Fortune plango vulnera
Carmina Burana
The Wheel of Fortune: A Dance of Fate and Fall
“Fortune plango vulnera” is a powerful piece from the medieval collection known as Carmina Burana, composed by Carl Orff. The lyrics, written in Latin, delve into the capricious nature of fortune and the inevitable rise and fall that accompanies it. The song opens with a lament about the wounds inflicted by Fortune, personified as a rebellious force that bestows and withdraws its gifts unpredictably. The imagery of weeping eyes and the fleeting nature of opportunity, symbolized by the hair on Fortune's forehead, sets a tone of sorrow and inevitability.
The second stanza reflects on the speaker's past glory, where they once sat high on Fortune's throne, adorned with the flowers of prosperity. This imagery of elevation and adornment contrasts sharply with the present state of downfall and deprivation. The speaker's fall from grace is depicted as a sudden and harsh descent, emphasizing the transient nature of happiness and success. The use of the word
