It is
a bit early for this poem, but I hope that it serves as a spell for spring to
come early. Every winter I hope for lots of snow and ice, but most times I get
disappointed. This morning what was left
of ice has melted away, not to be seen again this winter and dreary weather
with some rain and around 5-7 covers now my hometown. Sometimes I think I am
born in the wrong country, as I prefer cold winters and hot summers. Well, with
the climate change, those hot summers are now more or less guaranteed, but
alas! – so are winters with hardly any ice….
The
following poem from the Carmina Burana
tells about the passing of winter and playfulness of the virgines on the grass. The
Latin is not too difficult, but there are mediaeval Latin words which may cause
trouble. The syntax is subordinate to rhyming, or better, to the effect of
sound e.g. annuunt favore/ volucres
canore. The meaning is clear `the birds approve with applause by singing’,
but few Roman children would have got away with such a sentence at school.
CB
153a is a sequel to 153 and in the first youtube link below it is part of the
musical setting, covering 153 1-2 and 153a.
153
1.
Tempus
transit gelidum, gelidus: icy
mundus
renovatur,
verque
redit floridum, floridus: flowery
forma
rebus datur.
avis
modulatur, modulor: to sing
modulans
letatur laetor: to rejoice
. . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . .
. . . . . . . . .
lucidior
et
lenior lenis: soft
aer
iam serenatur; sereno: to make clear. bright
iam
florea,
iam
frondea frondeus: covered with leaves
silva
comis densatur. coma: folliage
2.
Ludunt
super gramina gramen, -inis (n): grass
virgines
decore,
quarum
nova carmina
dulci
sonant ore. (ex) dulci
ore
annuunt
favore annuo:
to approve
volucres
canore,
favet
et odore
tellus
picta flore. tellus, telluris (f.) : earth
cor igitur
et cingitur
et tangitur
amore,
virginibus
et avibus
strepentibus sonore. strepo –ui: to make a noise
3.
Tendit modo retia rete (n.): net
puer
pharetratus; pharetratus: wearing a quiver (i.e. Cupid)
cui deorum
curia curia: house
prebet
famulatus, praebeo: to offer; famulatus, –us (m.): servitude
cuius
dominatus dominatus, -us (m.) : command
nimium
est latus, is very
difficult to bear
per
hunc triumphatus
sum
et sauciatus: sauciatus: wounded
pugnaveram
et
fueram
in
primis reluctatus, reluctor:
to resist
sed
iterum
per
puerum i.e.
Cupid
sum
Veneri prostratus.
4.
Unam,
huius vulnere
saucius,
amavi, saucius: wounded
quam
sub firmo federe federe =
foedere (foedus , -eris (n): treaty
michi
copulavi. copulo: to unite
fidem,
quam iuravi, iuro: to swear
numquam
violavi;
rei
tam suavi
totum
me dicavi. dico: to dedicate
quam
dulci
sunt
basia basium: kiss
puelle! iam gustavi: puelle = puellae; gusto: to taste
nec
cinnamum cinnamum: cinnamon
et
balsamum balsamum: fragrant gum of the balsam-tree
esset
tam dulce favi! favus: honey-comb, honey
153a
Vrowe, ih pin dir undertan Lady, I am your servant
des
la mich geniezen! let
me enjoy this!
ih
diene dir, so ih beste chan; I
will serve you as best as I can;
des
wil dih verdriezen. you
will regret that.
nu
wil du mine sinne Now
you want to close
mit
dime gewalte sliezen. my
desire with your sovereignty.
nu
woldih diner minne Now
I want to enjoy
vil
sůze wunne niezen. your
love full with lust.
vil
reine wip, Much
pure lady,
din
schoner lip your
beautiful body
wil
mih ze sere schiezen! wants
to shoot wounds in me!
uz
dime gebot From
your demand
ih
nimmer chume, I
will never withdraw,
obz
alle wibe hiezen! even
if all women order it!
Link
including the middle high German stanza
Link
with the first three stanzas with translation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI115Hc3czQ
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