Monday, May 17, 2010

Homo et Vulpes (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 11 in Boissonade's edition; for other versions, see Perry 283.

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:

Vulpem, vīneārum hostem et hortōrum, inaudītā quīdam cupiēns involvere calamitāte, incēnsam ad caudam fasce alligātō līneō, dīmīsit in fugam. At quod rēs hominum īnspicit nūmen, in agrōs illam illīus dīrexit quī mīserat, flammās sēcum ferentem. Aderat autem segetum tempestas, spēque plēna pulchrārum aestas māter spicārum. Et homo sequēbātur, magnum dēflēns labōrem; neque benignīs eius āream oculīs rēspexit Cerēs. Oportet esse mānsuētum nec immodicē īrāscī.



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):

Vulpem, vineárum hostem et hortórum, inaudíta quidam cúpiens invólvere calamitáte, incénsam ad caudam fasce alligáto líneo, dimísit in fugam. At quod res hóminum ínspicit numen, in agros illam illíus diréxit qui míserat, flammas secum feréntem. Áderat autem ségetum tempéstas, speque plena pulchrárum aestas mater spicárum. Et homo sequebátur, magnum deflens labórem; neque benígnis eius áream óculis respéxit Ceres. Opórtet esse mansuétum nec immódice irásci.



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:

Vulpem,
vinearum hostem et hortorum,
inaudita
quidam cupiens
involvere calamitate,
incensam ad caudam
fasce alligato lineo,
dimisit in fugam.
At quod
res hominum inspicit
numen,
in agros
illam illius direxit
qui miserat,
flammas secum ferentem.
Aderat autem
segetum tempestas,
speque plena
pulchrarum aestas mater spicarum.
Et homo sequebatur,
magnum deflens laborem;
neque benignis eius aream oculis
respexit Ceres.
Oportet
esse mansuetum
nec immodice irasci.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing a modern "fire fox" (look familiar?):