This is fable 56a Hervieux's edition. Although this is not a classical fable, the tricky flea would be very much at home in the world of Aesop.
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:
Sīc dīcitur dē Pūlice, quem cēpit Abbās dīcēns: Nunc tē teneō; saepe mē punxistī, ā somnō excitāstī; nunquam tē dimittam, sed statim interficiam. Dīxit Pūlex: Pater sancte, ex quō mē interficere prōpōnis, pōne mē in palmā tuā, ut līberē valeam peccāta mea confitērī. Cum confessus fuerō, poteris mē interficere. Abbās, pietāte mōtus, posuit Pūlicem in mediō palmae. Pūlex statim exilīvit et per saltum ēvāsit. Abbās Pūlicem fortiter vocāvit, sed redīre nōluit. Sīc plērīque, in artō positī, intereā prōmittunt; sed, cum ēvāsērunt, nihil persolvunt.
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):
Sic dícitur de Púlice, quem cepit Abbas dicens: Nunc te téneo; saepe me punxísti, a somno excitásti; nunquam te dimíttam, sed statim interfíciam. Dixit Pulex: Pater sancte, ex quo me interfícere propónis, pone me in palma tua, ut líbere váleam peccáta mea confitéri. Cum conféssus fúero, póteris me interfícere. Abbas, pietáte motus, pósuit Púlicem in médio palmae. Pulex statim exilívit et per saltum evásit. Abbas Púlicem fórtiter vocávit, sed redíre nóluit. Sic pleríque, in arto pósiti, intérea promíttunt; sed, cum evasérunt, nihil persólvunt.
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:
Sic dicitur de Pulice,
quem cepit
Abbas dicens:
Nunc te teneo;
saepe me punxisti,
a somno excitasti;
nunquam te dimittam,
sed statim interficiam.
Dixit Pulex:
Pater sancte,
ex quo
me interficere proponis,
pone me in palma tua,
ut libere valeam
peccata mea confiteri.
Cum confessus fuero,
poteris me interficere.
Abbas, pietate motus,
posuit Pulicem in medio palmae.
Pulex statim exilivit
et per saltum evasit.
Abbas
Pulicem fortiter vocavit,
sed redire noluit.
Sic plerique,
in arto positi,
interea promittunt;
sed, cum evaserunt,
nihil persolvunt.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a talking flea:
