NoDictionaries.com: You can find the word list for this fable online, and use it interactively (here are some tips on how to make best use of the tool). The word list did not recognize the adjective gracilis, "slight, thin, slender." It also did not recognize vituperavi, the perfect form of vitupero, "blame, reproach, find fault."
READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons or accent marks - and read the text out loud until you feel comfortable and confident. Then, try reading the unmarked text at the bottom. It should be easy for you after practicing with the marked texts. :-)
MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:
Cervus contemplābātur imāginem suam in rīvulō. Laudābat cornua rāmōsa, sed crūrum nimiam gracilitātem vituperābat. Subitō prope canēs tollunt latrātum. Trepidat cervus et cito fugit. Fugientī instant canēs; sed facile eum crūra gracilia auferunt. Currit in silvam. At nunc rāmōsa cornua cervum ubīque impediunt, moxque canēs dentibus eum dīlacerant. Tum moribundus errōrem suum intellexit. Vituperāvī, inquit, crūra vēlōcia, cornua, quae me perdidērunt, laudāvī.
ACCENT MARKS. Here is the text with ecclesiastical accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):
Cervus contemplabátur imáginem suam in rívulo. Laudábat córnua ramósa, sed crurum nímiam gracilitátem vituperábat. Súbito prope canes tollunt latrátum. Trépidat cervus et cito fugit. Fugiénti instant canes; sed fácile eum crura gracília aúferunt. Currit in silvam. At nunc ramósa córnua cervum ubíque impédiunt, moxque canes déntibus eum dilácerant. Tum moribúndus errórem suum intelléxit. Vituperávi, inquit, crura velócia, córnua, quae me perdidérunt, laudávi.
UNMARKED TEXT. Here is the unmarked text - after practicing with the marked text that you prefer, you should not have any trouble with the unmarked text:
Cervus contemplabatur imaginem suam in rivulo. Laudabat cornua ramosa, sed crurum nimiam gracilitatem vituperabat. Subito prope canes tollunt latratum. Trepidat cervus et cito fugit. Fugienti instant canes; sed facile eum crura gracilia auferunt. Currit in silvam. At nunc ramosa cornua cervum ubique impediunt, moxque canes dentibus eum dilacerant. Tum moribundus errorem suum intellexit. Vituperavi, inquit, crura velocia, cornua, quae me perdiderunt, laudavi.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story by the illustrator Milo Winter (image source).
