Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Vulpes et Leo in Spelunca (Miller)

SOURCE: Miller & Beeson. For more information and other versions, see the links list for Perry 142.

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).

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:

Leōnī, quod senectūte cōnfectus erat, difficile erat sibi vīctum comparāre. Itaque morbum simulāvit. Tum multae bēstiae aegrōtō rēgī adpropinquābant, ut eum salūtārent. Ille autem omnēs comprehendit atque lacerāvit. Postquam multās bēstias lacerāvit, etiam vulpēs aderat, et rēgem salūtāns ante spēluncam manēbat. Leō ubi eam vīdit, rogāvit, cūr nōn intrāret. At vulpēs respondit: Vestīgia terrent; nōn intrāre melius erit. Prūdentēs aliēnā calamitāte monentur.



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):

Leóni, quod senectúte conféctus erat, diffícile erat sibi victum comparáre. Ítaque morbum simulávit. Tum multae béstiae aegróto regi adpropinquábant, ut eum salutárent. Ille autem omnes comprehéndit atque lacerávit. Postquam multas béstias lacerávit, etiam vulpes áderat, et regem salútans ante spelúncam manébat. Leo ubi eam vidit, rogávit, cur non intráret. At vulpes respóndit: Vestígia terrent; non intráre mélius erit. Prudéntes aliéna calamitáte monéntur.



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:

Leoni, quod senectute confectus erat, difficile erat sibi victum comparare. Itaque morbum simulavit. Tum multae bestiae aegroto regi adpropinquabant, ut eum salutarent. Ille autem omnes comprehendit atque laceravit. Postquam multas bestias laceravit, etiam vulpes aderat, et regem salutans ante speluncam manebat. Leo ubi eam vidit, rogavit, cur non intraret. At vulpes respondit: Vestigia terrent; non intrare melius erit. Prudentes aliena calamitate monentur.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) from a Renaissance edition of the fables: