Olim lacus colueram II. In Taberna by Carl Orff Lyrics

Latina

[Solo per Tenore e Coro (Tenori e Bassi)]

Cignus ustus cantat:

Olim lacus colueram,
olim pulcher exiteram,
dum cignus ego fueram.

Miser, miser!
modo niger
et ustus fortiter!

Girat, regirat garcifer;
me rogus urit fortiter:
propinat me nunc dapifer.

Miser, miser! etc.

Nunc in scutella iaceo,
et volitare nequeo,
dentes frendentes video:
Miser, miser! etc.

 
English

[Tenor soloist and male Chorus]

The roasted swan sings:

Once I lived on lakes,
once I looked beautiful,
when I was a swan.

Misery me!
Now black
and roasting fiercely!

The servant is turning me on the spit;
I am burning fiercely on the pyre:
the steward now serves me up.

Misery me! etc.

Now I lie on a plate,
and cannot fly anymore,
I see bared teeth:
Misery me! etc.