Asinus in Pelle Leonis (Trinity)

SOURCE: This poem was composed by the anonymous "Trinity Master" who published a lovely little book in 1852 setting Latin fables in prose side-by-side with his verse compositions; read the book at Google Books. This is poem 26 in the collection. For more versions, see Perry 358.

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:

Ipsum cognoscās; nōlī simulāre, quod haud es;
Ūtere contentus, quod tibi sorte datum est.
Contigit exuviās reperisse leōnis Asellō;
Mox hīs indūtus pascua lata petit.
Aggrediēns laetosque gregēs armentaque terret:
Diffugiunt vīsū; corda timōre micant.
Mox dominus, quaerēns fugitīvum, vīsus adīre;
Hunc etiam rugiēns vult pepulisse ferus.
Attamen auriculās longās ait ille prehendēns,
"Forte aliōs fallās; haec mihi signa manent."

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

Ipsum cognoscās; nōlī simulāre, quod haud es; contentus ūtere, quod tibi datum est sorte. Asellō contigit leōnis exuviās reperisse; mox hīs indūtus pascua lata petit. Aggrediēns, terret et laetos gregēs et armenta: diffugiunt vīsū; corda timōre micant. Mox Dominus, fugitīvum quaerēns, adīre vīsus; ferus, rugiēns, etiam hunc pepulisse vult, attamen ille, auriculās longās prehendēns ait, "Forte aliōs fallās; haec signa mihi manent."

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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):

Ipsum cognóscas; noli simuláre, quod haud es; conténtus útere, quod tibi datum est sorte. Aséllo cóntigit leónis exúvias reperísse; mox his indútus páscua lata petit. Aggrédiens, terret et laetos greges et arménta: diffúgiunt visu; corda timóre micant. Mox Dóminus, fugitívum quaerens, adíre visus; ferus, rúgiens, étiam hunc pepulísse vult, áttamen ille, aurículas longas prehéndens ait, "Forte álios fallas; haec signa mihi manent."

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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.

Ipsum· cognos·cās; nō·lī simu·lāre, quod· haud es;
Ūtere· conten·tus, || quod tibi· sorte da·t~ est.
Contigit· exuvi·ās repe·risse le·ōnis A·sellō;
Mox hīs· indū·tus || pascua· lata pe·tit.
Aggredi·ēns lae·tosque gre·gēs ar·mentaque· terret:
Diffugi·unt vī·sū; || corda ti·mōre mi·cant.
Mox domi·nus, quae·rēns fugi·tīvum,· vīsus a·dīre;
Hunc eti·am rugi·ēns || vult pepu·lisse fe·rus.
Attame·n auricu·lās lon·gās ait· ille pre·hendēns,
Fort~ ali·ōs fal·lās; || haec mihi· signa ma·nent.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Ipsum cognoscas; noli simulare, quod haud es; contentus utere, quod tibi datum est sorte. Asello contigit leonis exuvias reperisse; mox his indutus pascua lata petit. Aggrediens, terret et laetos greges et armenta: diffugiunt visu; corda timore micant. Mox Dominus, fugitivum quaerens, adire visus; ferus, rugiens, etiam hunc pepulisse vult, attamen ille, auriculas longas prehendens ait, "Forte alios fallas; haec signa mihi manent."

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Scarabaeus et Aquila: A minimis quoque timendum (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 169 in the collection. For other versions of this fable, see Perry 3.

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:

Bella gerit scarabaeus, et hostem prōvocat ultrō,
Rōbore et inferior, cōnsiliō superat.
Nam plūmīs aquilae clam sē neque cognitus abdit,
Hostīlem ut nīdum summa per astra petat.
Ōvaque, confodiēns, prohibet spem crescere prōlis:
Hōcque modō illātum dēdecus ultus abit.

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

Scarabaeus bella gerit, et ultrō hostem prōvocat, et, rōbore inferior, cōnsiliō superat. Nam aquilae plūmīs clam neque cognitus sē abdit , ut hostīlem nīdum per astra summa petat: et, ōva confodiēns, spem prohibet prōlis crescere, et abit, hōc modō dēdecus illātum ultus.

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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):

Scarabaéus bella gerit, et ultro hostem próvocat, et, róbore inférior, consílio súperat. Nam áquilae plumis clam neque cógnitus se abdit , ut hostílem nidum per astra summa petat: et, ova confódiens, spem próhibet prolis créscere, et abit, hoc modo dédecus illátum ultus.

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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.

Bella ge·rit scara·baeus, et· hostem· prōvocat· ultrō,
Rōbor~ et· inferi·or, || cōnsili·ō supe·rat.
Nam plū·mīs aqui·lae clam· sē neque· cognitus· abdit,
Hostīl~· ut nī·dum || summa per· astra pe·tat.
Ōvaque,· confodi·ēns, prohi·bet spem· crescere· prōlis:
Hōcque mo·d~ illā·tum || dēdecus· ultus a·bit.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a 1542 edition of the emblems:

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Here's another illustration - it's from the Medici Aesop, which is online at the New York Public Library website. This includes the part of the story where the eagle snatches the rabbit, which is what provokes the beetle's revenge:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Scarabaeus bella gerit, et ultro hostem provocat, et, robore inferior, consilio superat. Nam aquilae plumis clam neque cognitus se abdit , ut hostilem nidum per astra summa petat: et, ova confodiens, spem prohibet prolis crescere, et abit, hoc modo dedecus illatum ultus.

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Ranae Metuentes Proelia Taurorum (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.30 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 485.

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:

Humilēs labōrant ubi potentēs dissident.
Rāna ē palūde pūgnam taurōrum intuēns,
"Heu, quanta nōbīs īnstat perniciēs" ait.
interrogāta ab aliā cūr hōc dīceret,
dē prīncipātū cum illī certārent gregis
longēque ab ipsīs dēgerent vītam bovēs,
"Sit statiō sēparāta ac dīversum genus;
expulsus rēgnō nemoris quī profūgerit,
palūdis in sēcrēta veniet latibula,
et prōculcātās obteret dūrō pede.
Ita caput ad nostrum furor illōrum pertinet.

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

Humilēs labōrant, ubi potentēs dissident. Rāna, taurōrum pūgnam ē palūde intuēns, ait: Heu, quanta perniciēs nōbīs īnstat. Interrogāta ab aliā cūr hōc dīceret, cum illī dē gregis prīncipātū certārent et bovēs longē ab ipsīs vītam dēgerent. Statiō sēparāta sit, ac dīversum genus; quī profūgerit, nemoris rēgnō expulsus, in palūdis latibula sēcrēta veniet, et pede dūrō prōculcātās obteret. Ita furor illōrum ad caput nostrum pertinet.

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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):

Húmiles labórant, ubi poténtes díssident. Rana, taurórum pugnam e palúde íntuens, ait: Heu, quanta pernícies nobis instat. Interrogáta ab ália cur hoc díceret, cum illi de gregis principátu certárent et boves longe ab ipsis vitam dégerent. Státio separáta sit, ac divérsum genus; qui profúgerit, némoris regno expúlsus, in palúdis latíbula secréta véniet, et pede duro proculcátas óbteret. Ita furor illórum ad caput nostrum pértinet.

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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):

Humilēs· labō·rant ubi· poten·tēs dis·sident.
Rān~ ē· palū·de pūg·nam tau·rōr~ in·tuēns,
Heu, quan·ta nō·bīs īn·stat per·niciēs· ait.
inter·rogā·t~ ab ali·ā cūr· hōc dī·ceret,
dē prīn·cipā·tū c~ il·lī cer·tārent· gregis
longē·qu~ ab ip·sīs dē·gerent· vītam· bovēs,
Sit stati·ō sē·parā·t~ ac dī·versum· genus;
expul·sus rēg·nō nemo·ris quī· profū·gerit,
palū·dis in· sēcrē·ta veni·et lati·bula,
et prō·culcā·tās ob·teret· dūrō· pede.
Ita caput· ad nos·trum furo·r illō·rum per·tinet.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Humiles laborant, ubi potentes dissident. Rana, taurorum pugnam e palude intuens, ait: Heu, quanta pernicies nobis instat. Interrogata ab alia cur hoc diceret, cum illi de gregis principatu certarent et boves longe ab ipsis vitam degerent. Statio separata sit, ac diversum genus; qui profugerit, nemoris regno expulsus, in paludis latibula secreta veniet, et pede duro proculcatas obteret. Ita furor illorum ad caput nostrum pertinet.

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Trabs et Boves (Abstemius)

SOURCE: This fable comes from the first Hecatomythium ("100 Fables") of Laurentius Abstemius (Lorenzo Bevilaqua), a fifteenth-century Italian scholar. Of all the neo-Latin fable collections, Abstemius's was the most popular, and his stories are frequently anthologized in the 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century collections of Aesop's fables in Latin. Here is a 1499 edition of the book online. This is fable 42 in the collection.

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:

Trabs, quae currū vehēbātur, bovēs ut lentulōs increpābat, dīcēns: "Currite, pigrī; onus enim leve portātis." Cui bovēs, "Irrīdēs nōs (rēspondērunt) ignāra quae tē poena maneat. Onus hoc nōs cito dēpōnēmus, tuum autem tū quoad rumpāris sustinēre cōgeris." Indoluit trabs nec amplius bovēs convīciīs lacessere ausa est. Haec fābula quemlibet monet nē aliōrum īnsultet calamitātibus, cum ipse possit māiōribus subiacēre.

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

Trabs, quae curru vehebátur, boves ut léntulos increpábat, dicens: "Cúrrite, pigri; onus enim leve portátis." Cui boves, "Irrídes nos (respondérunt) ignára quae te poena máneat. Onus hoc nos cito deponémus, tuum autem tu quoad rumpáris sustinére cógeris." Indóluit trabs nec ámplius boves convíciis lacéssere ausa est. Haec fábula quémlibet monet ne aliórum insúltet calamitátibus, cum ipse possit maióribus subiacére.

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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 put in some line breaks to show the natural pauses in the story:

Trabs, quae curru vehebatur,
boves ut lentulos increpabat,
dicens:
"Currite, pigri;
onus enim leve portatis."
Cui boves,
"Irrides nos (responderunt)
ignara
quae te poena maneat.
Onus hoc
nos cito deponemus,
tuum autem
tu quoad rumparis
sustinere cogeris."
Indoluit trabs
nec amplius boves conviciis lacessere
ausa est.
Haec fabula quemlibet monet
ne aliorum insultet calamitatibus,
cum ipse possit maioribus subiacere.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing oxen hauling a log:

Senex et Filii eius (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 53. In LaFontaine, the fable is 4.18, Le Vieillard et ses Enfants.

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, qui iam eō abitūrus erat quō vocābat mors, "Puerī" fīliīs suīs "dīlēctissimī" inquit, "vidēte utrum haec iacula conligāta frangere possītis necne; tum nōdum, quō ligantur, vōbīs explicābō." Maximus igitur nātū illa accepta ubi summā vī frangere cōnātus est, reddidit; "Validiōribus" inquit "cēdō." Tum minor ad certāmen locum cēpit; sed nēquīquam. Minimus dēnique rem temptāvit. Hīs autem omnibus, dum tempus terunt, restitit iaculōrum fascis. Nam nē ūnum quidem frāctum est. "Imbēcillī!" inquit pater, "quid in huius modī negōtiō vīrēs possint meae, mōnstrandum est." Quem lūdere ratī subrīdēbant fīliī; sed haud meritō; nam iacula sēparāta facile frēgit. "Vidētis" inquit "quantum possit concordia. Vōs autem, fīliī meī, inter vōs estōte coniūnctī. Pietās vōs in vicem conliget." Neque quicquam amplius dīxit aeger, dum paulō post vītae fīnem iam adesse sēnsit. Tum "Fīliī" inquit "cārissimī, ad maiōrēs nostrōs proficīscor. Valēte. Prōmittite mihi, vōs ita vīctūrōs esse, ut frātrēs deceat. Hoc date morientī." Pollicitī igitur sunt ex ōrdine trēs fīliī lacrimantēs, dum dextram cuiusque tenet ipse. Tum mortuus est. Deinde adulēscentēs hērēditātem magnam illam quidem esse intellēxērunt, sed aere aliēnō impedītam. Itaque, cum modo hanc rem crēditor quidam sibi vindicāret, dē illā modo lītem intenderet vīcīnus, frātrēs tamen prīmō rem prōsperē gerēbant. Illa autem concordia, ut rāra est, ita brevis inter eōs fuit, quōs, genere ad id coniūnctōs, suum quemque negōtium nunc sēparāret. Interveniunt ūnā cum advocātīs etiam ambitiō atque invidia. Adeō mox prōgressi sunt, ut bona inter se partīrentur, cum disputārent fallerentque. Saepius interim iūdex vel hōc vel illō nōmine eōs damnat. Redeunt mox crēditōrēs ac vīcīnī, ut errōrem illī, vitium hī quoddam, sē invēnisse simulārent. Frātrēs inde, solūtā concordiā, dīversa volunt omnia; hic dum adsentītur, ille contrā dīcit. Ita praedium perdidērunt omnēs. Quōs tandem paenituit quod sērius in mentem vēnissent illa conligāta, tum sēparāta iacula.

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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):

Senex, qui iam eo abitúrus erat quo vocábat mors, "Púeri" fíliis suis "dilectíssimi" inquit, "vidéte utrum haec iácula conligáta frángere póssitis necne; tum nodum, quo ligántur, vobis explicábo." Máximus ígitur natu illa accépta ubi summa vi frángere conátus est, réddidit; "Validióribus" inquit "cedo." Tum minor ad certámen locum cepit; sed nequíquam. Mínimus dénique rem temptávit. His autem ómnibus, dum tempus terunt, réstitit iaculórum fascis. Nam ne unum quidem fractum est. "Imbecílli!" inquit pater, "quid in huius modi negótio vires possint meae, monstrándum est." Quem lúdere rati subridébant fílii; sed haud mérito; nam iácula separáta fácile fregit. "Vidétis" inquit "quantum possit concórdia. Vos autem, fílii mei, inter vos estóte coniúncti. Píetas vos in vicem cónliget." Neque quicquam ámplius dixit aeger, dum paulo post vitae finem iam adésse sensit. Tum "Fílii" inquit "caríssimi, ad maióres nostros proficíscor. Valéte. Promíttite mihi, vos ita victúros esse, ut fratres déceat. Hoc date moriénti." Pollíciti ígitur sunt ex órdine tres fílii lacrimántes, dum dextram cuiúsque tenet ipse. Tum mórtuus est. Deínde adulescéntes hereditátem magnam illam quidem esse intellexérunt, sed aere aliéno impedítam. Ítaque, cum modo hanc rem créditor quidam sibi vindicáret, de illa modo litem inténderet vicínus, fratres tamen primo rem próspere gerébant. Illa autem concórdia, ut rara est, ita brevis inter eos fuit, quos, génere ad id coniúnctos, suum quemque negótium nunc separáret. Itervéniunt una cum advocátis étiam ambítio atque invídia. Adeo mox progréssi sunt, ut bona inter se partiréntur, cum disputárent falleréntque. Saépius ínterim iudex vel hoc vel illo nómine eos damnat. Rédeunt mox creditóres ac vicíni, ut errórem illi, vítium hi quoddam, se invenísse simulárent. Fratres inde, solúta concórdia, divérsa volunt ómnia; hic dum adsentítur, ille contra dicit. Ita praédium perdidérunt omnes. Quos tandem paenítuit quod sérius in mentem veníssent illa conligáta, tum separáta iácula.

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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:

Senex,
qui iam eo abiturus erat
quo vocabat mors,
"Pueri" filiis suis "dilectissimi" inquit,
"videte
utrum haec iacula conligata
frangere possitis necne;
tum nodum, quo ligantur,
vobis explicabo."
Maximus igitur natu
illa accepta
ubi summa vi frangere conatus est,
reddidit;
"Validioribus" inquit "cedo."
Tum minor
ad certamen locum cepit;
sed nequiquam.
Minimus denique rem temptavit.
His autem omnibus,
dum tempus terunt,
restitit iaculorum fascis.
Nam ne unum quidem fractum est.
"Imbecilli!" inquit pater,
"quid
in huius modi negotio
vires possint meae,
monstrandum est."
Quem ludere rati
subridebant filii;
sed haud merito;
nam iacula separata facile fregit.
"Videtis" inquit
"quantum possit concordia.
Vos autem, filii mei,
inter vos estote coniuncti.
Pietas vos in vicem conliget."
Neque quicquam amplius dixit aeger,
dum paulo post
vitae finem iam adesse sensit.
Tum "Filii" inquit "carissimi,
ad maiores nostros proficiscor.
Valete. Promittite mihi,
vos ita victuros esse,
ut fratres deceat.
Hoc date morienti."
Polliciti igitur sunt ex ordine
tres filii lacrimantes,
dum dextram cuiusque tenet ipse.
Tum mortuus est.
Deinde adulescentes
hereditatem magnam illam quidem esse
intellexerunt,
sed aere alieno impeditam.
Itaque,
cum modo hanc rem
creditor quidam sibi vindicaret,
de illa modo
litem intenderet vicinus,
fratres tamen primo
rem prospere gerebant.
Illa autem concordia,
ut rara est,
ita brevis inter eos fuit,
quos,
genere ad id coniunctos,
suum quemque negotium
nunc separaret.
Interveniunt
una cum advocatis
etiam ambitio atque invidia.
Adeo mox progressi sunt,
ut bona inter se partirentur,
cum disputarent fallerentque.
Saepius interim iudex
vel hoc vel illo nomine
eos damnat.
Redeunt mox creditores ac vicini,
ut errorem illi,
vitium hi quoddam,
se invenisse simularent.
Fratres inde,
soluta concordia,
diversa volunt omnia;
hic dum adsentitur,
ille contra dicit.
Ita praedium perdiderunt omnes.
Quos tandem paenituit
quod serius in mentem venissent
illa conligata,
tum separata iacula.

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

Sus et Canis (Abstemius)

SOURCE: This fable comes from the first Hecatomythium ("100 Fables") of Laurentius Abstemius (Lorenzo Bevilaqua), a fifteenth-century Italian scholar. Of all the neo-Latin fable collections, Abstemius's was the most popular, and his stories are frequently anthologized in the 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century collections of Aesop's fables in Latin. Here is a 1499 edition of the book online. This is fable 41 in the collection.

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:

Sūs irrīdēbat canem odōrisequum, quī dominō murmure et caudā adulārētur, ā quō ad artem aucupātōriam multīs verberibus auriumque vellicātiōnibus fuerat īnstructus. Cui canis: "Nescīs (inquit) īnsāne, nescīs quae ex verberibus illīs sim cōnsecūtus, per ea enim suāvissimīs perdīcum cōturnīcumque carnibus vescor." Haec fābula nōs monet nē inīquō animō ferāmus praeceptōrum verba, quae multōrum bonōrum causā esse cōnsuēvēre.

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

Sus irridébat canem odorísequum, qui dómino múrmure et cauda adularétur, a quo ad artem aucupatóriam multis verbéribus auriúmque vellicatiónibus fúerat instrúctus. Cui canis: "Nescis (inquit), insáne, quae ex verbéribus illis sim consecútus, per ea enim suavíssimis perdícum coturnicúmque cárnibus vescor." Haec fábula nos monet ne iníquo ánimo ferámus praeceptórum verba, quae multórum bonórum causa esse consuevére.

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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 put in some line breaks to show the natural pauses in the story:

Sus
irridebat canem odorisequum,
qui
domino murmure et cauda
adularetur,
a quo
ad artem aucupatoriam
multis verberibus
auriumque vellicationibus
fuerat instructus.
Cui canis:
"Nescis (inquit), insane,
quae
ex verberibus illis sim consecutus,
per ea enim
suavissimis
perdicum coturnicumque carnibus
vescor."
Haec fabula nos monet
ne iniquo animo
feramus praeceptorum verba,
quae
multorum bonorum causa esse
consuevere.

---

IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a bird dog at work.

Delphin et Neptunus: qui truculentia suorum perierit (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 167 in the collection. Although this is not found in the classic corpus of Aesop's fables, the motif of the dolphin grounded on the beach appears in Perry 113.

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:

Delphīnem invītum mē in littora compulit aestus,
Exemplum, infīdō quanta perīcla marī.
Nam sī nec propriīs Neptūnus parcit alumnīs,
Quis tūtōs hominēs nāvibus esse putet?

---

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

Aestus in littora compulit mē, delphīnem, invītum - exemplum quanta perīcla marī infīdō. Nam sī Neptūnus non propriīs alumnīs parcit, quis putet hominēs tūtōs esse nāvibus?

---

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):

Aestus in líttora cómpulit me, delphínem, invítum - exémplum quanta perícla mari infído. Nam si Neptúnus non própriis alúmnis parcit, quis putet hómines tutos esse návibus?

---

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.

Delphī·n~ invī·tum m~ in· littora· compulit· aestus,
Exem·pl~, infī·dō || quanta pe·rīcla ma·rī.
Nam sī nec propriīs Neptūnus parcit alumnīs,
Quis tū·tōs homi·nēs || nāvibu·s esse pu·tet?

---

IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a 1621 edition of the emblems:

---

What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Aestus in littora compulit me, delphinem, invitum - exemplum quanta pericla mari infido. Nam si Neptunus non propriis alumnis parcit, quis putet homines tutos esse navibus?

---

Asinus Inridens Aprum (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.29 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 484.

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. :-)

---

VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Plērumque stultī, rīsum dum captant levem,
gravī dēstringunt aliōs contumēliā,
et sibi nocīvum concitant perīculum.
Asellus aprō cum fuisset obvius,
"Salvē" inquit "frāter." Ille indignāns repudiat
officium, et quaerit cūr sīc mentīrī velit.
Asinus dēmissō pēne "Similem sī negās
tibi mē esse, certē simile est hoc rōstrō tuō."
Aper, cum vellet facere generōsum impetum,
repressit īram et "Facilis vindicta est mihi:
sed inquinārī nōlō ignāvō sanguine."

---

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

Plērumque stultī, dum rīsum levem captant, contumēliā gravī aliōs dēstringunt, et sibi concitant perīculum nocīvum. Asellus, cum aprō obvius fuisset, inquit: Salvē, frāter. Ille, indignāns, officium repudiat, et quaerit cūr sīc mentīrī velit. Asinus, pēne dēmissō: Sī negās mē tibi similem esse, certē hoc simile est rōstrō tuō. Aper, cum impetum generōsum facere vellet, īram repressit et inquit: Vindicta mihi facilis est, sed sanguine ignāvō inquinārī nōlō.

---

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):

Plerúmque stulti, dum risum levem captant, contumélia gravi álios destríngunt, et sibi cóncitant perículum nocívum. Aséllus, cum apro óbvius fuísset, inquit: Salve, frater. Ille, indígnans, offícium repúdiat, et quaerit cur sic mentíri velit. Ásinus, pene demísso: Si negas me tibi símilem esse, certe hoc símile est rostro tuo. Aper, cum ímpetum generósum fácere vellet, iram représsit et inquit: Vindícta mihi fácilis est, sed sánguine ignávo inquinári nolo.

---

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):

Plērum·que stul·tī, rīs·um dum· captant· levem,
gravī· dēstrin·gunt ali·ōs con·tumē·liā,
et sibi· nocī·vum con·citant· perī·culum.
Asel·lus ap·rō cum· fuis·set ob·vius,
Salv~ in·quit frā·ter. Il·l~ indig·nāns repu·diat
offici·~, et quae·rit cūr· sīc men·tīrī· velit.
Asinus· dēmis·sō pē·ne Simi·lem sī· negās
tibi m~ es·se, cer·tē simi·l~ est hoc· rōstrō· tuō.
Aper,· cum vel·let face·re gene·rōs~ im·petum,
repres·sit ī·r~ et: Faci·lis vin·dict~ est· mihi:
sed in·quinā·rī nō·l~ ignā·vō san·guine.

---

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

---

What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Plerumque stulti, dum risum levem captant, contumelia gravi alios destringunt, et sibi concitant periculum nocivum. Asellus, cum apro obvius fuisset, inquit: Salve, frater. Ille, indignans, officium repudiat, et quaerit cur sic mentiri velit. Asinus, pene demisso: Si negas me tibi similem esse, certe hoc simile est rostro tuo. Aper, cum impetum generosum facere vellet, iram repressit et inquit: Vindicta mihi facilis est, sed sanguine ignavo inquinari nolo.

---

Asinus qui res Sacras portabat (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 182. In LaFontaine, the fable is 5.14, L' Ane portant des reliques.

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:

Asinus quīdam rēs sacrās portābat, ratus sēsē venerārī hominēs. Itaque ērēctus incēdēbat, tamquam sibi tūs illud atque carmina acciperet. Cuius errōrem cum mox vīdit aliquis, "Mī asine" inquit "istam vānitātem tibi excute. Nōn tē, sed istās rēs sacrās caerimōniīs colunt; istī dīvō haec religiō dēbētur." Inērudītī magistrātūs vestīmentum modo colimus.

---

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):

Ásinus quidam res sacras portábat, ratus sese venerári hómines. Ítaque eréctus incedébat, tamquam sibi tus illud atque cármina accíperet. Cuius errórem cum mox vidit áliquis, "Mi ásine" inquit "istam vanitátem tibi éxcute. Non te, sed istas res sacras caerimóniis colunt; isti divo haec relígio debétur." Inerudíti magistrátus vestiméntum modo cólimus.

---

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:

Asinus quidam
res sacras portabat,
ratus
sese venerari homines.
Itaque erectus incedebat,
tamquam
sibi tus illud atque carmina acciperet.
Cuius errorem
cum mox vidit aliquis,
"Mi asine" inquit
"istam vanitatem tibi excute.
Non te, sed istas res sacras
caerimoniis colunt;
isti divo
haec religio debetur."
Ineruditi magistratus
vestimentum modo colimus.

---

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

Aquila et Corvus (Trinity)

SOURCE: This poem was composed by the anonymous "Trinity Master" who published a lovely little book in 1852 setting Latin fables in prose side-by-side with his verse compositions; read the book at Google Books. This is poem 25 in the collection. For more versions, see Perry 2. 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. :-)

---

VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Sublīmem rapuit Volucer Iovis unguibus agnum;
Āërium ē celsā rūpe secābat iter.
Cōnspicit intereā Corvus. Sī crēdere fās est,
Aemulus hic statuit dēspoliāre pecus;
Tum gregis in rēgem vēlōcibus irruit ālīs:
Sīdera pennārum strīdor ad alta venit.
In vellus tamen infēlix tantum implicat unguēs:
Ambitiōsus avis dēperit arte suā.
Haud mora longa fuit, cum captī Rusticus ālās
Incīsit, puerīs lūdibriōque dedit.
Fertur, quae sit avis, cuīdam dīxisse rogantī,
"Nunc ego sum Corvus, mox Iovis āles eram."

---

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

Volucer Iovis agnum unguibus sublīmem rapuit; iter āërium ē celsā rūpe secābat. Intereā Corvus cōnspicit. Sī crēdere fās est, hic aemulus pecus dēspoliāre statuit; tum in gregis rēgem ālīs vēlōcibus irruit: pennārum strīdor ad sīdera alta venit. Infēlix tamen in vellus tantum unguēs implicat: ambitiōsus, arte suā avis dēperit. Mora haud longa fuit, cum rusticus captī ālās incīsit, et puerīs lūdibriō dedit. Fertur dīxisse cuīdam rogantī quae sit avis, "Nunc ego Corvus sum, mox Iovis āles eram."

---

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):

Vólucer Iovis agnum únguibus sublímem rápuit; iter aérium e celsa rupe secábat. Intérea Corvus cónspicit. Si crédere fas est, hic aémulus pecus despoliáre státuit; tum in gregis regem alis velócibus írruit: pennárum stridor ad sídera alta venit. Infélix tamen in vellus tantum ungues ímplicat: ambitiósus, arte sua avis déperit. Mora haud longa fuit, cum rústicus capti alas incísit, et púeris ludíbrio dedit. Fertur dixísse cuidam rogánti quae sit avis, "Nunc ego Corvus sum, mox Iovis ales eram."

---

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.

Sublī·mem rapu·it Volu·cer Iovi·s unguibus· agnum;
Āëri~· ē cel·sā || rūpe se·cābat i·ter.
Cōnspicit· intere·ā Cor·vus. Sī· crēdere· fās est,
Aemulus· hic statu·it || dēspoli·ēre pe·cus;
Tum gregi·s in rē·gem vē·lōcibus· irruit· ālīs:
Sīdera· pennā·rum || strīdor ad· alta ve·nit.
In vel·lus tame·n infē·lix tan·t~ implicat· unguēs:
Ambiti·ōsus a·vis || dēperit· arte su·ā.
Haud mora· longa fu·it, cum· captī· rusticus· ālās
Incī·sit, pue·rīs || lūdibri·ōque de·dit.
Fertur,· quae sit a·vis, cuī·dam dīx·isse ro·gantī,
Nunc ego· sum Cor·vus, || mox Iovis· āles e·ram.

---

IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a 15th-century edition of Aesop:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Volucer Iovis agnum unguibus sublimem rapuit; iter aërium e celsa rupe secabat. Interea Corvus conspicit. Si credere fas est, hic aemulus pecus despoliare statuit; tum in gregis regem alis velocibus irruit: pennarum stridor ad sidera alta venit. Infelix tamen in vellus tantum ungues implicat: ambitiosus, arte sua avis deperit. Mora haud longa fuit, cum rusticus capti alas incisit, et pueris ludibrio dedit. Fertur dixisse cuidam roganti quae sit avis, "Nunc ego Corvus sum, mox Iovis ales eram."

---

Canis et Luna: Inanis impetus (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 165 in the collection. Although this is not found in the classic Aesop's fables, it shares the motif of the dog fooled by an illusion with the famous story of the dog crossing the stream, Perry 133.

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:

Lūnārem noctū, ut speculum, canis inspicit orbem,
Sēque vidēns, alium crēdit inesse canem,
Et lātrat: sed frustrā agitur vox irrita ventīs,
Et peragit cursūs surda Diāna suōs.

---

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

Canis orbem lūnārem noctū inspicit, ut speculum, et, sē vidēns, crēdit canem alium inesse, et lātrat: sed frustrā vox irrita ventīs agitur, et Diāna, surda, cursūs suōs peragit.

---

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 orbem lunárem noctu ínspicit, ut spéculum, et, se videns, credit canem álium inésse, et latrat: sed frustra vox írrita ventis ágitur, et Diána, surda, cursus suos péragit.

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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.

Lūnā·rem noc·t~, ut specu·lum, canis· inspicit· orbem,
Sēque vi·dēns, ali·um || crēdit i·nesse ca·nem,
Et lā·trat: sed· frustr~ agi·tur vox· irrita· ventīs,
Et pera·git cur·sūs || surda Di·āna su·ōs.

---

IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a 1621 edition of the emblems:

---

What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Canis orbem lunarem noctu inspicit, ut speculum, et, se videns, credit canem alium inesse, et latrat: sed frustra vox irrita ventis agitur, et Diana, surda, cursus suos peragit.

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Vulpis et Aquila (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.28 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 1.

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:

Quamvīs sublīmēs dēbent humilēs metuere,
vindicta docilī quia patet sollertiae.
Volpīnōs catulōs aquila quondam sustulit,
nīdōque posuit pullīs ēscam ut carperent.
Hanc persecūta māter ōrāre incipit,
nē tantum miserae luctum importāret sibi.
Contempsit illa, tūta quippe ipsō locō.
Volpēs ab ārā rapuit ārdentem facem,
tōtamque flammīs arborem circumdedit,
hostī dolōrem damnō miscēns sanguinis.
Aquila, ut perīclō mortis ēriperet suōs,
incolumēs nātōs supplex volpī trādidit.

---

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

Quamvīs sublīmēs dēbent humilēs metuere, quia vindicta sollertiae docilī patet. Aquila quondam volpīnōs catulōs sustulit, et nīdō posuit pullīs ut ēscam carperent. Māter, hanc persecūta, ōrāre incipit, nē luctum tantum sibi miserae importāret. Illa contempsit, tūta quippe locō ipsō. Volpēs facem ārdentem ab ārā rapuit, et arborem tōtam flammīs circumdedit, hostī sanguinis dolōrem damnō miscēns. Aquila, ut suōs mortis perīclō ēriperet, supplex, volpī nātōs incolumēs trādidit.

---

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):

Quamvis sublímes debent húmiles metúere, quia vindícta sollértiae dócili patet. Áquila quondam volpínos cátulos sústulit, et nido pósuit pullis ut escam cárperent. Mater, hanc persecúta, oráre íncipit, ne luctum tantum sibi míserae importáret. Illa contémpsit, tuta quippe loco ipso. Volpes facem ardéntem ab ara rápuit, et árborem totam flammis circúmdedit, hosti sánguinis dolórem damno miscens. Áquila, ut suos mortis períclo eríperet, supplex, volpi natos incólumes trádidit.

---

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):

Quamvīs· sublī·mēs dē·bent humi·lēs metu·ere,
vindic·ta doci·lī quia· patet· soller·tiae.
Volpī·nōs catu·lōs aqui·la quon·dam sus·tulit,
nīdō·que posu·it pul·līs ēs·c~ ut car·perent.
Hanc per·secū·ta mā·ter ō·rār~ in·cipit,
nē tan·tum mise·rae luc·t~ impor·tāret· sibi.
Contemp·sit il·la, tū·ta quip·p~ ipsō· locō.
Volpēs· ab ā·rā rapu·it ār·dentem· facem,
tōtam·que flam·mīs ar·borem· circum·dedit,
hostī· dolō·rem dam·nō mis·cēns san·guinis.
Aquil~, ut· perī·clō mor·tis ē·riperet· suōs,
incolu·mēs nā·tōs sup·plex vol·pī trā·didit.

---

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

---

What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Quamvis sublimes debent humiles metuere, quia vindicta sollertiae docili patet. Aquila quondam volpinos catulos sustulit, et nido posuit pullis ut escam carperent. Mater, hanc persecuta, orare incipit, ne luctum tantum sibi miserae importaret. Illa contempsit, tuta quippe loco ipso. Volpes facem ardentem ab ara rapuit, et arborem totam flammis circumdedit, hosti sanguinis dolorem damno miscens. Aquila, ut suos mortis periclo eriperet, supplex, volpi natos incolumes tradidit.

---

Turdus et Hirundo (Abstemius)

SOURCE: This fable comes from the first Hecatomythium ("100 Fables") of Laurentius Abstemius (Lorenzo Bevilaqua), a fifteenth-century Italian scholar. Of all the neo-Latin fable collections, Abstemius's was the most popular, and his stories are frequently anthologized in the 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century collections of Aesop's fables in Latin. Here is a 1499 edition of the book online. This is fable 27 in the collection.

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:

Glōriābātur turdus sē amīcitiam contraxisse cum hirundine. Cui māter, "Stultus es, filī (inquit), sī crēdis cum eā posse convenīre, cum uterque vestrum dīversa soleat appetere loca. Tū enim frīgidīs, illa tepidīs dēlectātur locīs." Hāc monēmur fābulā nē eōs nōbīs faciāmus amīcōs, quōrum vīta ā nostrā dissentit.

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

Gloriabátur turdus se amicítiam contraxísse cum hirúndine. Cui mater, "Stultus es, fili (inquit), si credis cum ea posse conveníre, cum utérque vestrum divérsa sóleat appétere loca. Tu enim frígidis, illa tépidis delectátur locis." Hac monémur fábula ne eos nobis faciámus amícos, quorum vita a nostra disséntit.

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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 put in some line breaks to show the natural pauses in the story:

Gloriabatur turdus
se amicitiam contraxisse
cum hirundine.
Cui mater,
"Stultus es, fili (inquit),
si credis cum ea posse convenire,
cum uterque vestrum
diversa soleat appetere loca.
Tu enim frigidis,
illa tepidis delectatur locis."
Hac monemur fabula
ne eos
nobis faciamus amicos,
quorum vita a nostra dissentit.

---

IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a thrush in the snow: