5 Ecce gratum (Chorus) (Behold, the pleasant spring)


Ecce gratum                         Behold, the pleasant
et optatum                          and longed-for
Ver reducit gaudia,                 spring brings back joyfulness,
purpuratum                          violet flowers
floret pratum,                      fill the meadows,
Sol serenat omnia.                  the sun brightens everything,
Iamiam cedant tristia!              sadness is now at an end!
Estas redit,                        Summer returns,
nunc recedit                        now withdraw
Hyemis sevitia.                     the rigours of winter. Ah!

Iam liquescit                       Now melts
et decrescit                        and disappears
grando, nix et cetera;              ice, snow and the rest,
bruma fugit,                        winter flees,
et iam sugit                        and now spring sucks at summer's breast:
Ver Estatis ubera;                  a wretched soul is he
illi mens est misera,               who does not live
qui nec vivit,                      or lust
nec lascivit                        under summer's rule. Ah!
sub Estatis dextera.

Gloriantur                          They glory
et letantur                         and rejoice
in melle dulcedinis,                in honeyed sweetness
qui conantur,                       who strive
ut utantur                          to make use of
premio Cupidinis:                   Cupid's prize;
simus jussu Cypridis                at Venus' command
gloriantes                          let us glory
et letantes                         and rejoice
pares esse Paridis.                 in being Paris' equals. Ah!

Uf dem anger

6. Tanz (Dance)

7. Floret silva nobilis (The woods are burgeoning)


(Chorus)
Floret silva nobilis                The noble woods are burgeoning
floribus et foliis.                 with flowers and leaves.

(Small Chorus)
Ubi est antiquus                    Where is the lover
meus amicus?                        I knew? Ah!
Hinc equitavit,                     He has ridden off!
eia, quis me amabit?                Oh! Who will love me? Ah!

(Chorus)
Floret silva undique,               The woods are burgeoning all over,
nah min gesellen ist mir we.        I am pining for my lover.

(Small Chorus)
Gruonet der walt allenthalben,      The woods are turning green all over,
wa ist min geselle alse lange?      why is my lover away so long? Ah!
Der ist geriten hinnen,             He has ridden off,
o wi, wer sol mich minnen?          Oh woe, who will love me? Ah!

8. Chramer, gip die varwe mir (Shopkeeper, give me colour)

(Semi-Chorus)
Chramer, gip die varwe mir,         Shopkeeper, give me colour
die min wengel roete,               to make my cheeks red,
damit ich die jungen man            so that I can make the young men
an ir dank der minnenliebe noete.   love me, against their will.
Seht mich an,                       Look at me,
jungen man!                         young men!
lat mich iu gevallen!               Let me please you!

Minnet, tugentliche man,            Good men, love
minnecliche frouwen!                women worthy of love!
minne tuot iu hoch gemout           Love ennobles your spirit
unde lat iuch in hohen eren schouwen and gives you honour.
Seht mich an                        Look at me,
jungen man!                         young men!
lat mich iu gevallen!               Let me please you!

Wol dir, werit, daz du bist         Hail, world,
also freudenriche!                  so rich in joys!
ich will dir sin undertan           I will be obedient to you
durch din liebe immer sicherliche.  because of the pleasures you afford.
Seht mich an,                       Look at me,
jungen man!                         young men!
lat mich iu gevallen!               Let me please you!

9. Reie (Round dance)

Swaz hie gat umbe

Swaz hie gat umbe,                  Those who go round and round
daz sint alles megede,              are all maidens,
die wellent an man                  they want to do without a man
allen disen sumer gan!              all summer long. Ah! Sla!

Chume, chum, geselle min

Chume, chum, geselle min,           Come, come, my love,
ih enbite harte din,                I long for you,
ih enbite harte din,                I long for you,
chume, chum, geselle min.           come, come, my love.

Suzer rosenvarwer munt,             Sweet rose-red lips,
chum un mache mich gesunt           come and make me better,
chum un mache mich gesunt,          come and make me better,
suzer rosenvarwer munt              sweet rose-red lips.

Swaz hie gat umbe

Swaz hie gat umbe,                  Those who go round and round
daz sint alles megede,              are all maidens,
die wellent an man                  they want to do without a man
allen disen sumer gan!              all summer long. Ah! Sla!

10. Were diu werlt alle min (Were all the world mine)

Were diu werlt alle min             Were all the world mine
von deme mere unze an den Rin       from the sea to the Rhine,
des wolt ih mih darben,             I would starve myself of it
daz diu chunegin von Engellant      so that the queen of England
lege an minen armen.                might lie in my arms.

16. Dies, nox et omnia (Day, night and everything)

Dies, nox et omnia                  Day, night and everything
michi sunt contraria;               is against me,
virginum colloquia                  the chattering of maidens
me fay planszer,                    makes me weep,
oy suvenz suspirer,                 and often sigh,
plu me fay temer.                   and, most of all, scares me.

O sodales, ludite,                  O friends, you are making fun of me,
vos qui scitis dicite               you do not know what you are saying,
michi mesto parcite,                spare me, sorrowful as I am,
grand ey dolur,                     great is my grief,
attamen consulite                   advise me at least,
per voster honur.                   by your honour.

Tua pulchra facies                  Your beautiful face,
me fay planszer milies,             makes me weep a thousand times,
pectus habet glacies.               your heart is of ice.
A remender                          As a cure,
statim vivus fierem                 I would be revived
per un baser.                       by a kiss.

23. Dulcissime (Sweetest one)

Dulcissime,                         Sweetest one! Ah!
totam tibi subdo me!                I give myself to you totally!

Blanziflor Et Helena

24. Ave formosissima (Hail, most beautiful one)

Ave formosissima,                   Hail, most beautiful one,
gemma pretiosa,                     precious jewel,
ave decus virginum,                 Hail, pride among virgins,
virgo gloriosa,                     glorious virgin,
ave mundi luminar,                  Hail. light of the world,
ave mundi rosa,                     Hail, rose of the world,
Blanziflor et Helena,               Blanchefleur and Helen,
Venus generosa!                     noble Venus!

Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi

25. O Fortuna (O Fortune)

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 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!