it melts them like ice

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 obdurate .... 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 in 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! .... everybody weep with me!