Sunday, May 2, 2010

Pastor, Grex Timidus, et Lupus (Abstemius)

SOURCE: You can find both the first and second "hecatomythia" of Abstemius in Nevelet's monumental Aesop published in 1610, available at GoogleBooks. You can find out more about Abstemius at the Aesopus wiki. This is fable 127 in Abstemius. Perry only includes a few sporadic fables from Abstemius in his index, and there is no Perry number for this fable.

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:

Pastor, quī magnum caprārum oviumque gregem habēbat, vidēns gregem suum quotīdiē lupī escam fīerī, ac minuī. Ovēs et caprās congregāns, longā eōs ōrātiōne hortātus est, nē vellent lupum formīdāre, cum essent numerō plūrēs, et cornibus, quibus lupus carēret, īnsuper armātae. Sed vellent ūnanimiter et auxiliō mūtuō sēsē ab illīus impetū et furōre dēfendere, prōmittēns sē quoque eius nōn dēfutūrum. Illae hāc ōrātione animātae, prōmittunt, iurantque sē nēquāquam lupō cessūrās. Cum autem paulō post lupus adventāre nuntiārētur, tantō timōre affectae sunt, ut nullīs pastōris verbīs possent ā fuga conhibērī. Tunc pastor sēcum, impossibile est, inquit, mūtārī posse nātūram. Fābula indicat hominēs nātūrā ignāvōs et meticulōsōs, nōn sōlum cōnspectū, sed etiam hostium fāmā terrērī, nullāque ducis ōrātiōne ad virtūtem ascendī.


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):

Pastor, qui magnum caprárum oviúmque gregem habébat, videns gregem suum quotídie lupi escam fíeri, ac mínui. Oves et capras cóngregans, longa eos oratióne hortátus est, ne vellent lupum formidáre, cum essent número plures, et córnibus, quibus lupus caréret, ínsuper armátae. Sed vellent unanímiter et auxílio mútuo sese ab illíus ímpetu et furóre deféndere, promíttens se quoque eius non defutúrum. Illae hac oratióne animátae, promíttunt, iurántque se nequáquam lupo cessúras. Cum autem paulo post lupus adventáre nuntiarétur, tanto timóre afféctae sunt, ut nullis pastóris verbis possent a fuga conhibéri. Tunc pastor secum, impossíbile est, inquit, mutári posse natúram. Fábula índicat hómines natúra ignávos et meticulósos, non solum conspéctu, sed étiam hóstium fama terréri, nulláque ducis oratióne ad virtútem ascéndi.


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:

Pastor,
qui
magnum caprarum oviumque gregem
habebat,
videns
gregem suum
quotidie lupi escam fieri,
ac minui.
Oves et capras congregans,
longa eos oratione
hortatus est,
ne vellent lupum formidare,
cum essent numero plures,
et cornibus,
quibus lupus careret,
insuper armatae.
Sed vellent
unanimiter et auxilio mutuo
sese
ab illius impetu et furore
defendere,
promittens
se quoque
eius non defuturum.
Illae hac oratione animatae,
promittunt,
iurantque
se nequaquam lupo cessuras.
Cum autem
paulo post
lupus adventare nuntiaretur,
tanto timore affectae sunt,
ut nullis pastoris verbis
possent a fuga conhiberi.
Tunc pastor
secum, impossibile est, inquit,
mutari posse naturam.
Fabula indicat
homines
natura ignavos et meticulosos,
non solum conspectu,
sed etiam hostium fama
terreri,
nullaque ducis oratione
ad virtutem ascendi.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a flock of sheep: