SOURCE: Aesop’s Fables in Latin: Ancient Wit and Wisdom from the Animal Kingdom. For more information - including vocabulary lists and grammar comments - see the page for this fable at the Aesopus Ning.
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:
Alauda positōs in segete Pullōs monet ut, dum ipsa abest, dīligenter attendant praetereuntium sermōnēs Dē messe. Redit ā pastū Māter. Pullī anxiī narrant Dominum agrī operam illam mandāsse vīcīnīs. Respondet nihil esse perīculī. Item, aliō diē, trepidī aiunt rogātōs ad metendum esse amīcōs. Iubet iterum illa ut sint sēcūrī. Tertiō, ut audīvit ipsum Dominum cum fīliō statuisse postrēmo māne cum falce messem intrāre, “Iam (inquit) est tempus ut fugiāmus. Dominum enim agrī timeō, quia probē sciō quod illī rēs cordī est.”
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):
Aláuda pósitos in ségete Pullos monet ut, dum ipsa abest, diligénter atténdant praetereúntium sermónes de messe. Redit a pastu Mater. Pulli ánxii narrant Dóminum agri óperam illam mandásse vicínis. Respóndet nihil esse perículi. Item, álio die, trépidi aiunt rogátos ad meténdum esse amícos. Iubet íterum illa ut sint secúri. Tértio, ut audívit ipsum Dóminum cum fílio statuísse postrémo mane cum falce messem intráre, “Iam (inquit) est tempus ut fugiámus. Dóminum enim agri tímeo, quia probe scio quod illi res cordi est.”
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:
Alauda positos in segete Pullos monet ut, dum ipsa abest, diligenter attendant praetereuntium sermones de messe. Redit a pastu Mater. Pulli anxii narrant Dominum agri operam illam mandasse vicinis. Respondet nihil esse periculi. Item, alio die, trepidi aiunt rogatos ad metendum esse amicos. Iubet iterum illa ut sint securi. Tertio, ut audivit ipsum Dominum cum filio statuisse postremo mane cum falce messem intrare, “Iam (inquit) est tempus ut fugiamus. Dominum enim agri timeo, quia probe scio quod illi res cordi est.”
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source).