Passer ad Leporem (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.9 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 473.

READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons in verse form, or macrons in prose order, or accent marks in prose order, or focusing on the iambic meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Sibi nōn cavēre et aliīs cōnsilium dare
stultum esse paucīs ostendāmus versibus.
Oppressum ab aquilā, flētūs ēdentem gravēs,
leporem obiūrgābat passer "Ubi pernīcitās
nōta" inquit "illa est? Quid ita cessārunt pedēs?"
Dum loquitur, ipsum accipiter necopīnum rapit
questūque vānō clāmitantem interficit.
Lepus sēmianimus "Mortis ēn sōlācium:
quī modo sēcūrus nostra inrīdēbas mala,
similī querellā fāta dēplōrās tua."

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PROSE MACRONS. Here is the same text with macrons written out in prose word order:

Paucīs versibus ostendāmus sibi nōn cavēre et aliīs cōnsilium dare stultum esse. Passer leporem obiūrgābat, ab aquilā oppressum, flētūs gravēs ēdentem; inquit: "Ubi illa pernīcitās nōta est? Quid pedēs ita cessārunt?" Dum loquitur, accipiter ipsum necopīnum rapit et questū vānō clāmitantem interficit. Lepus sēmianimus: "Ēn mortis sōlācium: quī modo sēcūrus nostra mala inrīdēbas, similī querellā fāta tua dēplōrās."

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STRESS (ACCENT) MARKS. Here is the prose text with accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):

Paucis vérsibus ostendámus sibi non cavére et áliis consílium dare stultum esse. Passer léporem obiurgábat, ab áquila oppréssum, fletus graves edéntem; inquit: "Ubi illa pernícitas nota est? Quid pedes ita cessárunt?" Dum lóquitur, accípiter ipsum necopínum rapit et questu vano clamitántem intérficit. Lepus semiánimus: "En mortis solácium: qui modo secúrus nostra mala inridébas, símili querélla fata tua deplóras."

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IAMBIC METER. Here is the verse text with some color coding to assist in the iambic meter. The disyllabic elements (iambs/spondees) are not marked, but the trisyllabic elements are color-coded: dactyls are red, anapests are purple, and tribrachs are green (as is any proceleusmaticus, although that is a rare creature):

Sibi nōn· cavēr~· et ali·īs cōn·silium· dare
stult~ es·se pau·cīs os·tendā·mus ver·sibus.
Oppress~· ab aqui·lā, flē·tūs ē·dentem· gravēs,
lepor~ ob·iūrgā·bat pas·ser Ubi· pernī·citās
nōt~ in·quit ill~· est? Quid i·ta ces·sārunt· pedēs?
Dum loqui·tur, ip·s~ accipi·ter neco·pīnum· rapit
questū·que vā·nō clā·mitant~· inter·ficit.
Lepus sē·miani·mus Mor·tis ēn· sōlā·cium:
quī modo· sēcū·rus nos·tr~ inrī·dēbas· mala,
similī· querel·lā fā·ta dē·plōrās· tua.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from an early 19th-century edition of Aesop:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Paucis versibus ostendamus sibi non cavere et aliis consilium dare stultum esse. Passer leporem obiurgabat, ab aquila oppressum, fletus graves edentem; inquit: "Ubi illa pernicitas nota est? Quid pedes ita cessarunt?" Dum loquitur, accipiter ipsum necopinum rapit et questu vano clamitantem interficit. Lepus semianimus: "En mortis solacium: qui modo securus nostra mala inridebas, simili querella fata tua deploras."

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Muli Duo et Latrones (Porta Latina)

SOURCE: The text is taken from the Latin textbook Porta Latina: Fables of La Fontaine by Frank Gardner Moore, available at GoogleBooks. You can consult the textbook for vocabulary and also for notes on each fable. For more information and other versions of this fable, see Perry 491. In LaFontaine, the fable is 1.4, Les deux Mulets.

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. :-)

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MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Mūlī duo - avēnam alter, alter argentum - portābant. Hic, oneris suī cōnscius, quod nūllō pretiō dēpōnere vellet, sublātīs pedibus superbus ambulābat, cum quateret tintinnābulum. Subitō latrōnēs adsunt, quī argentī causā impetū factō hunc frēnīs arreptīs sistunt; resistentem prīmō, tum gementem suspīrantemque fūstibus male mulcant. "Num hoc," inquit "mihi prōmittēbant? Alter ille, quī mē sequitur, ex periculō sē ēripuit, in quod ipse incidī ut perīrem!" Tum alter "Haud semper," inquit, "summum mūnus sustinēre prōdest. Sī dominus tuus pīstor tantum esset, ut meus, haud ita dolērēs."

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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):

Muli duo - avénam alter, alter argéntum - portábant. Hic, óneris sui cónscius, quod nullo prétio depónere vellet, sublátis pédibus supérbus ambulábat, cum quáteret tintinnábulum. Súbito latrónes adsunt, qui argénti causa ímpetu facto hunc frenis arréptis sistunt; resisténtem primo, tum geméntem suspirantémque fústibus male mulcant. "Num hoc," inquit "mihi promittébant? Alter ille, qui me séquitur, ex perículo se erípuit, in quod ipse íncidi ut perírem!" Tum alter "Haud semper," inquit, "summum munus sustinére prodest. Si dóminus tuus pistor tantum esset, ut meus, haud ita doléres."

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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; I've inserted spaces between the segments to make it easier to follow:

Muli duo -
avenam alter, alter argentum -
portabant.
Hic, oneris sui conscius,
quod nullo pretio deponere vellet,
sublatis pedibus
superbus ambulabat,
cum quateret tintinnabulum.
Subito latrones adsunt,
qui
argenti causa
impetu facto
hunc frenis arreptis sistunt;
resistentem primo,
tum gementem suspirantemque
fustibus male mulcant.
"Num hoc," inquit "mihi promittebant?
Alter ille,
qui me sequitur,
ex periculo se eripuit,
in quod
ipse incidi
ut perirem!"
Tum alter
"Haud semper," inquit,
"summum munus sustinere prodest.
Si dominus tuus
pistor tantum esset, ut meus,
haud ita doleres."

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IMAGE. Here is the illustration of the fable by Aractingy:

Lupus et Gruis (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.8 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 156.

READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons in verse form, or macrons in prose order, or accent marks in prose order, or focusing on the iambic meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Quī pretium meritī ab improbīs dēsīderat,
bis peccat: prīmum quoniam indīgnōs adiuvat,
impūne abīre deinde quia iam nōn potest.
Os dēvorātum fauce cum haerēret lupī,
māgnō dolōre vīctus coepit singulōs
inlicere pretiō ut illud extraherent malum.
Tandem persuāsa est iūre iūrandō gruis,
gulae quae crēdēns collī longitūdinem
perīculōsam fēcit medicīnam lupō.
Ā quō cum pactum flāgitāret praemium,
"Ingrāta es" inquit "ōre quae ē nostrō caput
incolume abstuleris et mercēdem postulēs."

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PROSE MACRONS. Here is the same text with macrons written out in prose word order:

Bis peccat quī meritī pretium ab improbīs dēsīderat: prīmum, quoniam indīgnōs adiuvat, deinde, quia impūne abīre iam nōn potest. Cum os dēvorātum lupī fauce haerēret, māgnō dolōre vīctus, singulōs pretiō inlicere coepit ut illud malum extraherent. Tandem gruis iūre iūrandō persuāsa est, quae, collī longitūdinem gulae crēdēns, perīculōsam medicīnam lupō fēcit. Ā quō cum praemium pactum flāgitāret, inquit: "Ingrāta es quae ē nostrō ōre caput incolume abstuleris et mercēdem postulēs."

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STRESS (ACCENT) MARKS. Here is the prose text with accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):

Bis peccat qui mériti prétium ab ímprobis desíderat: primum, quóniam indígnos ádiuvat, deinde, quia impúne abíre iam non potest. Cum os devorátum lupi fauce haeréret, magno dolóre victus, síngulos prétio inlícere coepit ut illud malum extráherent. Tandem gruis iure iurándo persuása est, quae, colli longitúdinem gulae credens, periculósam medicínam lupo fecit. A quo cum praémium pactum flagitáret, inquit: "Ingráta es quae e nostro ore caput incólume abstúleris et mercédem póstules."

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IAMBIC METER. Here is the verse text with some color coding to assist in the iambic meter. The disyllabic elements (iambs/spondees) are not marked, but the trisyllabic elements are color-coded: dactyls are red, anapests are purple, and tribrachs are green (as is any proceleusmaticus, although that is a rare creature):

Quī preti·um merit~· ab im·probīs· dēsī·derat,
bis pec·cat: prī·mum quoni~· indīg·nōs ad·iuvat,
impūn~· abī·re dein·de quia· iam nōn· potest.
Os dē·vorā·tum fau·ce c~ hae·rēret· lupī,
māgnō· dolō·re vīc·tus coe·pit sin·gulōs
inlice·re preti~· ut il·lud ex·tr~erent· malum.
Tandem· persuā·s~ est iū·re iū·randō· gruis,
gulae· quae crē·dēns col·lī lon·gitū·dinem
perī·culō·sam fē·cit medi·cīnam· lupō.
Ā quō· cum pac·tum flā·gitā·ret prae·mium,
Ingrāt~· es in·quit ō·re qu~ ē· nostrō· caput
incolu·m~ abstule·ris et· mercē·dem pos·tulēs.

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IMAGE. For an image of the story, here is an illustration by Walter Crane, which is unusual in that it shows the crane after she has pulled out the bone (you can see the bone if you look closely; you can click on the image for a larger view) - most illustrations of the story instead show the crane with her head plunged inside the mouth of the wolf (as you can see in these other illustrations). This shows the bird at the moment when she has successfully performed the surgery and is asking for her reward!

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Bis peccat qui meriti pretium ab improbis desiderat: primum, quoniam indignos adiuvat, deinde, quia impune abire iam non potest. Cum os devoratum lupi fauce haereret, magno dolore victus, singulos pretio inlicere coepit ut illud malum extraherent. Tandem gruis iure iurando persuasa est, quae, colli longitudinem gulae credens, periculosam medicinam lupo fecit. A quo cum praemium pactum flagitaret, inquit: "Ingrata es quae e nostro ore caput incolume abstuleris et mercedem postules."

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Vulpes et Uvae (Porta Latina)

SOURCE: The text is taken from the Latin textbook Porta Latina: Fables of La Fontaine by Frank Gardner Moore, available at GoogleBooks. You can consult the textbook for vocabulary and also for notes on each fable. For more information and other versions of this fable, see Perry 15. In LaFontaine, the fable is 3.11, Le Renard et les Raisins. LaFontaine's version is quite famous for seeming to praise the fox having such a practical attitude... so, what do you think: is LaFontaine really commending the fox with that rhetorical question? Or is this version of the story just poking fun at the fox in a new way? :-)

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. :-)

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MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Vulpēs quaedam famē cōnfecta, ūvās dē pergulā pendentēs mātūrās, ut vidēbātur, et purpureās cōnspicāta, eās, quamvīs cupida, attingere nōn poterat. Itaque "Acerbae" inquit "adhūc sunt, cālōnibus tantum mātūrae!" Num melius fuisset gemere ac lāmentārī?

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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):

Vulpes quaedam fame confécta, uvas de pérgula pendéntes matúras, ut videbátur, et purpúreas conspicáta, eas, quamvis cúpida, attíngere non póterat. Ítaque "Acérbae" inquit "adhuc sunt, calónibus tantum matúrae!" Num mélius fuísset gémere ac lamentári?

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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; I've inserted spaces between the segments to make it easier to follow:

Vulpes quaedam
fame confecta,
uvas de pergula pendentes
maturas, ut videbatur, et purpureas
conspicata,
eas,
quamvis cupida,
attingere non poterat.
Itaque
"Acerbae" inquit "adhuc sunt,
calonibus tantum
maturae!"
Num melius fuisset
gemere ac lamentari?

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IMAGE. Here is the illustration of the fable by Aractingy:

Vulpis ad Personam (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.7 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 27.

READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons in verse form, or macrons in prose order, or accent marks in prose order, or focusing on the iambic meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Persōnam tragicam fōrte vulpēs vīderat;
"Ō quanta speciēs" inquit "cerebrum nōn habet!"
Hōc illīs dictum est quibus honōrem et glōriam
Fōrtūna tribuit, sēnsum commūnem abstulit.

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PROSE MACRONS. Here is the same text with macrons written out in prose word order:

Fōrte vulpēs persōnam tragicam vīderat; inquit: "Ō quanta speciēs cerebrum nōn habet!" Hōc dictum est illīs quibus Fōrtūna honōrem et glōriam tribuit, sēnsum commūnem abstulit.

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STRESS (ACCENT) MARKS. Here is the prose text with accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):

Forte vulpes persónam trágicam víderat; inquit: "O quanta spécies cérebrum non habet!" Hoc dictum est illis quibus Fortúna honórem et glóriam tríbuit, sensum commúnem ábstulit.

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IAMBIC METER. Here is the verse text with some color coding to assist in the iambic meter. The disyllabic elements (iambs/spondees) are not marked, but the trisyllabic elements are color-coded: dactyls are red, anapests are purple, and tribrachs are green (as is any proceleusmaticus, although that is a rare creature):

Persō·nam tragi·cam fōr·te vul·pēs vī·derat;
Ō quan·ta speci·ēs in·quit cere·brum nōn· habet!
Hōc il·līs dict~· est quibus· honōr~· et glō·riam
Fōrtū·na tribu·it, sēn·sum com·mūn~ ab·stulit.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) by Walter Crane:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Forte vulpes personam tragicam viderat; inquit: "O quanta species cerebrum non habet!" Hoc dictum est illis quibus Fortuna honorem et gloriam tribuit, sensum communem abstulit.

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Rana et Bos (Porta Latina)

SOURCE: The text is taken from the Latin textbook Porta Latina: Fables of La Fontaine by Frank Gardner Moore, available at GoogleBooks. You can consult the textbook for vocabulary and also for notes on each fable. For more information and other versions of this fable, see Perry 376. In LaFontaine, the fable is 1.3, La Grenouille qui veut se faire aussi grosse que le Boeuf.

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. :-)

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MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Rāna quaedam, bovem pulcherrimum cōnspicāta, quamquam ipsa vix maior quam ōvum erat, nītendō atque īnflandō parem sē illī reddere cōnābātur. "Vidē," inquit, "soror mea, satisne hoc est? Dīc! Nōnne aequē iam magna sum? "Haudquāquam." "At nunc mē vidē!" "Nihil est." "Ecce autem!" "Nē nunc quidem quicquam agis." Ita illa miserē nītendō sē rūpit.

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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):

Rana quaedam, bovem pulchérrimum conspicáta, quamquam ipsa vix maior quam ovum erat, niténdo atque inflándo parem se illi réddere conabátur. "Vide," inquit, "soror mea, satísne hoc est? Dic! Nonne aeque iam magna sum? "Haudquáquam." "At nunc me vide!" "Nihil est." "Ecce autem!" "Ne nunc quidem quicquam agis." Ita illa mísere niténdo se rupit.

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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; I've inserted spaces between the segments to make it easier to follow:

Rana quaedam,
bovem pulcherrimum conspicata,
quamquam ipsa
vix maior quam ovum erat,
nitendo atque inflando
parem se illi reddere conabatur.
"Vide," inquit, "soror mea,
satisne hoc est?
Dic! Nonne aeque iam magna sum?
"Haudquaquam."
"At nunc me vide!"
"Nihil est."
"Ecce autem!"
"Ne nunc quidem quicquam agis."
Ita illa misere nitendo se rupit.

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IMAGE. Here is the illustration of the fable by Aractingy:

Vulpes et Lupus (Barlow)

SOURCE: Aesop's Fables in Latin. For more information and reading help for this fable, see the Aesopus Ning.

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. :-)

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MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Vulpēs, cum in puteum fortuītō incidīsset, Lupum in rīpā praetereuntem vīdit rogāvitque ut fūnem sibi comparāret opemque daret ad sē ipsam ā tantō perīculō extrahendam. Cui Lupus: “Miserrima Vulpēs, condoleō tuum infortūnium. Dīc, precor: quōmodo in hunc puteum incidistī?” Respondēbat Vulpēs, “Nōn opus est ambāgibus. Quīn tū fūnem comparātō, et deinde omnia tibi in ordine expediam.”

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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):

Vulpes, cum in púteum fortuíto incidísset, Lupum in ripa praetereúntem vidit rogavítque ut funem sibi comparáret opémque daret ad se ipsam a tanto perículo extrahéndam. Cui Lupus: “Misérrima Vulpes, condóleo tuum infortúnium. Dic, precor: quómodo in hunc púteum incidísti?” Respondébat Vulpes, “Non opus est ambágibus. Quin tu funem comparáto, et deinde ómnia tibi in órdine expédiam.”

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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, cum in puteum fortuito incidisset, Lupum in ripa praetereuntem vidit rogavitque ut funem sibi compararet opemque daret ad se ipsam a tanto periculo extrahendam. Cui Lupus: “Miserrima Vulpes, condoleo tuum infortunium. Dic, precor: quomodo in hunc puteum incidisti?” Respondebat Vulpes, “Non opus est ambagibus. Quin tu funem comparato, et deinde omnia tibi in ordine expediam.”

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source).

Ranae ad Solem (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.6 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 314.

READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons in verse form, or macrons in prose order, or accent marks in prose order, or focusing on the iambic meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Vīcīnī fūris celebrēs vīdit nūptiās
Aesōpus, et continuō nārrāre incipit:
Uxōrem quondam Sōl cum vellet dūcere,
clāmōrem rānae sustulēre ad sīdera.
Convīciō permōtus quaerit Iuppiter
causam querellae. Quaedam tum stāgnī incola
"Nunc" inquit "omnēs ūnus exūrit lacūs,
cōgitque miserās āridā sēde ēmorī.
Quidnam futūrum est sī creārit līberōs?"

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PROSE MACRONS. Here is the same text with macrons written out in prose word order:

Aesōpus vīcīnī fūris celebrēs nūptiās vīdit et continuō nārrāre incipit: Quondam, cum Sōl uxōrem dūcere vellet, rānae clāmōrem ad sīdera sustulēre. Iuppiter, convīciō permōtus, querellae causam quaerit. Tum stāgnī incola quaedam inquit: "Nunc ūnus lacūs omnēs exūrit, et āridā sēde miserās ēmorī cōgit. Quidnam futūrum est sī līberōs creārit?"

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STRESS (ACCENT) MARKS. Here is the prose text with accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):

Aesópus vicíni furis célebres núptias vidit et contínuo narráre íncipit: Quondam, cum Sol uxórem dúcere vellet, ranae clamórem ad sídera sustulére. Iúppiter, convício permótus, queréllae causam quaerit. Tum stagni íncola quaedam inquit: "Nunc unus lacus omnes exúrit, et árida sede míseras émori cogit. Quidnam futúrum est si líberos creárit?"

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IAMBIC METER. Here is the verse text with some color coding to assist in the iambic meter. The disyllabic elements (iambs/spondees) are not marked, but the trisyllabic elements are color-coded: dactyls are red, anapests are purple, and tribrachs are green (as is any proceleusmaticus, although that is a rare creature):

Vīcī·nī fū·ris cele·brēs vī·dit nūp·tiās
Aesō·pus, et· continu·ō nār·rār~ in·cipit:
Uxō·rem quon·dam Sōl· cum vel·let dū·cere,
clāmō·rem rā·nae sus·tulēr~· ad sī·dera.
Conv·īciō· permō·tus quae·rit Iup·piter
causam· querel·lae. Quae·dam tum· stāgn~ in·cola
Nunc in·quit om·nēs ū·nus ex·ūrit· lacūs,
cōgit·que mise·rās ā·ridā· sēd~ ē·morī.
Quidnam· futūr~ est sī· creā·rit lī·berōs?

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) from a Renaissance edition of Aesop:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Aesopus vicini furis celebres nuptias vidit et continuo narrare incipit: Quondam, cum Sol uxorem ducere vellet, ranae clamorem ad sidera sustulere. Iuppiter, convicio permotus, querellae causam quaerit. Tum stagni incola quaedam inquit: "Nunc unus lacus omnes exurit, et arida sede miseras emori cogit. Quidnam futurum est si liberos crearit?"

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Senex, Filius et Asinus (Gradatim)

SOURCE: A New Gradatim by Melville Clarence Smart (1901) at GoogleBooks. For more information and other versions, see Ashliman's useful collection of parallel stories from various European and Middle Eastern cultures (the story is not part of the traditional Aesopic canon, but it becomes incorporated into it during the Renaissance, thanks to being included by Poggio Bracciolini in one of his Latin story collections).

NoDictionaries.com: You can find the word list for this fable online, and use it interactively (here are some tips on how to make best use of the tool).

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. :-)

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MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Senex quīdam, quī asinum vēndere voluit, cum fīliō eum ad urbem dūcēbat. Mox occurrunt chorō virginum, quae dōna ad templum Minerva portābant. "Hercle," inquit ex hīs māxima nātū, "numquid potest esse stultius illīs, quī pedibus iter faciunt, nec asinō vehuntur?" Hōc ubi audīvit senex, fīlium asinum cōnscendere iūssit, et ipse alacrī gressū iter pergēbat. Nōn procul ab eō locō aliquī senēs sermōnem inter sē serēbant. Tum ūnus, "Ēheu," inquit, "quantum tempora mūtantur! Ubi nunc est ille senectūtis proprius honor? Dēsilī ex asinō, puer impudēns, et patrī cēde." Inde iuvenis, quem pudor factī iam movet, celeriter id quod sibi imperātum est facit, senexque invicem asinum cōnscendit. Forte via secundum flūmen dūcēbat, in quō duae fēminae vestēs lavābant. Hae ubi viātōrēs vident, ūnā vōce crūdēlitātem patris, fīlīque dūrum labōrem plōrant. Senex igitur, quī omnibus placēre vult, puerum post sē sedēre iubet. Nec tamen ea rēs prōsperē ēvenit, quod alius viātor eīs occurrit. "O impudentiam nefandam!" inquit, "facilius potestis asinum ipsī vehere, quam vōs miserum animal." Tum senex, quī nē id quidem ineptum putābat, postquam crūra asinī fūnibus ad māgnum contum vinxerat, novum onus cum māximō labōre in suōs fīlīque umerōs sublevāvit. At asinus, cuī haec minimē placēbant, dum ponte flūmen trānsmittunt, subitō nīsū vincula rumpit, et in aquam praecipitātur.

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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):

Senex quidam, qui ásinum véndere vóluit, cum fílio eum ad urbem ducébat. Mox occúrrunt choro vírginum, quae dona ad templum Minérva portábant. "Hercle," inquit ex his máxima natu, "numquid potest esse stúltius illis, qui pédibus iter fáciunt, nec ásino vehúntur?" Hoc ubi audívit senex, fílium ásinum conscéndere iussit, et ipse álacri gressu iter pergébat. Non procul ab eo loco áliqui senes sermónem inter se serébant . Tum unus, "Eheu," inquit, "quantum témpora mutántur! Ubi nunc est ille senectútis próprius honor? Désili ex ásino, puer ímpudens, et patri cede." Inde iúvenis, quem pudor facti iam movet, celériter id quod sibi imperátum est facit, senéxque ínvicem ásinum conscéndit. Forte via secúndum flumen ducébat, in quo duae féminae vestes lavábant. Hae ubi viatóres vident, una voce crudelitátem patris, filíque durum labórem plorant. Senex ígitur, qui ómnibus placére vult, púerum post se sedére iubet. Nec tamen ea res próspere évenit, quod álius viátor eis occúrrit. "O impudéntiam nefándam!" inquit, "facílius potéstis ásinum ipsi véhere, quam vos míserum ánimal." Tum senex, qui ne id quidem inéptum putábat, postquam crura ásini fúnibus ad magnum contum vínxerat, novum onus cum máximo labóre in suos filíque úmeros sublevávit. At ásinus, cui haec mínime placébant, dum ponte flumen transmíttunt, súbito nisu víncula rumpit, et in aquam praecipitátur.

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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:

Senex quidam, qui asinum vendere voluit, cum filio eum ad urbem ducebat. Mox occurrunt choro virginum, quae dona ad templum Minerva portabant. "Hercle," inquit ex his maxima natu, "numquid potest esse stultius illis, qui pedibus iter faciunt, nec asino vehuntur?" Hoc ubi audivit senex, filium asinum conscendere iussit, et ipse alacri gressu iter pergebat. Non procul ab eo loco aliqui senes sermonem inter se serebant. Tum unus, "Eheu," inquit, "quantum tempora mutantur! Ubi nunc est ille senectutis proprius honor? Desili ex asino, puer impudens, et patri cede." Inde iuvenis, quem pudor facti iam movet, celeriter id quod sibi imperatum est facit, senexque invicem asinum conscendit. Forte via secundum flumen ducebat, in quo duae feminae vestes lavabant. Hae ubi viatores vident, una voce crudelitatem patris, filique durum laborem plorant. Senex igitur, qui omnibus placere vult, puerum post se sedere iubet. Nec tamen ea res prospere evenit, quod alius viator eis occurrit. "O impudentiam nefandam!" inquit, "facilius potestis asinum ipsi vehere, quam vos miserum animal." Tum senex, qui ne id quidem ineptum putabat, postquam crura asini funibus ad magnum contum vinxerat, novum onus cum maximo labore in suos filique umeros sublevavit. At asinus, cui haec minime placebant, dum ponte flumen transmittunt, subito nisu vincula rumpit, et in aquam praecipitatur.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing what happened to the poor donkey in the end!

Vacca, Capella, Ovis et Leo (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.5 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 339.

READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons in verse form, or macrons in prose order, or accent marks in prose order, or focusing on the iambic meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Numquam est fidēlis cum potente societās.
Testātur haec fābella prōpositum meum.
Vacca et capella et patiēns ovis iniūriae
sociī fuēre cum leōne in saltibus.
Hī cum cēpissent cervum vāstī corporis,
sīc est locūtus partibus factīs leō:
"Ego prīmam tollō nōminor quoniam leō;
secundam, quia sum consors, tribuētis mihi;
tum, quia plūs valeō, mē sequētur tertia;
malō adficiētur sī quis quartam tetigerit."
Sīc tōtam praedam sōla improbitās abstulit.

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PROSE MACRONS. Here is the same text with macrons written out in prose word order:

Societās cum potente numquam fidēlis est. Haec fābella prōpositum meum testātur. Vacca et capella et ovis patiēns iniūriae sociī cum leōne in saltibus fuēre. Cum hī cervum vāstī corporis cēpissent, partibus factīs, leō sīc est locūtus: "Ego prīmam tollō, quoniam leō nōminor; secundam mihi tribuētis, quia consors sum; tum, tertia mē sequētur, quia plūs valeō; sī quis quartam tetigerit, malō adficiētur." Sīc improbitās sōla tōtam praedam abstulit.

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STRESS (ACCENT) MARKS. Here is the prose text with accents, plus some color-coding for the words of three or more syllables (blue: penultimate stress; red: antepenultimate stress):

Socíetas cum poténte numquam fidélis est. Haec fabélla propósitum meum testátur. Vacca et capélla et ovis pátiens iniúriae sócii cum leóne in sáltibus fuére. Cum hi cervum vasti córporis cepíssent, pártibus factis, leo sic est locútus: "Ego primam tollo, quóniam leo nóminor; secúndam mihi tribuétis, quia consors sum; tum, tértia me sequétur, quia plus váleo; si quis quartam tetígerit, malo adficiétur." Sic impróbitas sola totam praedam ábstulit.

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IAMBIC METER. Here is the verse text with some color coding to assist in the iambic meter. The disyllabic elements (iambs/spondees) are not marked, but the trisyllabic elements are color-coded: dactyls are red, anapests are purple, and tribrachs are green (as is any proceleusmaticus, although that is a rare creature):

Numqu~ est· fidē·lis cum· poten·te soci·etās.
Testā·tur haec· fābel·la prō·positum· meum.
Vacc~ et· capell~· et pati·ēns ovis· iniū·riae
sociī· fuē·re cum· leōn~· in sal·tibus.
Hī cum· cēpis·sent cer·vum vās·tī cor·poris,
sīc est· locū·tus par·tibus· factīs· leō:
Ego prī·mam tol·lō nō·minor· quoniam· leō;
secun·dam, quia· sum con·sors, tribu·ētis· mihi;
tum, quia· plūs vale·ō, mē· sequē·tur ter·tia;
mal~ ad·ficiē·tur sī· quis quar·tam teti·gerit.
Sīc tōt·am prae·dam sōl~· improbi·tās abs·tulit.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a Renaissance edition of Aesop:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Societas cum potente numquam fidelis est. Haec fabella propositum meum testatur. Vacca et capella et ovis patiens iniuriae socii cum leone in saltibus fuere. Cum hi cervum vasti corporis cepissent, partibus factis, leo sic est locutus: "Ego primam tollo, quoniam leo nominor; secundam mihi tribuetis, quia consors sum; tum, tertia me sequetur, quia plus valeo; si quis quartam tetigerit, malo adficietur." Sic improbitas sola totam praedam abstulit.

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