Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Colonus Ignavus (Potts)

SOURCE: Aditus Faciliores, by A. W. Potts and C. Darnell at GoogleBooks. This is not a classical Aesop's fable, but it fits very much in the "the god helps them that help themselves" tradition.

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:

Colōnus quīdam, homo piger et iners, ignāviam suam semper excūsābat, culpamque in aliōs conferēns exclāmābat, Nēmō mē adiuvat: adiūtōre opus est. Villicus, quī querēlam audīverat, Quid est? (inquit) Decem habēs adiūtōrēs. Minimē vērō, rēspondit colōnus. Tum villicus, Sustolle (inquit) manūs tuās. Nonne decem habēs digitōs? Hīs sī gnāviter ūtēris, nunquam tibi dēerunt adiūtōrēs.


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):

Colónus quidam, homo piger et iners, ignáviam suam semper excusábat, culpámque in álios cónferens exclamábat, Nemo me ádiuvat: adiutóre opus est. Víllicus, qui querélam audíverat, Quid est? (inquit) Decem habes adiutóres. Mínime vero, respóndit colónus. Tum víllicus, Sustólle (inquit) manus tuas. Nonne decem habes dígitos? His si gnáviter utéris, nunquam tibi déerunt adiutóres.


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:

Colonus quidam,
homo piger et iners,
ignaviam suam semper excusabat,
culpamque in alios conferens
exclamabat,
Nemo me adiuvat:
adiutore opus est.
Villicus, qui querelam audiverat,
Quid est? (inquit)
Decem habes adiutores.
Minime vero,
respondit colonus.
Tum villicus,
Sustolle (inquit) manus tuas.
Nonne decem habes digitos?
His si gnaviter uteris,
nunquam tibi deerunt adiutores.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing some hard-working hands: