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:
Gallī duo, ut eōrum mos est, inter sē dē ducātū gallīnārum ācerrimē certābant. Quī superior in pugnā fuerat, ālārum plausū, vōcisque cantū sē victōrem fuisse significāns, venere et ōtiō ēmarcuit. Victus autem ā cōnspectū gallīnārum profugiēns, cum cornīcibus et pāvōnibus sēsē quotīdiē pugnandō exercēbat: inferendī, vītandīque ictūs artem ēdiscēbat: quī ubī sē satis īnstructum vīdit, rediēns, adversarium ad pugnam prōvocātum nullō negotiō superāvit. Fābula indicat nihil aequē mīlitēs ēnervāre, quam nimium veneris ūsum, dēsuētūdinemque pugnandī.
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):
Galli duo, ut eórum mos est, inter se de ducátu gallinárum acérrime certábant. Qui supérior in pugna fúerat, alárum plausu, vocísque cantu se victórem fuísse signíficans, vénere et ótio emárcuit. Victus autem a conspéctu gallinárum profúgiens, cum cornícibus et pavónibus sese quotídie pugnándo exercébat: inferéndi, vitandíque ictus artem ediscébat: qui ubi se satis instrúctum vidit, rédiens, adversárium ad pugnam provocátum nullo negótio superávit. Fábula índicat nihil aeque mílites enerváre, quam nímium véneris usum, desuetudinémque pugnándi.
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:
Galli duo,
ut eorum mos est,
inter se
de ducatu gallinarum
acerrime certabant.
Qui superior in pugna fuerat,
alarum plausu,
vocisque cantu
se victorem fuisse significans,
venere et otio emarcuit.
Victus autem
a conspectu gallinarum profugiens,
cum cornicibus et pavonibus
sese quotidie pugnando exercebat:
inferendi, vitandique ictus
artem ediscebat:
qui
ubi se satis instructum vidit,
rediens,
adversarium
ad pugnam provocatum
nullo negotio superavit.
Fabula indicat
nihil aeque milites enervare,
quam nimium veneris usum,
desuetudinemque pugnandi.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing two roosters fighting - which one do you think is going to fall a victim to love's sway, eh?
