Dies irae
*Dies irae, dies illa solvet saeclum in favilla: teste David cum Sibylla. |
Day of wrath, day that will dissolve the world into burning coals, as David bore witness with the Sibyll. |
*Quantus tremor est futurus, quando judex est venturus, cuncta stricte discussurus! |
How great a tremor is to be, when the judge is to come briskly shattering every (grave). |
*Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulcra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum. |
A trumpet sounding an astonishing sound through the tombs of the region drives everyone before the throne |
*Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura, judicanti responsura. |
Death and Nature will be stunned, when arises (man) the creature responding to the One judging. |
*Liber scriptus proferetur, in quo totum continetur, unde mundus judicetur. |
The written book will be brought forth, in which the whole (record of evidence) is contained whence the world is to be judged. |
*Judex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet apparebit: nil inultum remanebit. |
Therefore when the Judge shall sit, whatever lay hidden will appear; nothing unavenged will remain. |
*Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, cum vix justus sit securus? |
What am I the wretch then to say? what patron I to beseech? when scarecly the just (man) be secure. |
*Rex tremendae majestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me fons pietatis. |
King of tremendous Majesty, who saves those-to-be-saved free, save me, Fount of piety. |
*Recordare, Jesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae: ne me perdas illa die. |
Remember, faithful Jesus, because I am the cause of your journey: do not lose me on that day. |
*Quaerens me, sedisti lassus: redemisti Crucem passus: tantus labor non sit cassus. |
Thou has sat down as one wearied seeking me, Thou has redeemed (me) having suffered the Cross: so much labor let it not be lost. |
*Juste judex ultionis, donum fac remissionis ante diem rationis. |
Just judge of the avenging-punishment, work the gift of the remission (of sins) before the Day of the Reckoning. |
*Ingemisco, tamquam reus: culpa rubet vultus meus: supplicanti parce, Deus. |
I groan, as the accused: my face grows red from (my) fault: spare (this) supplicant, O God. |
*Qui Mariam absolvisti, et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti. |
Thou who forgave Mary [the sinful woman], and favorably heard the (good) thief, hast also given me hope. |
*Preces meae non sunt dignae: sed tu bonus fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne. |
My prayers are not worthy, but do Thou, Good (God), deal kindly lest I burn in perennial fire. |
*Inter oves locum praesta, et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextra. |
Among the sheep offer (me) a place and from the goats sequester me, placing (me) at (Thy) right hand. |
*Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis: voca me cum benedictis. |
After the accursed have been silenced, given up to the bitter flames, call me with the blest. |
*Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis: gere curam mei finis. |
Kneeling and bowed down I pray, My heart contrite as ashes: Do Thou {, my End,} care for my end. |
*Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla |
That sorrowful day, on which will arise from the buring coals |
judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus: |
Man accused to be judged: Therefore, O God, do Thou spare him. |
Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen. |
Faithful Lord Jesus, grant them rest. Amen. |
Ave Maria
Josquin des Pres
Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum Virgo serena. |
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, serene virgin. |
Ave cujus conceptio solemni plena gaudio, coelestia terrestria nova replet laetitia. |
Hail whose conception, full of solemn joy fills heaven and earth with new rejoicing. |
Ave cujus nativitas Nostra fuit solemnitas, Ut lucifer lux oriens Verum solem praeveniens. |
Hail whose birth was our festivity, like the light from the east coming before the true sun |
Ave pia humilitas Sine viro foecunditas, Cujus annunciato Nostra fuit salvatio. |
Hail pious humility, fertility without a man, whose annunciation was our salvation. |
Ave vera virginitas Immaculata castitas, Cujus purificatio Nostra fuit purgatio. |
Hail true virginity, immaculate chastity, whose purification was our cleansing. |
Ave praeclara omnibus Angelicis virtutibus, Cujus fuit assumptio Nostra glorificatio. |
Hail most splendid of all with angelic virtues, whose assumption was our glorification. |
O mater Dei, memento mei. Amen. |
O mother of God remember me. Amen. |
"O Fortuna"
Carmina Burana (c. 1230)
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut descrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem. |
O Fortune, just as the moon you vary your state always increasing or decreasing; the detestable life now difficult and then easy with your games sharpens poverty, power dissolves like ice. |
Sors inmanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis, obrumbratam et velatam mihi quoque niteris, nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris. |
Often great and empty, your revolving wheel, an evil state, vain health always dissolving, concealing and veiled you also strive for me now by game, a lost shirt I guiltily take because of you. |
Sors salutis et virtutis mihi nunc contraria, est affectus et defectus semper in angaria; hac in hora sine mora cordis pulsum tangite, quod per sortem sternit fortem mecum omnes plangite. |
Often my health and my virtue are now contrary for me, affected and defective always in torment; In this hour without delay take the pulse of my heart, which through fate, she overthrows my strength: weep all of you with me. |
Edited by George F. Whicher
Translated (poorly) by Craig E. Bertolet
Moritat von Mackie Messer
Kurt Weill and Bertold Brecht,
The Three-penny Opera (1931)
Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne.
Und die trägt er im Gesicht.
Und Macheath, der hat ein Messer,
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.
An 'nem schönen blauen Sonntag
Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand,
Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke,
Den man Mackie Messer nennt.
Und Schmul Meier bleibt verschwunden,
Und so mancher reiche Mann,
Und sein Geld hat Mackie Messer,
Dem man nichts beweisen kann.
Jenny Towler ward gefunden
Mit 'nem Messer in der Brust,
Und am Kai geht Mackie Messer,
Der von allem nichts gewußt.
Und das große Feuer in Soho,
Sieben Kinder und ein Greis,
In der Menge Mackie Messer, den
Man nichts fragt und der nichts weiß.
Und die minderjähr'ge Witwe,
Deren Namen jeder weiß,
Wachte auf und war geschändet,
Mackie, welches war dein Preis?