Firstpublished:1586 in Opus musicum, Volume 1, no. 66 Description: A motet meditating on the fleeting nature of human life, appropriate for Lent.
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Original text and translations
Latin text
Audi tellus, audi magni maris limbus,
Audi omne, quod vivit sub sole,
Huius mundi decus et gloria
Quam sint falsa et transitoria,
Ut testantur haec temporalia,
Non in uno statu manentia.
Nulli valet regalis dignitas,
Nulli valet corporis quantitas.
Nulli artium valet profunditas,
Nulli magnae valent divitiae,
Nullum salvat genus aut species,
Nulli prodest auri congeries.
Transierunt rerum materies,
Ut a sole liquescit glacies.
Ubi Plato, ubi Porphyrius;
Ubi Tullius aut Virgilius;
Ubi Thales, ubi Empedocles
Aut egregius Aristoteles;
Alexander ubi rex maximus;
Ubi Hector Troiae fortissimus;
Ubi David rex doctissimus;
Ubi Salomon prudentissimus;
Ubi Absolon pulcherrimus
Cum Helena Paris pulcherrima
Ceciderunt in profundum ut lapides:
Quis scit, an detur eis requies.
Sed tu, Deus, rector fidelium,
Fac te nobis semper propitium,
Cum de malis fiet iudicium.
English translation
Hear, O earth, hear, boundary of the great sea,
Hear all that lives under the sun,
The splendour and glory of this world—
How false and fleeting they are,
As these temporal things bear witness,
Not remaining in one state.
Royal dignity avails no one,
Nor does bodily greatness avail anyone.
Depth of learning avails no one,
Great riches avail no one,
No lineage or appearance saves anyone,
A heap of gold profits no one.
The substance of things has passed away,
As ice melts from the sun.
Where is Plato, where is Porphyry?
Where is Tullius (Cicero) or Virgil?
Where is Thales, where is Empedocles,
Or the distinguished Aristotle?
Where is Alexander, the greatest king?
Where is Hector, the bravest of Troy?
Where is David, the most learned king?
Where is Solomon, the wisest?
Where is Absolom, the most beautiful,
With Helen and fair-haired Paris?
They fell into the deep like stones:
Who knows whether rest is given to them?
But You, God, ruler of the faithful,
Make Yourself always gracious to us,
When judgment will be made upon the wicked.
Latin text
English translation