Fortune plango vulnera (Original)

Carl Orff's "Fortune plango vulnera" is a powerful and evocative piece that delves into the unpredictable nature of fortune and the inevitable rise and fall that accompanies it. The lyrics, written in Latin, are part of Orff's larger work, *Carmina Burana*, which is a collection of medieval poems set to music. This particular song is a lamentation on the wounds inflicted by fortune, highlighting the transient nature of success and the inevitability of downfall.

The opening lines, "Fortune plango vulnera / stillantibus ocellis," translate to "I lament the wounds of Fortune / with weeping eyes." This sets a somber tone, as the speaker mourns the loss of fortune's gifts, which have been rebelliously taken away. The metaphor of Fortune as a capricious entity is further emphasized with the line, "verum est quod legitur, / fronte capillata, / sed plerumque sequitur / Occasio calvata," meaning "it is true what is read, / with a forelock of hair, / but often follows / a bald Opportunity." This suggests that while opportunities may present themselves, they are fleeting and often missed.

The second stanza reflects on the speaker's past glory, where they once sat elevated on Fortune's throne, crowned with the flowers of prosperity. However, this happiness was short-lived, as indicated by the lines, "quicquid enim florui / felix et beatus, / nunc a summo corrui / gloria privatus," translating to "whatever I flourished / happy and blessed, / now from the summit I have fallen / deprived of glory." This stark contrast between past success and present downfall underscores the theme of fortune's volatility.

The final stanza brings the imagery of Fortune's wheel into sharp focus: "Fortune rota volvitur; / descendo minoratus; / alter in altum tollitur; / nimis exaltatus / rex sedet in vertice, / caveat ruinam, / nam sub axe legimus / Hecubam reginam." This translates to "The wheel of Fortune turns; / I descend, diminished; / another is raised up; / too exalted / the king sits at the top, / let him beware of ruin, / for under the axle we read / Queen Hecuba." The wheel symbolizes the cyclical nature of fate, where one's position can change rapidly, and even those at the top must be wary of their impending fall, as exemplified by the tragic figure of Queen Hecuba.

Orff's composition, with its dramatic and intense musical arrangement, amplifies the emotional weight of the lyrics, making "Fortune plango vulnera" a poignant reflection on the impermanence of fortune and the human condition.