O Fortune, changeable in state like the moon, ever waxing or waning; loathsome life now hardens, and then soothes, in play, the sharpness of the mind; poverty and power it melts away like ice. Monstrous and empty Fate, thou turning wheel, evil thy state, vain thy welfare, ever dissolving; shadowed and veiled, against me too thou dost strive; now through thy play I bear a bared back beneath thy wickedness. The lot of health and of virtue is now turned against me; in misery, in misery! Now it hardens, and then it soothes, in play, the sharpness of the mind.
When we are in the tavern, we do not care what the ground is, but we hasten to the game, over which we always sweat. What goes on in the tavern, where money is the cup-bearer—this is the business worth inquiring after; if I say anything, let it be heard. Some gamble, some drink, some live without restraint. But of those who linger at the game, some are stripped bare, some are clothed there, some are dressed in sacks. There no one fears death, but for Bacchus they cast lots.
Now, now the meadows grow green, now, now the maidens, blossoming, take their delight in the meadow: behold, now the joys return. Fierce winter has passed away, and now the swarms of swallows draw near; the grove grows green again, the chorus of maidens now rejoices by the grace of Venus. The meadows now laugh, the flowers now spring up, the nightingale now sings sweetly, and invites us to the joys of love.
A girl stood in a red tunic; if anyone touched her, the tunic rustled. Aha! A girl stood like a little rose: her face shone bright and her mouth blossomed. Aha! He begins, addressing the maiden: 'With dew thou shouldst touch me, or touch me with thy bosom, my daughter.' He laid down his lap, bent his little knee, led the maiden into the dance. Singing songs in varied tones, to the maiden's applause come forth, ye maidens.
The time is joyful, O maidens! Now rejoice together, you young men. Oh! Oh! I am all in bloom! Now with maidenly love I am all afire; new, new is the love by which I perish. My maidenhood sports with me; Venus draws me into that love. Oh! Oh! I am all in bloom! She is the flower of girls whom I love, and the rose of roses whom I always desire. In hope of thee, through every turn of the nights, thou dost release me from my pains. Oh! Oh! I am all in bloom!
Burning inwardly with vehement anger, in bitterness I speak to my own mind; made of the matter of a lighter element, I am like a leaf with which the winds make sport. Whereas it is proper to a wise man to set the seat of his foundation upon a rock, I, a fool, am like a flowing river, never staying still beneath the same course. I am borne along like a ship without a sailor, as a wandering bird is carried through the ways of the air; no chains hold me, no key holds me; I seek out my likes and am joined to the depraved.