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.