In the Mediaeval world, they knew that power did not last forever; unfortunately, some of our 21st century leaders think it does.
[1]
Fortūne plangō vulnera │ I lament the wounds of Fortune
stillantibus ocellīs, │ with dripping (flowing / tearful) eyes
quod sua michi mūnera / subtrahit rebellis. │ because she rebelliously withdraws her gifts from me
vērum est, quod legitur │ It is true what is read
fronte capillāta, / sed plērumque sequitur / Occāsiō calvāta. │ Opportunity has hair at the front, but generally a bald patch follows
[2]
In Fortūne soliō │ On the throne of Fortune
sēderam ēlātus, │ I had sat exalted (raised up; elevated)
prōsperitātis variō / flōre corōnātus; │ Crowned with the many-coloured flower of prosperity
quicquid enim flōruī │ for however (in whatever way) I have flourished
fēlīx et beātus │ happy and blessed
nunc ā summō corruī │ now I have fallen down from the top
glōriā prīvātus. │ deprived of glory.
[3]
Fortūne rota volvitur; │ the wheel of Fortune is turned
dēscendō minōrātus; │ I descend diminished
alter in altum tollitur; │ another is raised up on high
nimis exaltātus │ too exalted
rēx sedet in vertice │ the king sits at the top
caveat ruīnam! │ let him beware ruin!
nam sub axe legimus │ for below the axle we read
Hecubam rēgīnam. │ Queen Hecuba.
Mediaeval pronunciation:
[i] fortūne = fortūnae; spelling change to reflect pronunication shift of Classical Latin /ae/ > /e/
[ii] vulnera [vool-ne-ra]; all letter v’s in the text are pronounced as in Engl. very; CL did not have a /v/ sound but developed later; CL letter V represented a /u/ or /w/ but since this text is Mediaeval, the singers reflect the pronunciation change by this period; that pronunciation is also in Ecclesiastical Latin although this song is secular
[iii] michi = mihi
[iv] ocellīs: c + e as /che/ rather than CL hard /c/ [k]; similarly: dēscendō; vertice
[v] legitur: g + i as soft /g/ as in English /j/ rather than CL hard /g/ [as in get]; similarly: legimus; rēginam
