and impotence.
Take now what you can from
your passions and power
for soon they’ll be taken
from you.

Fortune plango vulnera

Fortune’s Wounds

I lament the wounds
that Fortune has wrought
tearing hope from my flesh
passion from my heart
glory from my soul.

I was once a prince
became then a king
and now just as I started
I’m poor without realm.
As her wheel turns
now I descend
to warn others that Fate
will one day curse them with ruin.

Veris leta facies

The fates of spring

Spring has arrived!
The goddess Flora reigns anew
draped in wisteria and rose petals
banishing winter’s sharp bitterness
as she turns her face to the sun.

In Flora’s lap rests Phoebus, reborn sun-god
nursing new life with warmth and light
smiling as he surveys her nascent modesty.
Zephyr whispers a tender breeze
of jasmine and lilac and ocean salt.

Now is the time for love!
Sing arias
sweet nightingale,
the vines are budding
and virgins long to be your chorus.

Omnia sol temperat

The sun-god

Phoebus
kisses the blossoms of spring
kindles a heart’s desire
awakening appetites
for joy and love.

Rejoice!
Let promises be kept
drink from the fountain of life.

Love me as I promise
to love you
faithfully, deliriously,
as today’s joy
will soon be made cold
our nearness, distance
full bellies, poverty
by the hand
that turns the Wheel.

Ecce gratum

Cupid’s reward

Who has not yet tasted
the sweetness of Cupid’s reward?
The time is now nigh
else wretched your soul.
Remember Paris, of Troy,
and Helen of Sparta?
Forbidden love tastes sweetest
turning blood to wine
and breath to flame
until Fortune turns
hearts to ash.

Floret silva nobilis

Who will love me?

The breeze fills my lungs
Eucalyptus and pine.

Where is my love?
- He has gone off to war.
Then who will I love now?

La forêt est si verte
On peut y dormir.

Où est mon amour?
- Il est parti on sais pas où.
Alors, m'aimeras-tu?

Chramer, gip die varwe mir

Maquillage maiden

Do your magic, sly war paint
cast a spell on youthful men
oust their inhibitions
let us please them when they’re weak.

We’re fond of love
and our lips speak the truth.
We frolic, at once
languid and exuberant
like lilies in the meadow
blue skies and sunshine
cleansing our sins.

Our flowers are pressed deep
into Ovid’s Art of Love.
Pure women dare not peek
but we blossom inside that world
and learn what men desire;
Look at us now, we want to please!

I’ve filled our glasses
come let us toast
to the pleasures of the flesh
the world is rich in ecstasies;
pay me what I’m due.

Reie

The dance

What maidens dance
who want no men?
The summer is warm
and their bodies
full of tricks.

I play no games
and say the truth
I long for you here,
eager and guileless,
come kiss my sweet rose lips.

Were diu werlt alle min

Were all the world mine

I’d give all the riches the east must hold
sail 1000 ships from Athens or Rome
If you, my queen, would offer a kiss.

Estuans interius

Adrift

Like the smoke from dying embers
my soul drifts without creed
foolish and fickle
buffeted by wind and whims.

Lacking anchor or moor
I’m destined to dwell
among the wicked and sinful
in a prison without walls.

To Hell with abstinence!
To jest and feast is far sweeter.
I urge Venus, then, to
keep me from the faint and staid.

Vices now point my way
I’ve lost all taste for virtue
my soul cares not for salvation
entangled in earthly desires.

Olim lacus colueram

The feast

I am but a lowly goose,
a bit fat if I must tell the truth
now my days on the lake
seem to come to an end
for the manor’s preparing a feast.

Had I the voice of a nightingale
or eggs with shells of gold
I might then be spared
such a savory fate
but alas it seems I’ll be cooked.

Ego sum abbas Cucaniensis

The mayor of Brillig

I am the mayor of Brillig,
it’s a town upon a hill
full of drunkards and philanders
who never pay their bill.

Just down the road there’s Borogove
with gamblers as its fame
I’d find it such an honor
if they’d let me share their shame.

But habits don’t go easily
the tavern seems my fate
When morning comes I’m often found
hanging on the gate.

In taberna quando sumus

In the tavern

We’ve got friends in low places
gamblers, drunkards, and libertines
we claim Bacchus as our god
worshiping nightly
in the temple of the tavern.

We toast first to the wine merchant
held in highest esteem
then continue apace
raising glasses to all friends
gathered ‘round the table
vagabonds and monks
soldiers and prostitutes
prisoners and priests
the Pope and the King.

There’s no judgement in wine
all are equally welcome
to drink without remorse
for Fortune’s soon busy
planning ruin from riches
let those that rebuke us
and slander our names
be expunged from
the book of the just.

Amor volat undique

Love flies everywhere

Its desire that blows in the air
gusts splaying Cupid’s arrows
in myriad directions
urging young men and women
to heed their desires.

Who remain without partner
are destined to suffer through
joyless dark nights
bitter of heart
feeble of mind.

Dies, nox et omnia

Le jour et la nuit

Filled with the voices of virgins
le jour et la nuit must hate me,
and I weep,
afraid and forlorn;
a thousand sorrows are mine
wrought by your beauty,
your honor, but above all,
your ice.
Save me with only a kiss.

Stetit puella

The girl in red

She stands on the lawn
draped in pressed red velvet
stark contrast to the gardens and sky.
Her hair is of fire, unruly,
scarcely tamed by bows
of scarlet and ribbons of blood.
Her cheeks, caked thick with rouge,
compete wantonly
with the ruby wax on her lips.

I wonder next about her slippers.

Circa mea pectora

In my heart I’m a fool

I’m stricken by your beauty
exiled by desire into
aimless days and sleepless nights.

-          You arrogant fool, she’s not coming!

Your eyes are like lightening
piercing the sky
one glance and my heart beats like thunder.

-          You pompous fool, she’s not coming!

I pray the gods grant one wish
make me worthy, just once,
of your pure, unspoiled charms.

-          You boastful fool, she’s not coming!

Si puer cum puellula

A boy and a girl

When maidens and gentlemen
are left unattended
their limbs and extremities
play games unintended.

Veni, veni, venias

Come, please come

Come, come, come,
please please me
I’ll show you the way
it’s easy, you’ll see.

Your eyes are like violets
your hair, spun gold
your lips are sweeter
than the reddest of rose.

Your face is more delicate
than blossoms of cherry
don’t make me blue
let’s drink and be merry.

In trutina mentis dubia

Torn

I arise each morning
torn between the virtue of chastity
and the seduction of desire.

It’s such a sweet surrender.

Tempus est iocundum

Now’s the time

The fevers of youth
are fired by amorous promises
and carnal innocence
spirited by the rites of spring.

Whether new love or first love
there’s lust in your heart
come be my mistress
I’m fearful of dying alone.

Dulcissime

So sweet

There flows no river
but sings your name to me.
O sweetest one, I’m yours.

Ave formosissima

Hail, my love

Hail, maiden,
lover of gods
full of grace
glorious virgin
pure and chaste
you burn in my heart
like a silver flame
precious jewel
Venus your name.

O Fortuna

Fortune’s wheel (coda)

O Fortune,
why do you turn on me so?
Your wheel is unjustly turned.
Fickle and blind
you care not about virtue.
I take what I can from
my passions and power
for soon they’ll be taken
from me.