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?