Jubilemus Regi nostro magno ac potenti!
Let us praise our King great and powerful!
Resonemus laude digna voce competenti!
Let us resound with worthy praise and fitting song!
Resonet iocunda turba sollemnibus odis!
Let the merry throng break forth in solemn chants;
Cytharizent, plaudant manus, mille sonent modis!
Let them play their harps, clap their hands, sing a thousand tunes.
Pater ejus destruens Judaeorum templa magna fecit,
His father did a great thing in destroying the temple of the Jews,
et hic regnat ejus per exempla.
and now this one reigns by his father's example.
Pater ejus spoliavit regnum Judaeorum;
His father took great booty from the kingdom of the Jews;
hic exaltat sua festa decore vasorum.
now this one can make his feats more splendid with such handsome vessels.
Haec sunt vasa regia quibus spoliatur
These are the royal vessels which were taken
Jerusalem et regalis Babylon ditatur.
from Jerusalem, and now adorn regal Babylon.
Praesentemus Balthasar ista Regi nostro,
Let us present them to Balthasar, to our King
qui sic suos perornavit purpura et ostro.
who vests his subjects in courtly purple.
Iste potens, iste fortis, iste gloriosus,
He is powerful, he is strong, he is glorious.
iste probus, curialis, decens et formosus.
He is valiant, courtly, handsome and comely.
jubilemus Regi tanto vocibus canoris;
Let us praise so great a King in sonorous voices;
resonemus omnes una laudibus sonoris.
Together lets us sound forth in harmonious praises.
Ridens plaudit Babylon,
With laughter, Babylon rejoices;
Jerusalem plorat; haec orbatur,
Jerusalem weeps. She has been deprived of her children,
haec triumphans Balthasar adorat.
while Babylon in triumph venerates King Balthasar.
Omnes ergo exultemus tantae potestati,
Therefore, let everyone rejoice at such great power.
offerentes Regis vasa suae maiestati.
Offering these vessels of the King to His Majesty.
Cum Judaeae captivis populis
Together with the captives of Judea
prophetiae doctum oraculis Danielem
one Daniel, learned in prophetic oracles,
a sua patria
was brought to here, far from his home,
captivavit patris victoria.
captured by your father's victory.
Hic sub tuo vivens imperio,
Since he lives now under your rule,
ut mandetur, requirit ratio.
reason demands he be summoned here.
Ergo manda, ne sit dilatio,
Command at once, let there be no delay,
nam docebit quod celat visio.
for he will explain what the vision conceals.
Vir propheta Dei, Daniel, vien al Roi.
O prophet of God, Daniel, come to the King.
Veni, desiderat parler a toi.
Come, he wishes to speak with you.
Pavet et turbatur, Daniel, vien al Roi,
He is afraid and disturbed, Daniel, come to the King.
Vellet quod nos latet savoir par toi
He wishes to know from you what is hidden from us.
Te ditabit donis, Daniel, vien al Roi,
He will enrich you with gifts, Daniel, come to the King,
Si scripta poterit savoir par toi.
if he can learn through you the meaning of the writing.
Multum miror cujus consilio
I am much in wonder on whose advice
me requirat regalis jussio.
the royal command seeks me out.
Ibo tamen, et erit cognitum
I shall go, nonetheless, and make known,
per me gratis quod est absconditum.
unrewarded, what is hidden.
Tu ne Daniel nomine diceris
Are you not called Daniel,
huc adductus cum Judaeae miseris?
brought here with the wretches of Judea?
Dicunt te habere Dei spiritum
They say you have the spirit of God
et praescire quodlibet absconditum.
and foresee whatever is hidden.
Si ergo potes scripturam solvere,
If then you can solve this writing,
immensis muneribus ditabere.
you will be enriched with countless gifts.
Nam cum Deo non ambulans,
For, not walking with God,
se sese Deum simulans,
but making of himself a god,
vasa tempio diripuit
he stole the vessels of the temple
quae suo usu habuit.
and put them to his own use.
Sed post multas insanias
But after many such mad deeds
tandem perdens divitias
at the end he lost his wealth,
forma nudatus hominis,
and deprived of human form,
pastum gustavit graminis.
he fed on repasts of grass.
Tu quoque ejus filius,
And you, his son, as well,
non ipso minus impius,
no less wicked than he,
dum patris actus sequeris,
in following his example,
vasis eisdem uteris;
use these very same vessels.
quod quia Deo displicet,
Since this is displeasing to God,
instat tempus quo vindicet.
the time of His vengeance is at hand,
Nam scripturae indicium
The meaning of the writing
minatur iam supplicium,
is to warn of retribution.
Nos quibus occasio ludendi
We who have this solemn day
hac die conceditur sollemni,
occasion to perform this play,
demus huic praeconia devoti,
with reverence sing her praise.
veniant et concinent remoti.
Let all come along and join in song.
Audite, Principes regalis curiae,
Hear, O princes of the king's court,
qui leges regitis totius patriae.
who make the laws of the whole land.
Est quidam sapiens in Babylonia,
There is one most wise in Babylonia,
secreta reserans deorum gratia.
who by the grace of God opens all secrets.
Decreverunt in tua Curia principandi quibus est gloria,
It was decreed in your court by those who rule in glory
ut ad tui rigorem nominis omni spreto vigore numinis,
that by the authority of your name all other gods
per triginta dierum spatium
should be ignored for the space of thirty days,
adoreris ut Deus omnium,
and you be adored as the god of all,
Si quis ausu tam temerario
If anyone be rash in boldness
renuerit tuo consilio,
and be opposed to your command,
ut praeter te colatur deitas,
adore another god than you,
iudicii sit talis firmitas,
so firm let then the judgment be
in leonum tradatur foveam,
that he be thrown in the lions' den,
sic dicatur per totam regiam.
Let this be cried through all the realm,
Nunquid, Dari, observari statuisti omnibus
Darius, did you not decree this should be obeyed by all,
qui orare vel rogare quicquam a numinibus,
that none adore nor yet implore any god but you alone,
Ni te deum, ilium reum daremus leonibus,
The man who disobeys this law to the lions should be thrown;
hoc edictum sic indictum fuit a princibus.
this was ordained and so proclaimed by the princes of the land.
Heu! heu! heu! quo casu sortis
Alas, alas, alas! by what fate
venit haec damnatio mortis?
am I condemned to death?
Heu! heu! heu! scelus infandum!
Alas, alas, alas! O unspeakable crime!
Cur me dabit ad lacerandum
Why does this crowd of cruel men
haec fera turba feris?
give me to be torn in the wild beasts' den?
Sic me, Rex, perdere quaeris!
Is it thus, O King, that you wish me to perish?
Heu! qua morte mori me cogis?
Alas! By what death do you doom me to die?
Spare your anger.
Parce furori.
Surge, frater, ut cibum capias;
Rise up, brother, and take the food;
tuas Deus vidit angustias;
God has seen your afflictions;
Deus misit, da Deo gratias,
God has sent it, give thanks to God,
qui te fecit.
the God who made you.
Nuntium vobis fero de supernis
I bring you a message from on high
natus est Christus, Dominator orbis,
Christ is born, the Ruler of the world,
in Bethleem ludae,
sic enim propheta dixerat ante.
in Bethlehem of Judea,
just as the prophet has foretold.