| O Fortuna (original) | O Fortuna (translation) |
|---|---|
| O Fortuna | O fortune |
| velut luna | Like the moon |
| statu variabilis, | changeable, |
| semper crescis | ever growing |
| aut decrescis; | waning |
| vita detestabilis | hateful life |
| nunc obdurat | now it is hard |
| et tunc curat | and then soothes |
| ludo mentis aciem, | fancy relaxing |
| egestatem, | poverty, |
| potestatem | power |
| dissolvit ut glaciem. | like ice. |
| Sors immanis | Fate |
| et inanis, | and empty |
| rota tu volubilis, | you're rolling wheel |
| status malus, | bad status, |
| vana salus | vain salvation |
| semper dissolubilis, | always fades |
| obumbrata | overshadowed |
| et velata | and veiled |
| michi quoque niteris; | you plague me too; |
| nunc per ludum | now through the game |
| dorsum nudum | bare back |
| fero tui sceleris. | I am proposing your guilt. |
| Sors salutis | Fate of salvation |
| et virtutis | and virtue |
| michi nunc contraria, | now opposite to me |
| est affectus | is affected |
| et defectus | and defects |
| semper in angaria. | always on duty. |
| Hac in hora | In this hour |
| sine mora | without delay |
| corde pulsum tangite; | the heart beat |
| quod per sortem | by lot |
| sternit fortem, | strikes down the brave |
| mecum omnes plangite! | All weep with me! |
