Monday, May 10, 2010

Piscator et simia (Syntipas)

SOURCE: The following Latin translations of Syntipas's Greek fables are by Christian Frederick Matthaei and were published in 1781; the book is available at GoogleBooks. This is fable 46 in Syntipas. For other versions, see Perry 203.

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:

Piscātor quīdam ad lītus maris capiēbat piscēs. Quod cum vīdisset sīmia, cōgitāvit quōmodo imitārī posset. Relictō deinde in lītore rētī, piscātor, ut requiesceret, dēscendit in specum. Accēdit sīmia, corripit rēte, piscārī incipit. Cum vērō imprūdenter et perversē imitārētur artem, constricta rētibus, dēlāta in mare, suffōcāta est. Superveniēns deinde piscātor eamque exanimem vidēns, "ō misera (inquit), quam stulta et vana perdidit aemulātio."


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):

Piscátor quidam ad litus maris capiébat pisces. Quod cum vidísset símia, cogitávit quómodo imitári posset. Relícto deínde in lítore reti, piscátor, ut requiésceret, descéndit in specum. Accédit símia, córripit rete, piscári íncipit. Cum vero imprudénter et pervérse imitarétur artem, constrícta rétibus, deláta in mare, suffocáta est. Supervéniens deínde piscátor eámque exánimem videns, "o mísera (inquit), quam stulta et vana pérdidit aemulátio."


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:

Piscator quidam
ad litus maris
capiebat pisces.
Quod
cum vidisset simia,
cogitavit
quomodo imitari posset.
Relicto deinde in litore reti,
piscator,
ut requiesceret,
descendit in specum.
Accedit simia,
corripit rete,
piscari incipit.
Cum vero
imprudenter et perverse
imitaretur artem,
constricta retibus,
delata in mare,
suffocata est.
Superveniens deinde
piscator
eamque exanimem videns,
"o misera (inquit),
quam
stulta et vana perdidit aemulatio."



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing Curious George going fishing, with more success than the monkey in the story: