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:
Avis quondam repererat serpentis ōva iīsque incubābat ut fovēret. Id ut hirundo animadvertit, "Stulta (inquit) et insipiēns, cūr serpentis cūrās prōlem? Scīlicet ut, sī adolēverint, tibi prīmum, post deinde aliīs afferant perniciem?"
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):
Avis quondam repérerat serpéntis ova iísque incubábat ut fovéret. Id ut hirúndo animadvértit, "Stulta (inquit) et insípiens, cur serpéntis curas prolem? Scílicet ut, si adoléverint, tibi primum, post deínde áliis áfferant perníciem?"
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:
Avis
quondam repererat
serpentis ova
iisque incubabat
ut foveret.
Id
ut hirundo animadvertit,
"Stulta (inquit) et insipiens,
cur serpentis curas prolem?
Scilicet ut,
si adoleverint,
tibi primum,
post deinde aliis
afferant perniciem?"
Here is an illustration from the Medici Aesop, which is online at the New York Public Library website.
