Gallus et Vulpes (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 Bracciolini's Facetiae. In LaFontaine, the fable is 2.15, Le Coq et le Renard.

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:

Gallō senī, callidō valdē, ac vafrō, in arboris rāmō quasi cūstōdī sedentī, "Frāter," inquit vulpēs, dum vōcem mollit, "bellum inter nōs iam nūllum est; immō omnibus locīs pāx. Quam ut tibi nūntiem, ecce adsum. Dēscende, quaesō, ut tē amplectar; nōlī mē, obsecrō, tardāre. Nam iter hodiē centum mīlium sēdulō mihi faciendum est. Tū et tuī nihil veritī vestrīs rēbus vacāre poteritis. Frātrēs enim iam factī sumus. Hāc igitur nocte fēstōs ignēs incenditōte. Interim venī ut ōscula in vicem dēmus, mūtuō nunc amōre frāter sororque." "Mea vetula," inquit gallus, "numquam novī quicquam ad mē adlātum erit, quod dulcius meliusque futūrum sit, quam ista tandem nūntiāta pāx. Quam ā tē potissimum audīre, duplicī mē gaudiō adficit. Sed ecce duōs canēs vēnāticōs videō, missōs, nisi fallor, quī istam rem nōbīs nūntiārent. Celeriter currunt; hīc brevī aderunt. Dēscendam; omnibus nunc licet ōscula in vicem dare." Vulpēs autem, "Valē," inquit, "longissimum iter est meum. Quod rēs tam prōsperē gesta est, posthāc gaudiō exsultābimus." Tum subitō in locum tūtum effūgit, dolō suō male contenta. Gallus autem noster sēcum cōgitāns timōrem eius inrīdēbat; duplex enim gaudium est fallācem fallere.

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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):

Gallo seni, cállido valde, ac vafro, in árboris ramo quasi custódi sedénti, "Frater," inquit vulpes, dum vocem mollit, "bellum inter nos iam nullum est; immo ómnibus locis pax. Quam ut tibi núntiem, ecce adsum. Descénde, quaeso, ut te ampléctar; noli me, óbsecro, tardáre. Nam iter hódie centum mílium sédulo mihi faciéndum est. Tu et tui nihil vériti vestris rebus vacáre potéritis. Fratres enim iam facti sumus. Hac ígitur nocte festos ignes incenditóte. Ínterim veni ut óscula in vicem demus, mútuo nunc amóre frater sorórque." "Mea vétula," inquit gallus, "numquam novi quicquam ad me adlátum erit, quod dúlcius meliúsque futúrum sit, quam ista tandem nuntiáta pax. Quam a te potíssimum audíre, dúplici me gaúdio ádficit. Sed ecce duos canes venáticos vídeo, missos, nisi fallor, qui istam rem nobis nuntiárent. Celériter currunt; hic brevi áderunt. Descéndam; ómnibus nunc licet óscula in vicem dare." Vulpes autem, "Vale," inquit, "longíssimum iter est meum. Quod res tam próspere gesta est, posthac gaúdio exsultábimus." Tum súbito in locum tutum effúgit, dolo suo male conténta. Gallus autem noster secum cógitans timórem eius inridébat; duplex enim gaúdium est fallácem fállere.

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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:

Gallo seni, callido valde, ac vafro,
in arboris ramo
quasi custodi sedenti,
"Frater," inquit vulpes,
dum vocem mollit, "
bellum inter nos
iam nullum est;
immo
omnibus locis pax.
Quam ut tibi nuntiem,
ecce adsum.
Descende, quaeso,
ut te amplectar;
noli me, obsecro, tardare.
Nam iter hodie centum milium
sedulo mihi faciendum est.
Tu et tui
nihil veriti
vestris rebus vacare poteritis.
Fratres enim
iam facti sumus.
Hac igitur nocte
festos ignes incenditote.
Interim veni
ut oscula in vicem demus,
mutuo nunc amore
frater sororque."
"Mea vetula," inquit gallus,
"numquam novi
quicquam ad me adlatum erit,
quod dulcius meliusque futurum sit,
quam ista tandem nuntiata pax.
Quam a te potissimum audire,
duplici me gaudio adficit.
Sed ecce
duos canes venaticos video,
missos, nisi fallor,
qui istam rem nobis nuntiarent.
Celeriter currunt;
hic
brevi aderunt.
Descendam;
omnibus nunc licet
oscula in vicem dare."
Vulpes autem, "Vale," inquit,
"longissimum iter est meum.
Quod res tam prospere gesta est,
posthac gaudio exsultabimus."
Tum subito in locum tutum effugit,
dolo suo male contenta.
Gallus autem noster
secum cogitans
timorem eius inridebat;
duplex enim gaudium est
fallacem fallere.

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

Ex Sutore Medicus (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.14 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 475.

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:

Malus cum sūtor inopiā dēperditus
medicīnam īgnōtō facere coepisset locō
et vēnditāret falsō antidotum nōmine,
verbōsis adquīsīvit sibi fāmam strophīs.
Hīc cum iacēret morbō cōnfectus gravī
rēx urbis, ēius experiendī grātiā
scyphum poposcit: fūsā dein simulāns aquā
antidotō miscēre illius sē toxicum,
ēbibere iussit ipsum, positō praemiō.
Timōre mortis ille tum cōnfessus est,
nōn artis ūllā medicae sē prūdentiā,
vērum stupōre vulgī, factum nōbilem.
Rēx advocātā cōntiōne haec ēdidit:
"Quantae putātis esse vōs dēmentiae,
quī capita vestra nōn dubitātis crēdere,
cui calceandōs nēmō commīsit pedes?"
Hōc pertinēre vērē ad illōs dīxerim,
quōrum stultitiā quaestus impudentiae est.

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

Cum sūtor malus, inopiā dēperditus, locō īgnōtō medicīnam facere coepisset et falsō nōmine antidotum vēnditāret, strophīs verbōsis fāmam sibi adquīsīvit. Hīc, cum rēx urbis, morbō gravī cōnfectus, iacēret, scyphum poposcit, ēius experiendī grātiā: dein, aquā fūsā, simulāns sē illius antidotō toxicum miscēre, ipsum ēbibere iussit, praemiō positō. Tum ille timōre mortis cōnfessus est sē nōbilem factum, nōn ūllā artis medicae prūdentiā, vērum, stupōre vulgī. Rēx, cōntiōne advocātā, haec ēdidit: "Quantae dēmentiae vōs esse putātis, quī capita vestra crēdere nōn dubitātis, cui nēmō pedes calceandōs commīsit?" Dīxerim hōc vērē pertinēre ad illōs quōrum quaestus impudentiae stultitiā est.

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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):

Cum sutor malus, inópia depérditus, loco ignóto medicínam fácere coepísset et falso nómine antídotum venditáret, strophis verbósis famam sibi adquisívit. Hic, cum rex urbis, morbo gravi conféctus, iacéret, scyphum popóscit, eius experiéndi grátia: dein, aqua fusa, símulans se illíus antídoto tóxicum miscére, ipsum ebíbere iussit, praémio pósito. Tum ille timóre mortis conféssus est se nóbilem factum, non ulla artis médicae prudéntia, verum, stupóre vulgi. Rex, contióne advocáta, haec édidit: "Quantae deméntiae vos esse putátis, qui cápita vestra crédere non dubitátis, cui nemo pedes calceándos commísit?" Díxerim hoc vere pertinére ad illos quórum quaestus impudéntiae stultítia est.

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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):

Malus· cum sū·tor ino·piā· dēper·ditus
medicīn~· īgnō·tō face·re coe·pisset· locō
et vēn·ditā·ret fals~· antido·tum nō·mine,
verbō·sis ad·quīsī·vit sibi· fāmam· strophīs.
Hīc cum· iacē·ret mor·bō cō·nfectus· gravī
rēx ur·bis, ē·ius ex·perien·dī grā·tiā
scyphum· popos·cit: fū·sā dein· simulāns· aquā
antido·tō mis·cēr~ il·lius· sē tox·icum,
ēbibe·re ius·sit ip·sum, posi·tō prae·miō.
Timō·re mor·tis il·le tum· cōnfes·sus est,
nōn ar·tis ūl·lā medi·cae sē· prūden·tiā,
vērum· stupō·re vul·gī, fac·tum nō·bilem.
Rēx ad·vocā·tā cōn·tiōn~· haec ē·didit:
Quantae· putā·tis es·se vōs· dēmen·tiae,
quī capi·ta ves·tra nōn· dubitā·tis crē·dere,
cui cal·cean·dōs nē·mō com·mīsit· pedes?
Hōc per·tinē·re vēr~· ad il·lōs dīx·erim,
quōrum· stultiti·ā quaes·tus im·puden·ti~ est.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing a Roman goblet from the 4th century - just imagine it filled with the supposed medicine:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Cum sutor malus, inopia deperditus, loco ignoto medicinam facere coepisset et falso nomine antidotum venditaret, strophis verbosis famam sibi adquisivit. Hic, cum rex urbis, morbo gravi confectus, iaceret, scyphum poposcit, eius experiendi gratia: dein, aqua fusa, simulans se illius antidoto toxicum miscere, ipsum ebibere iussit, praemio posito. Tum ille timore mortis confessus est se nobilem factum, non ulla artis medicae prudentia, verum, stupore vulgi. Rex, contione advocata, haec edidit: "Quantae dementiae vos esse putatis, qui capita vestra credere non dubitatis, cui nemo pedes calceandos commisit?" Dixerim hoc vere pertinere ad illos quorum quaestus impudentiae stultitia est.

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Volpes et Corvus (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.13 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 124.

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 sē laudārī gaudet verbīs subdolīs,
sērā dat poenās turpēs paenitentiā.
Cum dē fenēstrā corvus raptum cāseum
comēsse vellet, celsā residēns arbore,
volpēs hunc vīdit, deinde sīc coepit loquī:
"Ō quī tuārum, corve, pinnārum est nitor!
Quantum decōris corpore et vultū geris!
Sī vōcem habērēs, nūlla prior āles foret."
At ille stultus, dum vult vōcem ostendere,
ēmīsit ōre cāseum; quem celeriter
dolōsa volpēs avidīs rapuit dentibus.
Tum dēmum ingemuit corvī dēceptus stupor.

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

Quī verbīs subdolīs sē laudārī gaudet, paenitentiā sērā poenās turpēs dat. Cum corvus cāseum, dē fenēstrā raptum, comēsse vellet, celsā arbore residēns, volpēs hunc vīdit, deinde sīc loquī coepit: "Ō corve, tuārum pinnārum quī nitor est! Quantum decōris corpore et vultū geris! Sī vōcem habērēs, nūlla āles prior foret." At ille stultus, dum vōcem ostendere vult, ōre cāseum ēmīsit, quem dolōsa volpēs dentibus avidīs celeriter rapuit. Tum dēmum corvī dēceptus stupor ingemuit.

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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):

Qui verbis súbdolis se laudári gaudet, paeniténtia sera poenas turpes dat. Cum corvus cáseum, de fenéstra raptum, comésse vellet, celsa árbore résidens, volpes hunc vidit, deinde sic loqui coepit: "O corve, tuárum pinnárum qui nitor est! Quantum decóris córpore et vultu geris! Si vocem habéres, nulla ales prior foret." At ille stultus, dum vocem osténdere vult, ore cáseum emísit, quem dolósa volpes déntibus ávidis celériter rápuit. Tum demum corvi decéptus stupor ingémuit.

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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 sē· laudā·rī gau·dent ve·rbīs sub·dolīs,
sērā· dat poe·nās tur·pēs pae·niten·tiā.
Cum dē· fenēs·trā cor·vus rap·tum cā·seum
comēs·se vel·let, cel·sā resi·dēns ar·bore,
volpēs· hunc vī·dit, dein·de sīc· coepit· loquī:
Ō quī· tuā·rum, cor·ve, pin·nār~ est· nitor!
Quantum· decō·ris cor·por~ et· vultū· geris!
Sī vōc~· habē·rēs, nūl·la prior· āles· foret.
At il·le stul·tus, dum· vult vōc~· osten·dere,
ēmī·sit ō·re cā·seum;· quem cele·riter
dolō·sa vol·pēs avi·dīs rapu·it den·tibus.
Tum dēm~· ingemu·it cor·vī dē·ceptus· stupor.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Qui verbis subdolis se laudari gaudet, paenitentia sera poenas turpes dat. Cum corvus caseum, de fenestra raptum, comesse vellet, celsa arbore residens, volpes hunc vidit, deinde sic loqui coepit: "O corve, tuarum pinnarum qui nitor est! Quantum decoris corpore et vultu geris! Si vocem haberes, nulla ales prior foret." At ille stultus, dum vocem ostendere vult, ore caseum emisit, quem dolosa volpes dentibus avidis celeriter rapuit. Tum demum corvi deceptus stupor ingemuit.

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Leo et Socii (Barlow)

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

Convēnēre Leō et Ovis et aliī Quadrupedēs, pepigerantque inter sē vēnātiōnem fore commūnem. Ītur vēnātum; prōcumbit cervus; spolia dīvidunt, singulās singulīs partēs tollere incipientibus. Irrūgiēns surgit Leō: “Ūna (inquit) pars mea est, quia sum dignissimus. Altera item mea est, quia vīribus sum praestantissimus. Porrō, quia in capiendō cervō plūs sūdāverim, tertiam mihi partem vendicō. Quartam dēnique partem, nisi concesseritis, actum est dē amīcitiā; īlicet periistis!” Relīquī, hōc audītō, discēdunt, vacuī et tacitī, nōn ausī muttīre contrā Leōnem.

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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):

Convenére Leo et Ovis et álii Quadrúpedes, pepigerántque inter se venatiónem fore commúnem. Itur venátum; procúmbit cervus; spólia dívidunt, síngulas síngulis partes tóllere incipiéntibus. Irrúgiens surgit Leo: “Una (inquit) pars mea est, quia sum digníssimus. Áltera item mea est, quia víribus sum praestantíssimus. Porro, quia in capiéndo cervo plus sudáverim, tértiam mihi partem véndico. Quartam dénique partem, nisi concesséritis, actum est de amicítia; ílicet periístis!” Relíqui, hoc audíto, discédunt, vácui et táciti, non ausi muttíre contra Leónem.

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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:

Convenere Leo et Ovis et alii Quadrupedes, pepigerantque inter se venationem fore communem. Itur venatum; procumbit cervus; spolia dividunt, singulas singulis partes tollere incipientibus. Irrugiens surgit Leo: “Una (inquit) pars mea est, quia sum dignissimus. Altera item mea est, quia viribus sum praestantissimus. Porro, quia in capiendo cervo plus sudaverim, tertiam mihi partem vendico. Quartam denique partem, nisi concesseritis, actum est de amicitia; ilicet periistis!” Reliqui, hoc audito, discedunt, vacui et taciti, non ausi muttire contra Leonem.

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

Gallus Gallinaceus (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:

Gallus gallināceus, dum armātō pede sterquilīnium dissipandō disiicit, invenit gemmam: “Quid (inquiēns) rem tam fulgurantem reperiō? Sī gemmārius invēnisset, laetābundus exultāret, quippe quī scīvit pretium. Mihi quidem nulli est ūsui, nec magni aestimo. Ūnum etenim hordeī grānum est mihi longē pretiōsius quam omnes gemmae, quamvis ad invidiam micent diēī opprobriumque sōlis.”

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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):

Gallus gallináceus, dum armáto pede sterquilínium dissipándo dísiicit, ínvenit gemmam: “Quid (ínquiens) rem tam fulgurántem repério? Si Gemmárius invenísset, laetabúndus exultáret, quippe qui scivit prétium. Mihi quidem nulli est úsui, nec magni aéstimo. Unum étenim hórdei granum est mihi longe pretiósius quam omnes gemmae, quamvis ad invídiam micent diéi opprobriúmque solis.”

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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:

Gallus gallinaceus, dum armato pede sterquilinium dissipando disiicit, invenit gemmam: “Quid (inquiens) rem tam fulgurantem reperio? Si Gemmarius invenisset, laetabundus exultaret, quippe qui scivit pretium. Mihi quidem nulli est usui, nec magni aestimo. Unum etenim hordei granum est mihi longe pretiosius quam omnes gemmae, quamvis ad invidiam micent diei opprobriumque solis.”

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

Leo Senex et Asinus (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 481. In LaFontaine, the fable is 3.14, Le Lion devenu vieux.

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:

Leō senex, quī silvīs ōlim terrōri fuerat, iam prīstinam virtūtem suam multō cum dolōre dēsiderābat, cum interim in eum, cui ōlim pārēbant, impetum facerent animālia, nunc eō fortiōra quō ipse imbēcillior erat. Equus enim ungulā leōnem petit, bōs cornū, mordet lupus. Ille autem miser, quī in hōrās languidior ac trīstior, seniō cōnfectus vix iam rudere posset, mortem tacitus exspectābat, usque dum asinum quoque in spēluncam festīnantem cōnspicātus. "Ohē!" inquit, "nimium sānē hoc est; morī equidem cupiō; tuum autem impetum tolerāre bis morī est."

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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):

Leo senex, qui silvis olim terróri fúerat, iam prístinam virtútem suam multo cum dolóre desiderábat, cum ínterim in eum, cui olim parébant, ímpetum fácerent animália, nunc eo fortióra quo ipse imbecíllior erat. Equus enim úngula leónem petit, bos cornu, mordet lupus. Ille autem miser, qui in horas languídior ac trístior, sénio conféctus vix iam rúdere posset, mortem tácitus exspectábat, usque dum ásinum quoque in spelúncam festinántem conspicátus. "Ohe!" inquit, "nímium sane hoc est; mori équidem cúpio; tuum autem ímpetum toleráre bis mori est."

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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:

Leo senex,
qui silvis
olim terrori fuerat,
iam pristinam virtutem suam
multo cum dolore desiderabat,
cum interim
in eum,
cui olim parebant,
impetum facerent animalia,
nunc eo fortiora
quo ipse imbecillior erat.
Equus enim
ungula leonem petit,
bos cornu,
mordet lupus.
Ille autem miser,
qui in horas languidior ac tristior,
senio confectus
vix iam rudere posset,
mortem tacitus exspectabat,
usque dum asinum quoque
in speluncam festinantem conspicatus.
"Ohe!" inquit,
"nimium sane hoc est;
mori equidem cupio;
tuum autem impetum tolerare
bis mori est."

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

Musca et Calvus (Nequam)

SOURCE: The fables of the medieval scholar and poet Alexander Nequam are available in several different editions at GoogleBooks. This is poem 19 in Nequam. For parallel versions, see Perry 525. You can find the word list for this fable online at NoDictionaries.com, and use it interactively.

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 meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Musca caput calvī studiō turbāverat ācrī;
cuī cēdēns calvus saepe fugārat eam,
Musca levis rīdēns tantō magis hunc stimulābat,
caedēbat mutilum quō magis ille caput.
Calvus ait: Quia mē rīdēs, mē caedere cōgis;
multotiēns caedam quō semel intereās.
Dixit, et īnstantem violentō percutit ictū;
Attrītā saniē sordida musca fuit.
Hinc minimus discat nōn infestāre potentem,
quī pūnit subitō quod tulit ipse diu!

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

Musca calvī caput studiō ācrī turbāverat; cuī cēdēns calvus saepe eam fugārat, tantō magis musca levis, rīdēns, hunc stimulābat quō magis ille caput mutilum caedēbat. Calvus ait: Quia mē rīdēs, mē caedere cōgis; multotiēns caedam quō semel intereās. Dixit, et īnstantem ictū violentō percutit; musca sordida fuit attrītā saniē . Hinc minimus discat nōn infestāre potentem, quī subitō pūnit quod ipse diu tulit!

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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):

Musca calvi caput stúdio acri turbáverat; cui cedens calvus saepe eam fugárat, tanto magis musca levis, ridens, hunc stimulábat quo magis ille caput mútilum caedébat. Calvus ait: Quia me rides, me caédere cogis; multótiens caedam quo semel intéreas. Dixit, et instántem ictu violénto pércutit; musca sórdida fuit attríta sánie . Hinc mínimus discat non infestáre poténtem, qui súbito punit quod ipse diu tulit!

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ELEGIAC COUPLET METER. Below I have used an interpunct dot · to indicate the metrical elements in each line, and a double line || to indicate the hemistichs of the pentameter line.

Musca ca·put cal·vī studi·ō tur·bāverat· ācrī;
cuī cē·dēns cal·vus || saepe fu·gārat e·am,
Musca le·vis rī·dēns tan·tō magis· hunc stimu·lābat,
caedē·bat muti·lum || quō magis· ille ca·put.
Calvus a·it: Quia· mē rī·dēs, mē· caedere· cōgis;
multoti·ēns cae·dam || quō semel· intere·ās.
Dixit, e·t īnstan·tem vio·lentō· percutit· ictū;
Attrī·tā sani·ē || sordida· musca fu·it.
Hinc mini·mus dis·cat nōn· infes·tāre po·tentem,
quī pū·nit subi·tō || quod tulit· ipse di·u!

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Musca calvi caput studio acri turbaverat; cui cedens calvus saepe eam fugarat, tanto magis musca levis, ridens, hunc stimulabat quo magis ille caput mutilum caedebat. Calvus ait: Quia me rides, me caedere cogis; multotiens caedam quo semel intereas. Dixit, et instantem ictu violento percutit; musca sordida fuit attrita sanie . Hinc minimus discat non infestare potentem, qui subito punit quod ipse diu tulit!

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Serpens et Lima (Nequam)

SOURCE: The fables of the medieval scholar and poet Alexander Nequam are available in several different editions at GoogleBooks. This is poem 16 in Nequam. For parallel versions, see Perry 93. You can find the word list for this fable online at NoDictionaries.com and use it interactively

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 meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Rēpserat in fabricam serpēns, līmāque repertā,
esse putāns escam, rōdere coepit eam.
Rīsit līma; rogat serpēns cūr rīserit, inquit:
Mīrāns stultitiam rīdeo iūre tuam.
Ipsum perdūrum mōs est mihi rōdere ferrum,
et sī quid ferrō dūrius esse potest.
Tū mē rōdentem, stultissima, rōdere tentas:
aspice, iam rubeō sanguine tincta tuō.
Mordācem prohibet mordērī fābula nostra,
nē laesus nimiam reddat et ille vicem.

Hinc discant hominēs nē laedant sē potiōrēs,
nē mage laedantur laedere dum cupiunt!

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

Serpēns rēpserat in fabricam, et, līmā repertā, escam esse putāns, eam rōdere coepit. Lima risit; serpēns rogat cūr rīserit; inquit: Iure rīdeo, stultitiam tuam mirans. Mihi est mos ferrum ipsum perdūrum rōdere, et sī quid ferrō dūrius esse potest. Tū, mē, rōdentem, rōdere tentas, stultissima: aspice! iam sanguine rubeō tuō tincta. Fabula nostra mordācem mordērī prohibet , nē et ille laesus vicem nimiam reddat. Hinc hominēs discant nē laedant sē potiōrēs, nē, dum laedere cupiunt, mage laedantur!

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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):

Serpens répserat in fábricam, et, lima repérta, escam esse putans, eam ródere coepit. Lima risit; serpens rogat cur ríserit; inquit: Iure rídeo, stultítiam tuam mirans. Mihi est mos ferrum ipsum perdúrum ródere, et si quid ferro dúrius esse potest. Tu, me, rodéntem, ródere tentas, stultíssima: áspice! iam sánguine rúbeo tuo tincta. Fábula nostra mordácem mordéri próhibet , ne et ille laesus vicem nímiam reddat. Hinc hómines discant ne laedant se potióres, ne, dum laédere cúpiunt, mage laedántur!

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ELEGIAC COUPLET METER. Below I have used an interpunct dot · to indicate the metrical elements in each line, and a double line || to indicate the hemistichs of the pentameter line.

Rēpserat· in fabri·cam ser·pēns, lī·māque re·pertā,
esse pu·tāns es·cam, || rōdere· coepit e·am.
Rīsit· līma; ro·gat ser·pēns cūr· rīserit,· inquit:
Mīrāns· stultiti·am || rīdeo· iūre tu·am.
Ipsum· perdū·rum mōs· est mihi· rōdere· ferrum,
et sī· quid fer·rō || dūrius· esse po·test.
Tū mē· rōden·tem, stul·tissima,· rōdere· tentas:
aspice,· iam rube·ō || sanguine· tincta tu·ō.
Mordā·cem prohi·bet mor·dērī· fābula· nostra,
nē lae·sus nimi·am || reddat et· ille vi·cem.
Hinc dis·cant homi·nēs nē· laedant· sē poti·ōrēs,
nē mage· laedan·tur || laedere· dum cupi·unt!

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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:
Serpens repserat in fabricam, et, lima reperta, escam esse putans, eam rodere coepit. Lima risit; serpens rogat cur riserit; inquit: Iure rideo, stultitiam tuam mirans. Mihi est mos ferrum ipsum perdurum rodere, et si quid ferro durius esse potest. Tu, me, rodentem, rodere tentas, stultissima: aspice! iam sanguine rubeo tuo tincta. Fabula nostra mordacem morderi prohibet , ne et ille laesus vicem nimiam reddat. Hinc homines discant ne laedant se potiores, ne, dum laedere cupiunt, mage laedantur!

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Canis et Ovis (Nequam)

SOURCE: The fables of the medieval scholar and poet Alexander Nequam are available in several different editions at GoogleBooks. This is poem 15 in Nequam. For parallel versions, see Perry 478. You can find the word list for this fable online at NoDictionaries.com, and use it interactively

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 meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons (note that the final syllable of accipiter is long before the caesura):

Accūsābat ovem canis ōlim quod sibi pānem
reddere nōlēbat quem sibi praestiterat.
Illa negat: iūdex testēs petit. Haec lupus inquit:
Vīdī quod pānem praestitit iste tibi.
Milvus et accipiter eadem sunt testificātī;
reddere sīc pānem cōgitur illa canī,
Et quia nōn habuit quō posset reddere pānem,
prō pretiō lānam vendidit illa suam.
Sīc tūtōre carēns vir simplex, fraude coactus,
hoc quod nōn habuit reddere saepe solet.

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

Olim canis ovem accūsābat canis quod nōlēbat sibi reddere pānem quem sibi praestiterat. Illa negat: iūdex testēs petit. Lupus haec inquit: Vīdī quod iste tibi pānem praestitit. Milvus et accipiter eadem testificātī sunt; sīc illa pānem canī reddere cōgitur, et, quia nōn habuit quō pānem reddere posset, illa prō pretiō lānam suam vendidit. Sīc saepe vir simplex, tūtōre carēns. fraude coactus, hoc quod nōn habuit reddere solet.

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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):

Olim canis ovem accusábat canis quod nolébat sibi réddere panem quem sibi praestíterat. Illa negat: iudex testes petit. Lupus haec inquit: Vidi quod iste tibi panem praéstitit. Milvus et áccipiter éadem testificáti sunt; sic illa panem cani réddere cógitur, et, quia non hábuit quo panem réddere posset, illa pro prétio lanam suam véndidit. Sic saepe vir simplex, tutóre carens, fraude coáctus, hoc quod non hábuit réddere solet.

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ELEGIAC COUPLET METER. Below I have used an interpunct dot · to indicate the metrical elements in each line, and a double line || to indicate the hemistichs of the pentameter line.

Accū·sābat o·vem canis· ōlim· quod sibi· pānem
reddere· nōlē·bat || quem sibi· praestite·rat.
Illa ne·gat: iū·dex tes·tēs petit.· Haec lupus· inquit:
Vīdī· quod pā·nem || praestitit· iste ti·bi.
Milvus et· accipi·ter ea·dem sunt· testifi·cātī;
reddere· sīc pā·nem || cōgitur· illa ca·nī,
Et quia· nōn habu·it quō· posset· reddere· pānem,
prō preti·ō lā·nam || vendidit· illa su·am.
Sīc tū·tōre ca·rēns vir· simplex,· fraude c·oactus,
hoc quod· nōn habu·it || reddere· saepe so·let.

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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:
Olim canis ovem accusabat canis quod nolebat sibi reddere panem quem sibi praestiterat. Illa negat: iudex testes petit. Lupus haec inquit: Vidi quod iste tibi panem praestitit. Milvus et accipiter eadem testificati sunt; sic illa panem cani reddere cogitur, et, quia non habuit quo panem reddere posset, illa pro pretio lanam suam vendidit. Sic saepe vir simplex, tutore carens. fraude coactus, hoc quod non habuit reddere solet.

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Canis et Umbra (Nequam)

SOURCE: The fables of the medieval scholar and poet Alexander Nequam are available in several different editions at GoogleBooks. This is poem 13 in Nequam. For parallel versions, see Perry 133. You can find the word list for this fable online at NoDictionaries.com and use it interactively

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 meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Ōre ferēns carnem, liquidum dum trānsmeat amnem,
umbram prōspexit carnis in amne canis.
Esse putāns carnem dum dentibus appetit, illa
quam tulerat cecidit, umbraque nulla fuit.
Quī sua parva putat, aliēnaque tollere tentat,
mōre canis, perdet quod cupit et quod habet.

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

Canis, carnem ore ferēns, dum amnem liquidum trānsmeat, carnis umbram in amne prōspexit . Dum dentibus appetit, putāns carnem esse , illa quam tulerat cecidit, et umbra nulla fuit. Quī, mōre canis, sua parva putat, et aliēna tollere tentat, perdet quod cupit et quod habet.

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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):

Canis, carnem ore ferens, dum amnem líquidum tránsmeat, carnis umbram in amne prospéxit . Dum déntibus áppetit, putans carnem esse, illa quam túlerat cécidit, et umbra nulla fuit. Qui, more canis, sua parva putat, et aliéna tóllere tentat, perdet quod cupit et quod habet.

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ELEGIAC COUPLET METER. Below I have used an interpunct dot · to indicate the metrical elements in each line, and a double line || to indicate the hemistichs of the pentameter line.

Ōre fe·rēns car·nem, liqui·dum dum· trānsmeat· amnem,
umbram· prōspex·it || carnis in· amne ca·nis.
Esse pu·tāns car·nem dum· dentibus· appetit,· illa
quam tule·rat ceci·dit, || umbraque· nulla fu·it.
Quī sua· parva pu·tat, ali·ēnaque· tollere· tentat,
mōre ca·nis, per·det || quod cupit· et quod ha·bet.

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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:
Canis, carnem ore ferens, dum amnem liquidum transmeat, carnis umbram in amne prospexit . Dum dentibus appetit, putans carnem esse, illa quam tulerat cecidit, et umbra nulla fuit. Qui, more canis, sua parva putat, et aliena tollere tentat, perdet quod cupit et quod habet.

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Mors et Amor (Alciato)

SOURCE: The emblems of Alciato, with a convenient bilingual presentation online at Memorial University, and a marvelous collection of illustrated editions at Glasgow. This is emblem 155 in the collection. Although the story of the mix-up between Death and Love is not part of the classical corpus of fables, you can find it the modern fable books, such as Barlow's Aesop, which is the source for the image below.

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 meter. You will find materials for all of these options below. :-)

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Errābat sociō Mors iuncta Cupīdine: sēcum
Mors pharetrās, parvus tēla gerēbat Amor.
Dīvertēre simul, simul ūnā et nocte cubārunt:
Caecus Amor, Mors hōc tempore caeca fuit.
Alter enim alterius male prōvida spīcula sumpsit,
Mors aurāta, tenet ossea tēla puer
Dēbuit inde senex quī nunc Acheronticus esse,
Ecce amat, et capitī flōrea serta parat.
At ego mūtātō quia Amor mē perculit arcū,
Dēficiō, iniiciunt et mihi fāta manum.
Parce puer, Mors signa tenēns victrīcia parce:
Fāc ego amem, subeat fāc Acheronta senex.

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

Mors errābat, Cupīdine sociō iuncta: sēcum Mors pharetrās gerēbat, Amor parvus tēla. Unā simul dīvertēre, simul et nocte cubārunt: Amor caecus, Mors hōc tempore caeca fuit. Alter enim alterīus spīcula, male prōvida, sumpsit, Mors spīcula aurāta tenet, puer ossea tēla tenet. Inde senex, quī nunc Acheronticus esse dēbuit, ecce, amat, et flōrea serta capitī parat. At ego, quia Amor mē perculit, arcū mūtātō, dēficiō, et fāta mihi manum iniiciunt. Parce, puer; Mors victrīcia signa tenēns, parce: Fāc ego amem, fāc senex Acheronta subeat.

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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):

Mors errábat, Cupídine sócio iuncta: secum Mors pháretras gerébat, Amor parvus tela. Una simul divertére, simul et nocte cubárunt: Amor caecus, Mors hoc témpore caeca fuit. Alter enim alteríus spícula, male próvida, sumpsit, Mors spícula auráta tenet, puer óssea tela tenet. Inde senex, qui nunc Acherónticus esse débuit, ecce, amat, et flórea serta cápiti parat. At ego, quia Amor me pérculit, arcu mutáto, defício, et fata mihi manum iniíciunt. Parce, puer; Mors victrícia signa tenens, parce: Fac ego amem, fac senex Acherónta súbeat.

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ELEGIAC COUPLET METER. Below I have used an interpunct dot · to indicate the metrical elements in each line, and a double line || to indicate the hemistichs of the pentameter line.

Errā·bat soc·iō Mors· iuncta Cu·pīdine:· sēcum
Mors phare·trās, par·vus || tēla ge·rēbat A·mor.
Dīver·tēre si·mul, simul· ūn~ et· nocte cu·bārunt:
Caecus A·mor, Mors· hōc || tempore· caeca fu·it.
Alter en~· alteri·us male· prōvida· spīcula· sumpsit,
Mors au·rāta, te·net || ossea· tēla pu·er
Dēbuit· inde se·nex quī· nunc Ache·ronticus· esse,
Ecc~ amat,· et capi·tī || flōrea· serta pa·rat.
At ego· mūtā·tō qui~ A·mor mē· perculit· arcū,
Dēfici~,· iniici·unt || et mihi· fāta ma·num.
Parce pu·er, Mors· signa te·nēns vic·trīcia· parce:
Fāc eg~ a·mem, sube·at || fāc Ache·ronta se·nex.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) by the 17th-century artist, Francis Barlow:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Mors errabat, Cupidine socio iuncta: secum Mors pharetras gerebat, Amor parvus tela. Una simul divertere, simul et nocte cubarunt: Amor caecus, Mors hoc tempore caeca fuit. Alter enim alterius spicula, male provida, sumpsit, Mors spicula aurata tenet, puer ossea tela tenet. Inde senex, qui nunc Acheronticus esse debuit, ecce, amat, et florea serta capiti parat. At ego, quia Amor me perculit, arcu mutato, deficio, et fata mihi manum iniiciunt. Parce, puer; Mors victricia signa tenens, parce: Fac ego amem, fac senex Acheronta subeat.

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