O Fortuna                      O Fortune,
velut luna                       like the moon
statu variabilis,              you are changeable,
semper crescis               ever waxing
aut decrescis;                and waning;
vita detestabilis              hateful life
nunc obdurat                  first oppresses
et tunc curat                  and then soothes
ludo mentis aciem,         as fancy takes it;
egestatem,                     poverty
potestatem                     and power
dissolvit ut glaciem.        it melts them like ice.
                              ***
Sors immanis                  Fate - monstrous
et inanis,                       and empty,
rota tu volubilis,            you whirling wheel,
status malus,                 you are malevolent,
vana salus                     well-being is vain
semper dissolubilis,        and always fades to 
                                      nothing,
obumbrata                     shadowed
et velata                        and veiled
michi quoque niteris;      you plague me too;
nunc per ludum               now through the 
                                       game
dorsum nudum                I bring my bare back
fero tui sceleris.              to your villainy.
                             ***
Sors salutis                  Fate is against me
et virtutis                     in health
michi nunc contraria,   and virtue,
est affectus                 driven on
et defectus                  and weighted down,
semper in angaria.       always enslaved.
Hac in hora                  So at this hour
sine mora                     without delay
corde pulsum tangite;  pluck the vibrating 
                                     strings;
quod per sortem           since Fate
sternit fortem,              strikes down the 
                                      strong man,
mecum omnes plangite! everyone weep with 
                                      me!