Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Asinus, Canis et Lupus (Abstemius)

SOURCE: You can find both the first and second "hecatomythia" of Abstemius in Nevelet's monumental Aesop published in 1610, available at GoogleBooks. You can find out more about Abstemius at the Aesopus wiki. This is fable 152 in Abstemius. Perry only includes a few sporadic fables from Abstemius in his index, and there is no Perry number for this fable.

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:

Canis molossus cognoscēns sē lupō, cum quō magnās exercēbat inimīcitiās, imparem, statuit aliquem sibi socium adsciscere, ut mūtuō auxiliō lupum superāret. Vidēns autem asinum lupō vōcāliōrem, māiōrem clītellīsque velut thōrāce armātum, magnāsque pilās pōdice cum magnō tonītrū ēmittentem, ratus est eum strēnuum esse bellātōrem. Quārē contractā societāte, lupum ad pugnam prōvocāvit. Sed ubī ad prīmum lupī cōnspectum asinum fugientem vīdit, nīlque aliud quam inconditōs clāmōrēs et magnōs ventris crepitūs ēdentem, ipse quoque fugiēns, socium in ipsā pugnā dēseruit, pābulum lupō, vulturibusque futūrum. Fābula indicat stultōs esse quī hominum virtūtem ex verbōrum ampullōsitāte, et corporis prōcēritāte dīiūdicant.


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):

Canis molóssus cognóscens se lupo, cum quo magnas exercébat inimicítias, ímparem, státuit áliquem sibi sócium adscíscere, ut mútuo auxílio lupum superáret. Videns autem ásinum lupo vocaliórem, maiórem clitellísque velut thoráce armátum, magnásque pilas pódice cum magno tonítru emitténtem, ratus est eum strénuum esse bellatórem. Quare contrácta societáte, lupum ad pugnam provocávit. Sed ubi ad primum lupi conspéctum ásinum fugiéntem vidit, nilque áliud quam incónditos clamóres et magnos ventris crépitus edéntem, ipse quoque fúgiens, sócium in ipsa pugna deséruit, pábulum lupo, vulturibúsque futúrum. Fábula índicat stultos esse qui hóminum virtútem ex verbórum ampullositáte, et córporis proceritáte diiúdicant.


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:

Canis molossus cognoscens
se
lupo,
cum quo
magnas exercebat inimicitias,
imparem,
statuit
aliquem sibi socium adsciscere,
ut mutuo auxilio lupum superaret.
Videns autem
asinum lupo vocaliorem,
maiorem
clitellisque velut thorace armatum,
magnasque pilas podice
cum magno tonitru emittentem,
ratus est
eum
strenuum esse bellatorem.
Quare contracta societate,
lupum ad pugnam provocavit.
Sed ubi
ad primum lupi conspectum
asinum fugientem vidit,
nilque aliud
quam inconditos clamores
et magnos ventris crepitus edentem,
ipse quoque fugiens,
socium in ipsa pugna deseruit,
pabulum lupo,
vulturibusque futurum.
Fabula indicat
stultos esse
qui
hominum virtutem
ex verborum ampullositate
et corporis proceritate
diiudicant.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a donkey who would probably not make a very valiant ally: