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:
Piscātor quīdam iuxtā maris lītus sēdit, et coepit calamum inflāre, putāns cantū sē piscēs facile esse captūrum. Cantū vērum nīl proficiente, calamum dēposuit, rēte in mare dēmīsit, ac plūrimōs cēpit piscēs. Sed cum ex rētī piscēs extraheret atque eōs saltantēs vidēret, ait, Ō improba animālia! dum canēbam, saltāre nōluistis: nunc autem, calamō cessante, saltūs dātis assiduōs.
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):
Piscátor quidam iuxta maris litus sedit, et coepit cálamum infláre, putans cantu se pisces fácile esse captúrum. Cantu verum nil proficiénte, cálamum depósuit, rete in mare demísit, ac plúrimos cepit pisces. Sed cum ex reti pisces extráheret atque eos saltántes vidéret, ait, O ímproba animália! dum canébam, saltáre noluístis: nunc autem, cálamo cessánte, saltus datis assíduos.
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:
Piscator quidam
iuxta maris litus sedit,
et coepit calamum inflare,
putans
cantu se
pisces facile esse capturum.
Cantu verum nil proficiente,
calamum deposuit,
rete in mare demisit,
ac plurimos cepit pisces.
Sed cum ex reti pisces extraheret
atque eos saltantes videret,
ait, O improba animalia!
dum canebam,
saltare noluistis:
nunc autem, calamo cessante,
saltus datis assiduos.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source):
Here is another illustration from the Medici Aesop, which is online at the New York Public Library website.
