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:
Apēs in cavā quercū mel faciēbant. Pastor vērō in eās, operī intentās, forte incidit; idque sēdulō agēbat, ut favōs auferret; quod cum sēnsissent apēs, furōre percitae hinc et illinc circumvolant, suīsque hostem abigunt acūleīs. Ille tamen victus, "Valēte (inquit), Ō ferōculae, aeternum valēte! Nōn adeō mel dēsīderō, ut ā vōbīs illud accipiam."
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):
Apes in cava quercu mel faciébant. Pastor vero in eas, óperi inténtas, forte íncidit; idque sédulo agébat, ut favos auférret; quod cum sensíssent apes, furóre pércitae hinc et illinc circúmvolant, suísque hostem ábigunt acúleis. Ille tamen victus, "Valéte (inquit), O feróculae, aetérnum valéte! Non ádeo mel desídero, ut a vobis illud accípiam."
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:
Apes
in cava quercu
mel faciebant.
Pastor vero
in eas, operi intentas,
forte incidit;
idque sedulo agebat,
ut favos auferret;
quod
cum sensissent apes,
furore percitae
hinc et illinc circumvolant,
suisque hostem abigunt aculeis.
Ille tamen victus,
"Valete (inquit),
O feroculae,
aeternum valete!
Non adeo mel desidero,
ut a vobis illud accipiam."
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a swarm of bees!
