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:
Quīdam homo monēdulam captat; avis pedem fīlō alligat, et avem fīliō trādit. Vīta inter hominēs avī nōn grāta est; tandem illa vinculum rumpit, et lībertātem recuperat. Tum lībera in suum nīdum volat. Ēheu! vinculum rāmīs haeret, nec avis nōdum solvere valet. Inde sub mortem ita suum fātum lūget. Mē miseram! lībertas mē necāvit, ex servitūte in mortem volāvī.
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):
Quidam homo monédulam captat; avis pedem filo álligat, et avem fílio tradit. Vita inter hómines avi non grata est; tandem illa vínculum rumpit, et libertátem recúperat. Tum líbera in suum nidum volat. Eheu! vínculum ramis haeret, nec avis nodum sólvere valet. Inde sub mortem ita suum fatum luget. Me míseram! libértas me necávit, ex servitúte in mortem volávi.
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:
Quidam homo
monedulam captat;
avis pedem filo alligat,
et avem filio tradit.
Vita inter homines
avi non grata est;
tandem illa
vinculum rumpit,
et libertatem recuperat.
Tum libera
in suum nidum volat.
Eheu! vinculum ramis haeret,
nec avis nodum solvere valet.
Inde sub mortem
ita suum fatum luget.
Me miseram!
libertas me necavit,
ex servitute in mortem volavi.
Here is an illustration from the Medici Aesop, which is online at the New York Public Library website.
