Friday, May 14, 2010

Homo Equus, Bos et Canis (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 74 in Boissonade's edition; for other versions, see Perry 105.

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:

Equus et bōs et canis labōrantēs frīgore hominis vēnērunt domum; quī, apertō ostiō, eōs duxit intrō, et ad focum igne flāgrantem calefactīs apposuit ex parātīs cōpiolīs, equō hordea, taurō arātōrī cicerculās. Nam ipse canis adstitit mēnsae socius. Hospitalitātis autem mercēdem hominī dedērunt, commūnicātīs cum eō, quōs ipsī vīvēbant, annis. Atque equus statim: idcirco prīmīs in annīs nostrum ūnusquisque est animī ferōcior. Bōs post equum: idcirco mediae homo aetātis labōrī incumbis, estque in aggerandīs dīvitiīs impiger. Tum canem aiunt postrēmōs dedisse annōs: idcirco mōrōsus est senex quīlibet, eīque blandītur ūnī quī ministrat alimenta, allātrāns semper nec vīsīs laetus hospitibus.


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):

Equus et bos et canis laborántes frígore hóminis venérunt domum; qui, apérto óstio, eos duxit intro, et ad focum igne flagrántem calefáctis appósuit ex parátis copíolis, equo hórdea, tauro aratóri cicérculas. Nam ipse canis ádstitit mensae sócius. Hospitalitátis autem mercédem hómini dedérunt, communicátis cum eo, quos ipsi vivébant, annis. Atque equus statim: idcírco primis in annis nostrum unusquísque est ánimi ferócior. Bos post equum: idcírco médiae homo aetátis labóri incúmbis, estque in aggerándis divítiis ímpiger. Tum canem aiunt postrémos dedísse annos: idcírco morósus est senex quílibet, eíque blandítur uni qui minístrat aliménta, allátrans semper nec visis laetus hospítibus.


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:

Equus et bos et canis
laborantes frigore
hominis venerunt domum;
qui,
aperto ostio,
eos duxit intro,
et ad focum
igne flagrantem
calefactis apposuit
ex paratis copiolis,
equo hordea,
tauro aratori cicerculas.
Nam ipse canis
adstitit mensae socius.
Hospitalitatis autem mercedem
homini dederunt,
communicatis cum eo,
quos ipsi vivebant, annis.
Atque equus statim:
idcirco
primis in annis
nostrum unusquisque est
animi ferocior.
Bos post equum:
idcirco
mediae homo aetatis
labori incumbis,
estque in aggerandis divitiis
impiger.
Tum canem aiunt
postremos dedisse annos:
idcirco
morosus est senex quilibet,
eique blanditur uni
qui ministrat alimenta,
allatrans semper
nec visis laetus hospitibus.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing an open door in the winter: