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:
Fīcus diū multis avibus adversus sōlis calōrem hospitium umbrōsum et adversus famem praeclārōs fructūs largē praebuerat. Tandem fulmen fīcum ferit, folia adūrit, fructūs perdit. Prōtinus avēs procul avolāvērunt, neque ulla posteā ramōs revīsit āridōs. Quem fortūna dēseruit, eum adulātōrēs quoque dēseruērunt.
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):
Ficus diu multis ávibus advérsus solis calórem hospítium umbrósum et advérsus famem praecláros fructus large praebúerat. Tandem fulmen ficum ferit, fólia adúrit, fructus perdit. Prótinus aves procul avolavérunt, neque ulla póstea ramos revísit áridos. Quem fortúna deséruit, eum adulatóres quoque deseruérunt.
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:
Ficus diu
multis avibus
adversus solis calorem
hospitium umbrosum
et adversus famem
praeclaros fructus
large praebuerat.
Tandem fulmen
ficum ferit,
folia adurit,
fructus perdit.
Protinus aves
procul avolaverunt,
neque ulla postea
ramos revisit aridos.
Quem
fortuna deseruit,
eum
adulatores quoque deseruerunt.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing a very impressive fig tree... before lightning strikes!
