Thursday, May 13, 2010

Cervus Aegrotans (Babrius-prose)

SOURCE: This is a Latin prose version of Babrius's Greek verse fables, as published by Jean François Boissonade in 1844; the book is available at GoogleBooks. This is fable 46 in Boissonade's edition; for other versions, see Perry 305.

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:

Cervus in silvīs cita membra torpōre adstrictus iuncōsī altā prātī in herbā iacēbat, unde parātum habēbat ēsuriēns pābulum. Huc autem veniēbant variārum gregēs ferārum, eum invīsendī causā (vīcīnus enim erat innocuus); quārum ūnaquaeque herbae quid dēcerpēns silvās petēbat. Ast cervus inediā perit cōnsumptus. Atque ita famē contābuit, nōn morbō, explētīs nondum duābus cornīcis aetātibus, quī, sī caruisset amīcīs, potuisset saltem senescere.


ACCENT MARKS. Here is the text with accent marks, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):

Cervus in silvis cita membra torpóre adstríctus iuncósi alta prati in herba iacébat, unde parátum habébat esúriens pábulum. Huc autem veniébant variárum greges ferárum, eum inviséndi causa (vicínus enim erat innócuus); quarum unaquaéque herbae quid decérpens silvas petébat. Ast cervus inédia perit consúmptus. Atque ita fame contábuit, non morbo, explétis nondum duábus cornícis aetátibus, qui, si caruísset amícis, potuísset saltem senéscere.


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:

Cervus
in silvis
cita membra torpore adstrictus
iuncosi alta prati in herba
iacebat,
unde
paratum habebat esuriens
pabulum.
Huc autem veniebant
variarum greges ferarum,
eum invisendi causa
(vicinus enim erat innocuus);
quarum unaquaeque herbae
quid decerpens
silvas petebat.
Ast cervus
inedia perit consumptus.
Atque ita fame contabuit,
non morbo,
expletis nondum
duabus cornicis aetatibus,
qui, si caruisset amicis,
potuisset saltem senescere.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing the deer before all his friends show up: