Vulpecula et Gallina (Desbillons)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of the fables of Desbillons, the 18th-century Jesuit scholar and poet, see GoogleBooks. This is fable 2.4. For parallel versions, see Perry 7.

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:

Vulpēcula domum ingressa gallīnāriam,
Sōlamque languentemque Gallīnam vidēns,
Exclāmat: Ō mea soror, salvane es satis?
Aegrōtō, ait illa: tū recēdās hinc tamen,
Mea soror, et mē habēbō iam meliuscule.
Bonōs iuvāre, cum abeunt, incipiunt malī.

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

Vulpēcula, domum gallīnāriam ingressa, gallīnam vidēns et sōlam et languentem, exclāmat: Ō mea soror, salvane es satis? Illa ait: Aegrōtō: tū tamen recēdās hinc, mea soror, et mē habēbō iam meliuscule. Malī, cum abeunt, incipiunt iuvāre bonōs.

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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):

Vulpécula, domum gallináriam ingréssa, gallínam videns et solam et languéntem, exclámat: O mea soror, salváne es satis? Illa ait: Aegróto: tu tamen recédas hinc, mea soror, et me habébo iam meliúscule. Mali, cum ábeunt, incípiunt iuváre bonos.

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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); for more information, here are some Notes on Iambic Meter.

Vulpē·cula do·m~ ingres·sa gal·līnā·riam,
Sōlam·que lan·guentem·que Gal·līnam· vidēns,
Exclā·mat: Ō· mea so·ror, sal·van~ es· satis?
Aegrō·t~ ait il·la: tū· recē·dās hinc· tamen,
Mea so·ror, et· m~ habē·bō iam· melius·cule.
Bonōs· iuvā·re, c~ abe·unt, in·cipiunt· malī.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Vulpecula, domum gallinariam ingressa, gallinam videns et solam et languentem, exclamat: O mea soror, salvane es satis? Illa ait: Aegroto: tu tamen recedas hinc, mea soror, et me habebo iam meliuscule. Mali, cum abeunt, incipiunt iuvare bonos.

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Puer et Agricolae (Desbillons)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of the fables of Desbillons, the 18th-century Jesuit scholar and poet, see GoogleBooks. This is fable 2.6. For parallel versions, see Perry 210.

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:

Succurrite, lupus ēn adest, clāmāverat
Semel iterumque per iocum nugax puer,
Custos bidentum, crēdulosque excīverat
Agricolās: at opem postulāre sēriō
Cum deinde cōgerētur, hī metuunt dolum,
Nec iam subveniunt; et lupus praedam rapit.
Quīcumque mendax esse crēditur, licet
Aliquando vērum dīcat, haud facit fidem.

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

Puer nugax, custos bidentum per iocum, semel et iterum, clāmāverat: "Succurrite; lupus ēn adest," et agricolās crēdulos excīverat. At cum deinde sēriō opem postulāre cōgerētur, hī dolum metuunt et iam nōn subveniunt; et lupus praedam rapit. Quīcumque mendax esse crēditur, licet aliquando vērum dīcat, fidem haud facit.

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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):

Puer nugax, custos bidéntum per iocum, semel et íterum, clamáverat: "Succúrrite; lupus en adest," et agrícolas crédulos excíverat. At cum deinde sério opem postuláre cogerétur, hi dolum métuunt et iam non subvéniunt; et lupus praedam rapit. Quicúmque mendax esse créditur, licet aliquándo verum dicat, fidem haud facit.

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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); for more information, here are some Notes on Iambic Meter.

Succur·rite, lu·pus ēn· adest,· clāmā·verat
Semel i·terum·que per· iocum· nugax· puer,
Custos· biden·tum, crē·dulos·qu~ excī·verat
Agrico·lās: at o·pem pos·tulā·re sē·riō
Cum dein·de cō·gerē·tur, hī· metuunt· dolum,
Nec iam· subveni·unt; et· lupus· praedam· rapit.
Quīcum·que men·dax es·se crē·ditur,· licet
Aliquan·do vē·rum dī·cat, haud· facit· fidem.

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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:
Puer nugax, custos bidentum per iocum, semel et iterum, clamaverat: "Succurrite; lupus en adest," et agricolas credulos exciverat. At cum deinde serio opem postulare cogeretur, hi dolum metuunt et iam non subveniunt; et lupus praedam rapit. Quicumque mendax esse creditur, licet aliquando verum dicat, fidem haud facit.

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Canis et Lepores Duo (Desbillons)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of the fables of Desbillons, the 18th-century Jesuit scholar and poet, see GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.26. This is not a fable in the classical corpus, but it is quite similar to the story of the lion who wants to chase two prey and loses both (Perry 286).

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:

Ūnum īnsecūtus in campō Leporem Canis,
Videt alterum; et eum similiter studet īnsequī:
Utrumque sed dum capere vult, neutrum capit.
Sibi ipsa semper aviditas nimia officit.

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

Canis Leporem ūnum in campō īnsecūtus, alterum videt, et similiter eum īnsequī studet. Sed dum utrumque capere vult, neutrum capit. Nimia aviditas ipsa sibi semper officit.

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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 Léporem unum in campo insecútus, álterum videt, et simíliter eum ínsequi studet. Sed dum utrúmque cápere vult, neutrum capit. Nímia avíditas ipsa sibi semper ófficit.

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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); for more information, here are some Notes on Iambic Meter.

Ūn~ īn·secū·tus in· campō· Leporem· Canis,
Videt al·ter~ et e·um simi·liter· studet īn·sequī:
Utrum·que sed· dum cape·re vult,· neutrum· capit.
Sib~ ip·sa sem·per avi·ditas· nimi~ of·ficit.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing two rabbits on the run:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Canis Leporem unum in campo insecutus, alterum videt, et similiter eum insequi studet. Sed dum utrumque capere vult, neutrum capit. Nimia aviditas ipsa sibi semper officit.

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Haedus et Lupus (Osius)

SOURCE: The poem comes from Phryx Aesopus Habitu Poetico, by Hieronymus Osius, published in 1574, and online at the University of Mannheim as page images and text scan. This is poem 79 in the collection. For parallel versions, see Perry 98.

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:

In tectō stāns forte domūs inclāmat euntem
Haedulus, hāc illō praetereunte, Lupum.
Cuī Lupus: haud tua, sed tectī maledicta lacessunt
Nos, ait, et nīl haec verba morātus abit.
Saepe locī ratiō timidīs et temporis affert,
Fortibus īnsultent quā petulanter, opem.

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

Haedulus, forte in domūs tectō stāns, Lupum hāc euntem inclāmat, illō praetereunte. Cuī Lupus ait: Haud tua, sed tectī maledicta nos lacessunt. Et abit, nīl haec verba morātus. Saepe locī et temporis ratiō timidīs opem affert, quā petulanter fortibus īnsultent.

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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):

Haédulus, forte in domus tecto stans, Lupum hac eúntem inclámat, illo praetereúnte. Cui Lupus ait: Haud tua, sed tecti maledícta nos lacéssunt. Et abit, nil haec verba morátus. Saepe loci et témporis ratio tímidis opem affert, qua petulánter fórtibus insúltent.

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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.

In tec·tō stāns· forte do·mūs in·clāmat e·untem
Haedulus,· hāc il·lō || praetere·unte, Lu·pum.
Cuī Lupus: ·haud tua,· sed tec·tī male·dicta la·cessunt
Nos, ait, ·et nīl ·haec || verba mo·rātus a·bit.
Saepe lo·cī rati·ō timi·dīs et ·temporis· affert,
Fortibus ·īnsul·tent || quā petu·lanter, o·pem.

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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: Haedulus, forte in domus tecto stans, Lupum hac euntem inclamat, illo praetereunte. Cui Lupus ait: Haud tua, sed tecti maledicta nos lacessunt. Et abit, nil haec verba moratus. Saepe loci et temporis ratio timidis opem affert, qua petulanter fortibus insultent.

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Leo et Rana (Osius)

SOURCE: The poem comes from Phryx Aesopus Habitu Poetico, by Hieronymus Osius, published in 1574, and online at the University of Mannheim as page images and text scan. This is poem 73 in the collection. For parallel versions, see Perry 141.

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:

Sustinet ingentēs tōtō quōs ēdere rictū
Rāna, sonōs pavitāns hausit ut aure Leo:
Perculsum perhibent clāmoribus ācriter illīs,
Ēdere quōs magnam crēdidit ipse feram.
Mox animō redeunte tamen circumspicit audax,
Inque hostem positō sē parat ille metū.
At dē vīcīnō repentem flūmine Rānam
Observāns, temerē sē stupuisse videt.
Concipit hinc īram pariter, pariterque pudōrem,
Iamque domāns Rānam calce premente necat.
Quōlibet est strepitū rēs digna pudōre monērī,
Explōrāta parum turpe timēre virō.

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

Rāna rictū tōtō sonōs ingentēs ēdere sustinet quōs ut Leo, pavitāns, aure hausit, perhibent ācriter perculsum clāmoribus illīs, quōs ipse crēdidit feram magnam ēdere. Mox tamen, animō redeunte, ille audax circumspicit, et, metū positō, sē in hostem parat. At dē flūmine vīcīnō Rānam repentem observāns, videt sē temerē stupuisse. Hinc īram pariter concipit, et pariter pudōrem, et iam Rānam necat, calce premente domāns. quōlibet strepitū, rēs digna pudōre monērī est; virō turpe timēre parum explōrāta.

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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):

Rana rictu toto sonos ingéntes édere sústinet quos ut Leo, pávitans, aure hausit, pérhibent ácriter percúlsum clamóribus illis, quos ipse crédidit feram magnam édere. Mox tamen, ánimo redeúnte, ille audax circúmspicit, et, metu pósito, se in hostem parat. At de flúmine vicíno Ranam repéntem obsérvans, videt se témere stupuísse. Hinc iram páriter cóncipit, et páriter pudórem, et iam Ranam necat, calce preménte domans. Quólibet strépitu, res digna pudóre monéri est; viro turpe timére parum exploráta.

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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.

Sustinet· ingen·tēs tō·tō quōs· ēdere ·rictū
Rāna, so·nōs pavi·tāns || hausit ut ·aure Le·o:
Percul·sum perhi·bent clā·moribus· ācriter· illīs,
Ēdere ·quōs mag·nam || crēdidit· ipse fe·ram.
Mox ani·mō rede·unte ta·men cir·cumspicit ·audax,
Inqu~ hos·tem posi·tō || sē parat· ille me·tū.
At dē ·vīcī·nō re·pentem· flūmine ·Rānam
Obser·vāns, teme·rē || sē stupu·isse vi·det.
Concipit· hinc ī·ram pari·ter, pari·terque pu·dōrem,
Iamque do·māns Rā·nam || calce pre·mente ne·cat.
Quōlibet· est strepi·tū rēs ·digna pu·dōre mo·nērī,
Explō·rāta pa || rum || turpe ti·mēre vi·rō.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) showing a puppet theater with a lion and a frog:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Rana rictu toto sonos ingentes edere sustinet quos ut Leo, pavitans, aure hausit, perhibent acriter perculsum clamoribus illis, quos ipse credidit feram magnam edere. Mox tamen, animo redeunte, ille audax circumspicit, et, metu posito, se in hostem parat. At de flumine vicino Ranam repentem observans, videt se temere stupuisse. Hinc iram pariter concipit, et pariter pudorem, et iam Ranam necat, calce premente domans. quolibet strepitu, res digna pudore moneri est; viro turpe timere parum explorata.

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Rusticus et Silva (Desbillons)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of the fables of Desbillons, the 18th-century Jesuit scholar and poet, see GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.25. For parallel versions, see Perry 302.

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:

Estō beneficus; at cui benefaciās, vidē.
In silvam vēnit rusticus, capulum rogāns
Aptum secūrī tollere licēret suae:
Quod cum, annuente silva, fēcisset; statim
Ferrum in beneficās vertere coepit arborēs.
Quārum ingemiscēns ūna: Meritō caedimur.

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

Estō beneficus, at vidē, cui benefaciās. Rusticus in silvam vēnit, rogāns capulum secūrī suae aptum tollere licēret. Quod cum, silva annuente, fēcisset, statim ferrum in arborēs beneficās vertere coepit. Quārum ūna ingemiscēns: Meritō caedimur.

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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):

Esto benéficus, at vide, cui benefácias. Rústicus in silvam venit, rogans cápulum secúri suae aptum tóllere licéret. Quod cum, silva annuénte, fecísset, statim ferrum in árbores benéficas vértere coepit. Quarum una ingemíscens: Mérito caédimur.

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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); for more information, here are some Notes on Iambic Meter.

Estō· benefi·cus; at· cui bene·faciās,· vidē.
In sil·vam vē·nit rus·ticus,· capulum· rogāns
Aptum· secū·rī tol·lere li·cēret· suae:
Quod c~ an·nuen·te sil·va, fē·cisset;· statim
Ferr~ in· benefi·cās ver·tere coe·pit ar·borēs.
Quār~ in·gemis·cēns ū·na: Meri·tō cae·dimur.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) by the great artist and book illustrator Walter Crane:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Esto beneficus, at vide, cui benefacias. Rusticus in silvam venit, rogans capulum securi suae aptum tollere liceret. Quod cum, silva annuente, fecisset, statim ferrum in arbores beneficas vertere coepit. Quarum una ingemiscens: Merito caedimur.

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Cancer et Eius Filius (Desbillons)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of the fables of Desbillons, the 18th-century Jesuit scholar and poet, see GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.19. For parallel versions, see Perry 322.

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:

Ut prorsus īret, fīlium rētrogradum
cancer monēbat; at fīlius: Ī prae, sequar.
Cuiquam nē obiiciās, quod tibi obiicī potest.

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

Cancer fīlium rētrogradum monēbat ut prorsus īret. At fīlius: Prae ī; sequar. Nē cuiquam obiiciās, quod tibi obiicī potest.

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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):

Cancer fílium retrógradum monébat ut prorsus iret. At fílius: Prae i; sequar. Ne cuiquam obiícias, quod tibi óbiici potest.

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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); for more information, here are some Notes on Iambic Meter.

Ut pror·sus ī·ret, fī·lium· rētro·gradum
cancer· monē·bat; at· fīlius:· Ī prae,· sequar.
Cuiquam· n~ obiici·ās, quod· tib~ ob·iicī· potest.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) by Walter Crane - see the left-hand side:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Cancer filium retrogradum monebat ut prorsus iret. At filius: Prae i; sequar. Ne cuiquam obiicias, quod tibi obiici potest.

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Arbor (Osius)

SOURCE: The poem comes from Phryx Aesopus Habitu Poetico, by Hieronymus Osius, published in 1574, and online at the University of Mannheim as page images and text scan. This is poem 72 in the collection. This is not a fable found in Perry's classical canon of Aesop's fables.

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:

Ut, cuī magna suōs erat hortōs cūra colendī,
Vīllicus urbānō grātificētur herō:
Suāvia māla bonae imprīmīs huīc arboris affert,
Haec adeō dulcī grāta sapōre iuvant:
Arbor herī iussū sit ut haec trānslāta sub urbem,
At nōn cōnsiliī prōfuit hūius opus:
Sīve vetustātem patiēns exāruit arbor,
Sīve aliā mox est peste coacta morī.
Tunc dominum dīxisse, palam esse, annōsa quod aetas
Trānsferrī stirpem nōn paterētur humō.
Quī nimium gaudent sapiendō, turpiter errant,
Quī quondam sapiat parcius, ille sapit.

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

Vīllicus cuī erat cūra magna suōs hortōs colendī, ut herō urbānō grātificētur, huīc imprīmīs affert māla suāvia arboris bonae; adeō haec iuvant, sapōre dulcī grāta, ut haec arbor, herī iussū, sub urbem trānslāta sit. At hūius cōnsiliī opus nōn prōfuit: sīve arbor, vetustātem patiēns, exāruit, sīve mox aliā peste morī coacta est. Tunc dominum dīxisse, palam esse, quod aetas annōsa nōn paterētur stirpem humō trānsferrī. Quī nimium sapiendō gaudent, turpiter errant; quī quondam parcius sapiat, ille sapit.

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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):

Víllicus cui erat cura magna suos hortos coléndi, ut hero urbáno gratificétur, huic imprímis affert mala suávia árboris bonae; ádeo haec iuvant, sapóre dulci grata, ut haec arbor, heri iussu, sub urbem transláta sit. At huius consílii opus non prófuit: sive arbor, vetustátem pátiens, exáruit, sive mox ália peste mori coácta est. Tunc dóminum dixísse, palam esse, quod aetas annósa non paterétur stirpem humo transférri. Qui nímium sapiéndo gaudent, túrpiter errant; qui quondam párcius sápiat, ille sapit.

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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.

Ut, cuī ·magna su·ōs erat· hortōs· cūra co·lendī,
Vīllicus ·urbā·nō || grātifi·cētur he·rō:
Suāvia ·māla bo·n~ imprī·mīs huīc· arboris ·affert,
Haec ade·ō dul·cī || grāta sa·pōre iu·vant:
Arbor he·rī ius·sū sit ut· haec trāns·lāta sub· urbem,
At nōn ·cōnsili·ī || prōfuit ·hūius o·pus:
Sīve ve·tustā·tem pati·ēns ex·āruit ·arbor,
Sīv~ ali·ā mox· est || peste co·acta mo·rī.
Tunc domi·num dīx·isse, pa·l~ ess~, an·nōsa quod ·aetas
Trānsfer·rī stir·pem || nōn pate·rētur hu·mō.
Quī nimi·um gau·dent sapi·endō,· turpiter· errant,
Quī quon·dam sapi·at || parcius, ·ille sa·pit.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source), showing a tree being transplanted.

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Villicus cui erat cura magna suos hortos colendi, ut hero urbano gratificetur, huic imprimis affert mala suavia arboris bonae; adeo haec iuvant, sapore dulci grata, ut haec arbor, heri iussu, sub urbem translata sit. At huius consilii opus non profuit: sive arbor, vetustatem patiens, exaruit, sive mox alia peste mori coacta est. Tunc dominum dixisse, palam esse, quod aetas annosa non pateretur stirpem humo transferri. Qui nimium sapiendo gaudent, turpiter errant; qui quondam parcius sapiat, ille sapit.

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Pastores (Osius)

SOURCE: The poem comes from Phryx Aesopus Habitu Poetico, by Hieronymus Osius, published in 1574, and online at the University of Mannheim as page images and text scan. This is poem 140 in the collection. For parallel versions, see Perry 453.

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:

Pastōrēs quīdam, convīvia laeta parārent,
Mactārant tenerō corpore forsan Ovem.
Hōc ubi quī circum ferus ībat ovīlia praedo
Cerneret, hās vōcēs ēdidit ōre Lupus:
Quod mihi praedantī sī rapta vel agna fuisset,
Quam subitō turbam tālia facta darent?
Tunc ait ūnus, ut aure notat, quam caedimus, Agnae
Carne fruī frustrā nōs scelerāte dolēs.
Līberius multō, quibus ampla potentia, peccant,
Impia culpārī nec sua facta sinunt.

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

Pastōrēs quīdam, convīvia laeta parārent, forsan Ovem mactārant, corpore tenerō. Lupus ferus praedo quī circum ovīlia ībat ubi hōc cerneret, hās vōcēs ōre ēdidit quod sī vel agna rapta fuisset, mihi praedantī, quam turbam tālia facta subitō darent? Tunc ait ūnus, ut Agna, quam caedimus, aure notat, frustrā dolēs nōs eius carne fruī, scelerāte! Līberius multō peccant, quibus ampla potentia, et sua facta impia culpārī nōn sinunt.

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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):

Pastóres quidam, convívia laeta parárent, forsan Ovem mactárant, córpore ténero. Lupus ferus praedo qui circum ovília ibat ubi hoc cérneret, has voces ore édidit quod si vel agna rapta fuísset, mihi praedánti, quam turbam tália facta súbito darent? Tunc ait unus, ut Agna, quam caédimus, aure notat, frustra doles nos eius carne frui, sceleráte! Libérius multo peccant, quibus ampla poténtia, et sua facta ímpia culpári non sinunt.

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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.

Pastō·rēs quī·dam, con·vīvia· laeta pa·rārent,
Mactā·rant tene·rō || corpore· forsan O·vem.
Hōc ubi ·quī cir·cum ferus· ībat o·vīlia ·praedo
Cerneret, ·hās vō·cēs ·ēdidit· ōre Lu·pus:
Quod mihi· praedan·tī sī ·rapta vel ·agna fu·isset,
Quam subi·tō tur·bam || tālia· facta da·rent?
Tunc ait· ūnus, ut ·aure no·tat, quam· caedimus,· Agnae
Carne fru·ī frus·trā ·nōs scele·rāte do·lēs.
Līberi·us mul·tō, quibus· ampla po·tentia,· peccant,
Impia ·culpā·rī || nec sua ·facta si·nunt.

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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: Pastores quidam, convivia laeta pararent, forsan Ovem mactarant, corpore tenero. Lupus ferus praedo qui circum ovilia ibat ubi hoc cerneret, has voces ore edidit quod si vel agna rapta fuisset, mihi praedanti, quam turbam talia facta subito darent? Tunc ait unus, ut Agna, quam caedimus, aure notat, frustra doles nos eius carne frui, scelerate! Liberius multo peccant, quibus ampla potentia, et sua facta impia culpari non sinunt.

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Mors et Rusticus (Desbillons)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of the fables of Desbillons, the 18th-century Jesuit scholar and poet, see GoogleBooks. This is fable 2.11. For parallel versions, see Perry 60.

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:

Fascem lignōrum Rusticus, senex miser,
Portābat aegrē: longiōre sed viā
Fractus, victusque, abiēcit infēlix onus:
Mortem invocāvit. Mors advēnit. Tum senex:
Fascem, ait, in umerōs hunc mihi repōnās precor.

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

Rusticus, senex miser, lignōrum fascem aegrē portābat, sed longiōre viā fractus et victus, infēlix, onus abiēcit. Mortem invocāvit; Mors advēnit. Tum senex ait: Precor fascem hunc mihi in umerōs repōnās.

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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):

Rústicus, senex miser, lignórum fascem aegre portábat, sed longióre via fractus et victus, infélix, onus abiécit. Mortem invocávit; Mors advénit. Tum senex ait: Precor fascem hunc mihi in úmeros repónas.

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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); for more information, here are some Notes on Iambic Meter.

Fascem· lignō·rum Rus·ticus,· senex· miser,
Portā·bat ae·grē: lon·giō·re sed· viā
Fractus,· victus·qu~ abiē·cit in·fēlix· onus:
Mort~ in·vocā·vit. Mors· advē·nit. Tum· senex:
Fasc~ ait,· in ume·rōs hunc· mihi re·pōnās· precor.

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Here is an illustration from the Medici Aesop, which is online at the New York Public Library website.

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Rusticus, senex miser, lignorum fascem aegre portabat, sed longiore via fractus et victus, infelix, onus abiecit. Mortem invocavit; Mors advenit. Tum senex ait: Precor fascem hunc mihi in umeros reponas.

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