Fortuna, Impératix Mundi From Carmina Burana, By Carl Orff, Germany, 1936 The Wheel of Fortune: I shall reign, I reign, I have reigned, I am without a realm English translation of the Latin lyrics O Fortune, like the moon you are changeable, ever waxing and waning; a despised life first oppresses and then soothes as fancy takes it; poverty and power it melts them like ice. Fate – monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel, you are malevolent, well-being is vanity and always fades to nothing, shadowed and veiled you plague me too; now through the game I bring my naked self to your villainy. Fate is against me in health and virtue, driven on and weighted down, always enslaved. So at this hour without delay pluck the vibrating strings; since Fate strikes down the mighty, everyone mourn with me!
