Carmina Burana
ca. 1230
Latin text: Carmina Burana, ed. G. Bernt/A. Hilka/O. Schumann, München 1979
English text: me
Carmina potoria (187-226)
211
1.
Alte clamat Epicurus:
venter satur est securus.
venter deus meus erit.
talem deum gula querit,
cuius templum est coquina,
in qua redolent divina.
2.
Ecce deus opportunus,
nullo tempore ieiunus,
ante cibum matutinum
ebrius eructat vinum,
cuius mensa et cratera
sunt beatitudo vera.
3.
Cutis eius semper plena
velut uter et lagena;
iungit prandium cum cena,
unde pinguis rubet gena,
et, si quando surgit vena,
fortior est quam catena.
4.
Sic religionis cultus
in ventre movet tumultus,
rugit venter in agone,
vinum pugnat cum medone;
vita felix otiosa,
circa ventrem operosa.
5.
Venter inquit: nichil curo
preter me. sic me procuro,
ut in pace in id ipsum
molliter gerens me ipsum
super potum, super escam
dormiam et requiescam.
The Songs of the Vessels (187-226)
211
1.
Said profoundly Epicurus:
"A full belly will secure us.
Belly is my precious god.
Mouth prays to him a lot.
Kitchen is his holly shrine,
Where it always smells divine."
2.
Yes, this god is spoilt by Fate.
Soon his hunger will inflate.
After meals in early time,
Pissed again, he throws up vine.
Yet his table and his bowls
Are a truthful bliss for souls.
3.
Always tauten is his skin
Like a bag puffed from within!
Done at once with daily bread,
Cheeks of his are fat and red.
Look at his gigantic vein --
It is stronger than a chain!
4.
Such spiritual routine
Causes storms under the skin.
Little Belly roars in fight,
Fighting vine with honey's might.
What a life! a pure vacation
In the Belly's full equation!
5.
Belly says, "I care for nil
But myself. That's what I will:
I will bring myself in peace,
Feeling pleasure and release.
After drinking/eating more,
I will sleep and have no chore."
