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:
Agricola quīdam ad Poētam accēdēns, cuius agrōs colēbat, cum eum inter librōs sōlum offendisset, interrogāvit eum quō pactō ita sōlus vīvere posset? Cui ille: Sōlus, inquit, tantum esse coepī, postquam tē huc contulistī. Haec indicat fābula, ērudītōs virōs, quī doctissimōrum virōrum turba continuē stīpantur, tunc sōlōs esse, cum inter illiterātōs hominēs fuerint.
ACCENT MARKS. Here is the text with stress accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):
Agrícola quidam ad Poétam accédens, cuius agros colébat, cum eum inter libros solum offendísset, interrogávit eum quo pacto ita solus vívere posset? Cui ille: "Solus (inquit) tantum esse coepi, postquam te huc contulísti." Haec índicat fábula erudítos viros, qui doctissimórum virórum turba contínue stipántur, tunc solos esse, cum inter illiterátos hómines fúerint.
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. I've put in some line breaks to show the natural pauses in the story:
Agricola quidam
ad Poetam accedens,
cuius agros colebat,
cum eum
inter libros solum offendisset,
interrogavit eum
quo pacto ita solus vivere posset?
Cui ille:
"Solus (inquit)
tantum esse coepi,
postquam te huc contulisti."
Haec indicat fabula
eruditos viros,
qui doctissimorum virorum turba
continue stipantur,
tunc solos esse,
cum inter illiteratos homines fuerint.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), the man who is alone with his thoughts... and therefore not alone at all!
