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:
Culex cum Taurum prōvocāsset vīribus, vēnērunt populī cunctī, ut spectācula cernerent. Tunc parvus Culex: Satis, inquit, habeō quod vēnistī comminus. Parvus tibi factus sum iūdiciō tuō. Hic sē per aurās sustulit pennā levī, lūsitque turbam, et Taurī dēstituit minās. Quod sī fuisset validae cervīcis memor, pudendum contempserat inimīcum, et ineptae māteriae nōn fuisset glōriātio. Quia ille sibi fāmam dīminuit, quī sē indignīs comparat.
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):
Culex cum Taurum provocásset víribus, venérunt pópuli cuncti, ut spectácula cérnerent. Tunc parvus Culex: Satis, inquit, hábeo quod venísti cómminus. Parvus tibi factus sum iudício tuo. Hic se per auras sústulit penna levi, lusítque turbam, et Tauri destítuit minas. Quod si fuísset válidae cervícis memor, pudéndum contémpserat inimícum, et inéptae matériae non fuísset gloriátio. Quia ille sibi famam dimínuit, qui se indígnis cómparat.
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:
Culex
cum Taurum provocasset viribus,
venerunt populi cuncti,
ut spectacula cernerent.
Tunc parvus Culex:
Satis, inquit, habeo
quod venisti comminus.
Parvus tibi factus sum
iudicio tuo.
Hic
se per auras sustulit
penna levi,
lusitque turbam,
et Tauri destituit minas.
Quod si fuisset
validae cervicis memor,
pudendum contempserat inimicum,
et ineptae materiae
non fuisset gloriatio.
Quia
ille sibi famam diminuit,
qui se indignis comparat.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a bull - doesn't he look like he is trying to see his tiny opponent?
