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:
Pīca inter arborum frondēs dēlitescentem cucūlum cōnspicāta, accipitrem esse suspicāta est: Quārē concitāta fugiēbat. Quod nonnullae aliae avēs, quae prope aderant, intuitae, pīcam irrīdēbant, quod prō accipitre cucūlum fugerent. Quibus illa: mālō, inquit, ā vōbis irrīdērī, quam ab amīcīs flērī. Fābula indicat, melius esse inimīcīs rīdendī, quam amīcīs flendī praebēre māteriam
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):
Pica inter árborum frondes delitescéntem cucúlum conspicáta, accípitrem esse suspicáta est: Quare concitáta fugiébat. Quod nonnúllae áliae aves, quae prope áderant, intúitae, picam irridébant, quod pro accípitre cucúlum fúgerent. Quibus illa: malo, inquit, a vobis irridéri, quam ab amícis fleri. Fábula índicat, mélius esse inimícis ridéndi, quam amícis flendi praebére matériam.
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:
Pica
inter arborum frondes
delitescentem
cuculum conspicata,
accipitrem esse
suspicata est:
Quare concitata fugiebat.
Quod
nonnullae aliae aves,
quae prope aderant,
intuitae,
picam irridebant,
quod
pro accipitre
cuculum fugerent.
Quibus illa:
malo, inquit,
a vobis irrideri,
quam
ab amicis fleri.
Fabula indicat,
melius esse
inimicis ridendi,
quam amicis flendi
praebere materiam.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) which shows what could look like a frightening cuckoo bird - at least I think so!
