Saturday, August 22, 2009

Corvus et Vulpes (Via Latina)

SOURCE: Via Latina. For more information and other versions, see the links list for Perry 124.

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 dictionary list did not recognize the contracted form subvolarat = subvolaverat, from subvolo, "fly up."

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:

Corvus alicunde cāseum rapuerat, et cum illō in altam arborem subvolārat. Vulpēcula, illum cāseum appetēns, corvum blandīs verbīs adoritur; cumque prīmum fōrmam ēius pennārumque nitōrem laudāsset, Pol, inquit, tē avium rēgem esse dīcerem, sī cantus pulchritūdinī tuae respondēret. Tum ille, laudibus vulpis inflātus, etiam cantū sē valēre dēmōnstrāre voluit. Ita vērō ē rōstrō apertō cāseus dēlapsus est, quem vulpēs arreptum dēvorāvit.



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):

Corvus alicúnde cáseum rapúerat, et cum illo in altam árborem subvolárat. Vulpécula, illum cáseum áppetens, corvum blandis verbis adóritur; cumque primum formam eius pennarúmque nitórem laudásset, Pol, inquit, te ávium regem esse dícerem, si cantus pulchritúdini tuae respondéret. Tum ille, laúdibus vulpis inflátus, etiam cantu se valére demonstráre vóluit. Ita vero e rostro apérto cáseus delápsus est, quem vulpes arréptum devorávit.



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:

Corvus alicunde caseum rapuerat, et cum illo in altam arborem subvolarat. Vulpecula, illum caseum appetens, corvum blandis verbis adoritur; cumque primum formam eius pennarumque nitorem laudasset, Pol, inquit, te avium regem esse dicerem, si cantus pulchritudini tuae responderet. Tum ille, laudibus vulpis inflatus, etiam cantu se valere demonstrare voluit. Ita vero e rostro aperto caseus delapsus est, quem vulpes arreptum devoravit.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) from Jacobs' edition of Aesop's fables: