Thursday, April 29, 2010

Musca et Formica (Odo)

SOURCE: Odo of Cheriton's' Latin fables are available in Hervieux's edition at GoogleBooks, and there is a delightful English translation by John Jacobs: The Fables of Odo of Cheriton.

This is fable 75 in Hervieux's edition, and you can find variations as Perry 521.

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:

Musca semel contendēbat cum Formīcā, dīcēns sē esse nōbiliōrem et mundiōrem: Quia vescor frequenter dē scutellīs epīscopōrum et rēgum et aliōrum dīvitum, bibō dē scyphis illōrum, immo in faciem rēgis quandōque īnsiliō. Tū autem habitās in terrā et grāna recondis, dōnec sint pūtrida. Rēspondit Formīca: Nōbilior et mundior sum quam tū, quoniam prō tuā immunditiā omnēs habent tē odiō, infestant et fugant. Quoniam licet quandōque dē scutellīs dīvitum comedās, quandōque tamen dē vīlissimō spūtō, dīversīs pūtrefactiōnibus, dē stercoribus boum et aliōrum animālium tē satiās. Egō autem tantum vescor dē grānō pūrissimō. Igitur manifestum est tē esse sordidiōrum, immo inter omnia volātilia sordidissima. Data est sententia prō Formīcā.


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):

Musca semel contendébat cum Formíca, dicens se esse nobiliórem et mundiórem: Quia vescor frequénter de scutéllis episcopórum et regum et aliórum dívitum, bibo de scyphis illórum, immo in fáciem regis quandóque insílio. Tu autem hábitas in terra et grana recóndis, donec sint pútrida. Respóndit Formíca: Nobílior et múndior sum quam tu, quóniam pro tua immundítia omnes habent te ódio, inféstant et fugant. Quóniam licet quandóque de scutéllis dívitum cómedas, quandóque tamen de vilíssimo sputo, divérsis putrefactiónibus, de stercóribus boum et aliórum animálium te sátias. Ego autem tantum vescor de grano puríssimo. Ígitur maniféstum est te esse sordidiórum, immo inter ómnia volatília sordidíssima. Data est senténtia pro Formíca.


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:

Musca semel contendebat
cum Formica,
dicens
se esse nobiliorem et mundiorem:
Quia vescor frequenter
de scutellis episcoporum et regum
et aliorum divitum,
bibo de scyphis illorum,
immo in faciem regis
quandoque insilio.
Tu autem habitas in terra
et grana recondis,
donec sint putrida.
Respondit Formica:
Nobilior et mundior sum
quam tu,
quoniam pro tua immunditia
omnes habent te odio,
infestant et fugant.
Quoniam licet
quandoque
de scutellis divitum comedas,
quandoque tamen
de vilissimo sputo,
diversis putrefactionibus,
de stercoribus
boum et aliorum animalium
te satias.
Ego autem tantum vescor
de grano purissimo.
Igitur manifestum est
te esse sordidiorum,
immo inter omnia volatilia
sordidissima.
Data est sententia
pro Formica.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) from a Renaissance edition of Aesop: