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:
Stābat in viā Mercurius quādrangulāris, imus cui subiacēbat lapidum acervus. Accēdēns canis, Prīmum salvē, inquit, Mercurī; tum inungere tē volō, nec sīc deum praeterīre, eumque palaestrītam. Cui deus: Sī mihi hocce quod adpositum est nōn lingēs oleum, nec imminxeris mihi, grātiam habēbō tibi. Neque mē amplius honōrāre velis.
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):
Stabat in via Mercúrius quadranguláris, imus cui subiacébat lápidum acérvus. Accédens canis, Primum salve, inquit, Mércuri; tum inúngere te volo, nec sic deum praeteríre, eúmque palaestrítam. Cui deus: Si mihi hocce quod adpósitum est non linges óleum, nec immínxeris mihi, grátiam habébo tibi. Neque me ámplius honoráre velis.
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:
Stabat in via
Mercurius quadrangularis,
imus cui subiacebat
lapidum acervus.
Accedens canis,
Primum salve, inquit, Mercuri;
tum inungere te volo,
nec sic deum praeterire,
eumque palaestritam.
Cui deus:
Si mihi hocce
quod adpositum est
non linges oleum,
nec imminxeris mihi,
gratiam habebo tibi.
Neque me amplius honorare velis.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing an ancient herm!
