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FORTUNA IMPERATRIX MUNDI O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem; egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem. Sors immanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis, obumbrata et velata mihi quoque niteris; nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris. Sors salutis et virtutis mihi nunc contraria, est affectus et defectus semper in angaria. Hac in hora sine mora corde pulsum tangite; quod per sortem sternit fortem, mecum omnes plangite!
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanae, first published c1300 [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 Carl Orff (1895 - 1982), "O Fortuna", 1935-6 [ chorus ], from Carmina Burana, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Carl Orff (1895 - 1982), "O Fortuna", 1935-6 [ chorus ], from Carmina Burana, no. 25 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "O Fortune", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "O Fortuna (Coro)", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Saúl Botero Restrepo) , "Oh, Fortuna", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2011-04-24
Line count: 37
Word count: 86
FORTUNE, EMPRESS OF THE WORLD O Fortune, just like the moon you are changeable, always waxing or waning; hateful life now dulls and then heals the mind's sharpness for its sport; poverty and power it melts like ice. Fate, monstrous and futile, you are a turning wheel, an evil state, a vain refuge always bound to melt away, shadowed and veiled, you also press upon me; now my back is laid bare through the play of your wickedness. A fate of safety and virtue is denied to me, whether excited or exhausted one is always in bondage. At this hour without delay pluck the throbbing string; because by fate the strong are laid low, all of you, lament with me!
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.
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanae, first published c1300
This text was added to the website: 2026-09-11
Line count: 37
Word count: 121