Omittamus studia

Omittamus studia,
dulce est desipere,
et carpamus dulcia
iuventutis tenere!
Res est apta senectuti
seriis intendere,
res est apta iuventuti
leta mente ludere.

Velox etas preterit
studio detenta,
lascivire suggerit
tenera iuventa.

Ver etatis labitur,
hiems nostra properat,
vita damnum patitur,
cura carnem macerat.
Sanguis aret, hebet pectus,
minuuntur gaudia,
nos deterret iam senectus
morborum familia.

Velox etas preterit …

Imitemur superos!
Digna est sententia,
et amoris teneros
iam venantur recia.
voto nostro serviamus!
Mos est iste numinum.
Ad plateas descendamus
et choreas virginum!

Velox etas preterit …

Ibi, que fit facilis,
est videndi copia,
ibi fulget mobilis
membrorum lascivia.
Dum puelle se movendo
gestibus lasciviunt,
asto videns, et videndo
me michi subripiunt.

Velox etas preterit …
-from Carmina Burana

TRANSLATION:
Let’s lay aside our studies,
it’s fun to play the fool,
let’s seize the sweetness
of tender youth!
It’s fitting for old age
to deal with serious things;
it’s fitting for youth
to play joyfully.

Life passes by quickly
when you’re tied down by studying;
youth prefers
to have fun.

The springtime of life is slipping away,
our winter fast approaches,
losses increase with age,
worries wear out the body,
the blood dries up, the heart becomes sluggish, our pleasures fade;
old age, with its collection of ills,
already terrifies us.

Life passes by quickly …

Let’s imitate the gods!
That’s a worthy plan;
the nets of Amor are already
hunting the young.
Let’s follow our desires
as is the custom of the gods.
Let’s go down to the streets
and dance with the maidens.

Life passes by quickly …

There is so much to see there,
and seeing is easy;
moving limbs
flash playfully.
While the girls dance
with lascivious gestures,
I stand watching, and while watching,
they steal my senses away.

Life passes by quickly …