Charles, you were great | Charles, you were great

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Translation © by Grant Hicks

Carole magnus eras

Language: Latin

Our translations: ENG

Carole magnus eras
Cum solus regna tenebas
Major ab imperio
Maximus a puero
Rex multos Caesar
Plures ditione tenebas.
Nunc omnes nato
Tu regis a puero
Roma tua est
Europa tua est
Asia Africa tota
Quid plus ultra non potes
Omnia habes.

Text Authorship:

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Jacobus Clemens non Papa (1510 - c1555), "Carole magnus eras" [ SSATB chorus a cappella ] [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "Charles, you were great", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-10-02
Line count: 13
Word count: 42

Charles, you were great

Language: English after the Latin

Charles, you were great
When you held only kingdoms,
Greater because of your empire,
Greatest because of your son.
As King you had many,
As Emperor, more, in your power.
Now you rule all 
By means of your son.
Rome is yours,
Europe is yours, 
Asia and all of Africa.
What further beyond? You cannot:
You possess everything.

Translator's note: The addressee of this text is Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor from 1519 to 1558. Before becoming Emperor, he held the kingships of Spain, Sicily and Naples, along with other royal titles. The son referred to (lines 4 and 8) is Philip II of Spain. Line 12 refers to Charles's personal motto Plus ultra, "Further beyond."

Text Authorship:

Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Latin by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-07-18
Line count: 13
Word count: 58