Vulpes ad Maeandrum fluvium aliquando, ut ex eō pōtārent, convēnēre. Sed cum magnō impetū flueret aqua, mūtuō sēsē compellentēs, ingredī nōn audēbant. Quō visō illārum ūna in medium prōdiēns, ut cēterās simul contemneret, eārumque timōrem irrīdēret, et sē prae cunctīs animōsam ostenderet, audacter in undās dēsilīvit. Aquārum vērō impetū eam in medium prōripiente, cēterae in rīpā stantēs, sīc eam sunt allocūtae: nē nōs dērelinquās, sed reversa dēmōnstrā, quā ingressīs tūtō liceat bibere. At illa, dum ab undīs raperētur, rēspōnsum, ait, mihi est Mīlētum dēferendum; id eō ferre volō; cum revertar, introitum vōbīs dēmōnstrābō.
SOURCE: This comes from the Latin translation that accompanies De Furia's edition of the Greek Aesopic corpus, published in 1810 and available at GoogleBooks. This is fable 264 in De Furia; for other versions, see Perry 232.
READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons (above) or accent marks (below) - and read the text out loud until you feel comfortable and confident. Then, try reading the unmarked text at the very bottom. It should be easy for you after practicing with the marked texts. :-)
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):
Vulpes ad Maeándrum flúvium aliquándo, ut ex eo potárent, convenére. Sed cum magno ímpetu flúeret aqua, mútuo sese compelléntes, íngredi non audébant. Quo viso illárum una in médium pródiens, ut céteras simul contémneret, earúmque timórem irridéret, et se prae cunctis animósam osténderet, audácter in undas desilívit. Aquárum vero ímpetu eam in médium proripiénte, céterae in ripa stantes, sic eam sunt allocútae: ne nos derelínquas, sed revérsa demónstra, qua ingréssis tuto líceat bíbere. At illa, dum ab undis raperétur, respónsum, ait, mihi est Milétum deferéndum; id eo ferre volo; cum revértar, intróitum vobis demonstrábo.
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:
Vulpes
ad Maeandrum fluvium
aliquando,
ut ex eo potarent,
convenere.
Sed cum
magno impetu flueret aqua,
mutuo sese compellentes,
ingredi non audebant.
Quo viso
illarum una
in medium prodiens,
ut ceteras simul contemneret,
earumque timorem irrideret,
et se
prae cunctis
animosam ostenderet,
audacter in undas desilivit.
Aquarum vero impetu
eam in medium proripiente,
ceterae in ripa stantes,
sic eam sunt allocutae:
ne nos derelinquas,
sed reversa
demonstra,
qua ingressis
tuto liceat bibere.
At illa,
dum ab undis raperetur,
Responsum, ait,
mihi est Miletum deferendum;
id eo ferre volo;
cum revertar,
introitum vobis demonstrabo.
IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing the Meander River - yes, it meanders!
