Anguis et Agricola (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 7 in the collection. For parallel versions, see Perry 176.

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:

Paene necārat hiems quem frīgore, repperit Anguem
Rusticus, huic quī nōn ferre gravātur opem.
Fōvit enim ille sinū, subterque recondidit ālās
Sponte suās, studiō nōn patiente morī.
Anguis ubī vīrēs revocante calōre recēpit,
Et grave paulātim sēnsit abīre gelū:
Auctōrem meritī lētālī sauciat ictū,
Quīque sibī vītam reddidit ille necat.
Ista malī reddunt prō fīdīs praemia factīs,
Ut, cum prōfueris ipse, nocēre velint.
Ā tristī servās cuī tū discrīmine vītam,
Ille tibī exitiī perfidus auctor erit.

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

Anguem quem hiems frīgore paene necārat, repperit Rusticus quī huic opem ferre nōn gravātur. Ille enim sinū fōvit, et sponte subter ālās suās recondidit, studiō nōn patiente morī. Anguis, ubī vīrēs recēpit, calōre revocante, et sēnsit gelū grave paulātim abīre, meritī auctōrem lētālī ictū sauciat, et ille necat quī sibī vītam reddidit. Prō fīdīs factīs malī ista praemia reddunt, ut, cum prōfueris ipse, nocēre velint. Ille perfidus, cuī tū vītam servās ā discrīmine tristī, exitiī tibī auctor erit.

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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):

Anguem quem hiems frígore paene necárat, répperit Rústicus qui huic opem ferre non gravátur. Ille enim sinu fovit, et sponte subter alas suas recóndidit, stúdio non patiénte mori. Anguis, ubi vires recépit, calóre revocánte, et sensit gelu grave paulátim abíre, mériti auctórem letáli ictu saúciat, et ille necat qui sibi vitam réddidit. Pro fidis factis mali ista praémia reddunt, ut, cum profúeris ipse, nocére velint. Ille pérfidus, cui tu vitam servas a discrímine tristi, exítii tibi auctor erit.

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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.

Paene ne·cārat hi·ems quem· frīgore,· repperit· Anguem
Rusticus,· huic quī· nōn || ferre gra·vātur o·pem.
Fōvit e·nim il·le si·nū, sub·terque re·condidit· ālās
Sponte su·ās, studi·ō || nōn pati·ente mo·rī.
Anguis u·bī vī·rēs revo·cante ca·lōre re·cēpit,
Et grave· paulā·tim || sēnsit a·bīre ge·lū:
Auctō·rem meri·tī lē·tālī· sauciat· ictū,
Quīque si·bī vī·tam || reddidit· ille ne·cat.
Ista ma·lī red·dunt prō· fīdīs· praemia· factīs,
Ut, cum· prōfue·ris || ipse, no·cēre ve·lint.
Ā tris·tī ser·vās cuī· tū dis·crīmine· vītam,
Ille ti·b~ exiti·ī || perfidus· auctor e·rit.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story from the 1574 edition of Osius:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Anguem quem hiems frigore paene necarat, repperit Rusticus qui huic opem ferre non gravatur. Ille enim sinu fovit, et sponte subter alas suas recondidit, studio non patiente mori. Anguis, ubi vires recepit, calore revocante, et sensit gelu grave paulatim abire, meriti auctorem letali ictu sauciat, et ille necat qui sibi vitam reddidit. Pro fidis factis mali ista praemia reddunt, ut, cum profueris ipse, nocere velint. Ille perfidus, cui tu vitam servas a discrimine tristi, exitii tibi auctor erit.

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Accipiter et Columbae (Walter)

SOURCE: The text is online as the "Anonymus Neveleti" at the Latin Library, and the text is sometimes attributed to Walter of England. This is poem 22 in the collection. For parallel versions, see Perry 486.

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:

Accipitrem milvī pulsūrum bella columbae
Accipiunt rēgem. Rēx magis hoste nocet.
Incipiunt dē rēge querī, quod sānius esset
Milvī bella pati, quam sine Marte morī.
Sī quid agās, prūdenter agās et rēspice fīnem.
Ferre minōra volō, nē graviōra feram.

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

Columbae accipitrem rēgem accipiunt, milvī bella pulsūrum. Rēx magis hoste nocet. Dē rēge querī incipiunt, quod sānius esset milvī bella pati, quam sine Marte morī. Sī quid agās, prūdenter agās et rēspice fīnem. Minōra ferre volō, nē graviōra feram.

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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):

Colúmbae accípitrem regem accípiunt, milvi bella pulsúrum. Rex magis hoste nocet. De rege queri incípiunt, quod sánius esset milvi bella pati, quam sine Marte mori. Si quid agas, prudénter agas et réspice finem. Minóra ferre volo, ne gravióra feram.

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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.

Accipi·trem mil·vī pul·sūrum· bella co·lumbae
Accipi·unt rē·gem. || Rēx magis· hoste no·cet.
Incipi·unt dē· rēge que·rī, quod· sānius· esset
Milvī· bella pa·ti, || quam sine· Marte mo·rī.
Sī quid a·gās, prū·denter a·gās et· rēspice· fīnem.
Ferre mi·nōra vo·lō, || nē gravi·ōra fe·ram.

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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: Columbae accipitrem regem accipiunt, milvi bella pulsurum. Rex magis hoste nocet. De rege queri incipiunt, quod sanius esset milvi bella pati, quam sine Marte mori. Si quid agas, prudenter agas et respice finem. Minora ferre volo, ne graviora feram.

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Porcus et Equus (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 48 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:

Porcus cōnspiciēns equum bellātōrem, quī cataphractus ad pugnam prōdībat: Stulte, inquit, quō properās? in pugna enim fortassē moriēris. Cui equus: Tibi inter lutum sordesque impinguatō, quamvīs nihil dignum laude gesseris, cultellus adimet vītam: mortem vērō meam comitābitur glōria. Haec fābula innuit, honestius esse rēbus praeclārē gestīs occumbere, quam vītam turpiter actam prōtrahere.

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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):

Porcus conspíciens equum bellatórem, qui cataphráctus ad pugnam prodíbat: "Stulte (inquit) quo próperas? In pugna enim fortásse moriéris." Cui equus: "Tibi inter lutum sordésque impinguáto, quamvis nihil dignum laude gésseris, cultéllus ádimet vitam: mortem vero meam comitábitur glória." Haec fábula ínnuit, honéstius esse rebus praecláre gestis occúmbere, quam vitam túrpiter actam protráhere.

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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:

Porcus
conscpiens equum bellatorem,
qui cataphractus
ad pugnam prodibat:
"Stulte (inquit) quo properas?
In pugna enim fortasse morieris."
Cui equus:
"Tibi
inter lutum sordesque impinguato,
quamvis
nihil dignum laude gesseris,
cultellus adimet vitam:
mortem vero meam
comitabitur gloria."
Haec fabula innuit,
honestius esse
rebus praeclare gestis
occumbere,
quam vitam turpiter actam
protrahere.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a horse and a pig in conversation:

Rustica cum Mulctro Lactis (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 Ashliman's pages about Air Castle tales. In LaFontaine, the fable is 7.10, La Laitière et le pot au lait.

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:

Petrōnilla, quae suprā pulvīllum mulctrum lactis plēnum in capite portābat, in urbem sine impedīmentō sē ventūram satis cōnfīdēbat. Expedīta sānē, quippe quae vestīmentum breve ac simplex et, quō celerior esset, soleās illō diē induisset, magnīs dum gradibus prōcēdit, lactis pretium iam nunc tōtum aestimābat; animō deinde argentum impendēbat; ēmptīs cōgitātiōne centum ōvīs ut ter incubārent gallīnae effēcit. Maximā eius cūrā rēs optimē īre vidēbatur. "Facile enim" inquit "erit mihi circā casam pullōs alere, quibus vulpēs admodum erit callida nisi ita parcet, ut inde porcum emam. Hunc deinde pinguem reddere, quantulō furfurum cōnstābit! Erat profectō, cum meus fuit satis nitidus, ut prō eō vēnditō pecūniam ingentem acceptūra sim. Et quis mē retinēbit quīn vaccam, ut nunc sunt pretia, in stabulum nostrum redūcam ūnā cum vitulō, quem in mediō grege salīre videam?" Hīs verbīs illa quoque gaudiō exsiluit, ut caderet mulctrum lactis. Valēte vōs, vacca, vitule, porce, pullī! Hōrum bonōrum domina, ubi trīstī oculō fortūnam suam humī strātam respexit, valdē metuēns nē verberārētur, ad veniam ā marītō petendam īre pergit. Ex hāc nārrātiunculā facta est fābula, quam in scaenā āctam Mulctellāriam appellant. Quisnam nōn errōre vagātur, aut somnia sibi numquam fingit? Nōnne ita fēcērunt, ut rēx ille Pyrrhus et Petrōnilla, rūstica nostra, sīc cēterī omnēs, tam sapientēs quam furiōsi? Vigilāns somniat ūnus quisque, neque quicquam dulcius. Tunc enim sēnsūs nostrōs blandus capit error, ut cūnctōs honōrēs, quamlibet uxōrem, omnia bona nostra putēmus. Cum sōlus sim, fortissimum quemque prōvocō, passim vagor, pergō īre Persārum rēgem dē soliō dēiectum; ipse rēx fīō, et populō quidem meō dilēctissimus; in caput meum corōnis pluit. Quod sī forte ad mē revocātus sum, ecce, īdem, quī semper fuī, sum rūsticus!

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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):

Petronílla, quae supra pulvíllum mulctrum lactis plenum in cápite portábat, in urbem sine impediménto se ventúram satis confidébat. Expedíta sane, quippe quae vestiméntum breve ac simplex et, quo celérior esset, sóleas illo die induísset, magnis dum grádibus procédit, lactis prétium iam nunc totum aestimábat; ánimo deínde argéntum impendébat; emptis cogitatióne centum ovis ut ter incubárent gallínae effécit. Máxima eius cura res óptime ire videbátur. "Fácile enim" inquit "erit mihi circa casam pullos álere, quibus vulpes ádmodum erit cállida nisi ita parcet, ut inde porcum emam. Hunc deínde pinguem réddere, quántulo fúrfurum constábit! Erat profécto, cum meus fuit satis nítidus, ut pro eo véndito pecúniam ingéntem acceptúra sim. Et quis me retinébit quin vaccam, ut nunc sunt prétia, in stábulum nostrum redúcam una cum vítulo, quem in médio grege salíre vídeam?" His verbis illa quoque gaúdio exsíluit, ut cáderet mulctrum lactis. Valéte vos, vacca, vítule, porce, pulli! Horum bonórum dómina, ubi tristi óculo fortúnam suam humi stratam respéxit, valde métuens ne verberarétur, ad véniam a maríto peténdam ire pergit. Ex hac narratiúncula facta est fábula, quam in scaena actam Mulctelláriam appéllant. Quisnam non erróre vagátur, aut sómnia sibi numquam fingit? Nonne ita fecérunt, ut rex ille Pyrrhus et Petronílla, rústica nostra, sic céteri omnes, tam sapiéntes quam furiósi? Vígilans sómniat unus quisque, neque quicquam dúlcius. Tunc enim sensus nostros blandus capit error, ut cunctos honóres, quámlibet uxórem, ómnia bona nostra putémus. Cum solus sim, fortíssimum quemque próvoco, passim vagor, pergo ire Persárum regem de sólio deiéctum; ipse rex fio, et pópulo quidem meo dilectíssimus; in caput meum corónis pluit. Quod si forte ad me revocátus sum, ecce, idem, qui semper fui, sum rústicus!

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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:

Petronilla,
quae supra pulvillum
mulctrum lactis plenum
in capite portabat,
in urbem
sine impedimento
se venturam satis confidebat.
Expedita sane,
quippe quae
vestimentum breve ac simplex
et, quo celerior esset, soleas
illo die induisset,
magnis dum gradibus procedit,
lactis pretium
iam nunc totum aestimabat;
animo deinde
argentum impendebat;
emptis cogitatione centum ovis
ut ter incubarent gallinae
effecit.
Maxima eius cura
res optime ire videbatur.
"Facile enim" inquit
"erit mihi
circa casam pullos alere,
quibus
vulpes admodum erit callida
nisi ita parcet,
ut inde porcum emam.
Hunc deinde
pinguem reddere,
quantulo furfurum constabit!
Erat profecto,
cum meus fuit satis nitidus,
ut pro eo vendito
pecuniam ingentem acceptura sim.
Et quis
me retinebit
quin vaccam, ut nunc sunt pretia,
in stabulum nostrum reducam
una cum vitulo,
quem in medio grege salire videam?"
His verbis
illa quoque gaudio exsiluit,
ut caderet mulctrum lactis.
Valete vos,
vacca, vitule, porce, pulli!
Horum bonorum domina,
ubi
tristi oculo
fortunam suam
humi stratam respexit,
valde metuens ne verberaretur,
ad veniam a marito petendam
ire pergit.
Ex hac narratiuncula
facta est fabula,
quam in scaena actam
Mulctellariam appellant.
Quisnam non errore vagatur,
aut somnia
sibi numquam fingit?
Nonne ita fecerunt,
ut rex ille Pyrrhus
et Petronilla, rustica nostra,
sic ceteri omnes,
tam sapientes quam furiosi?
Vigilans somniat unus quisque,
neque quicquam dulcius.
Tunc enim sensus nostros
blandus capit error,
ut cunctos honores,
quamlibet uxorem,
omnia bona nostra putemus.
Cum solus sim,
fortissimum quemque provoco,
passim vagor,
pergo ire
Persarum regem de solio deiectum;
ipse rex fio,
et populo quidem meo dilectissimus;
in caput meum
coronis pluit.
Quod si forte
ad me revocatus sum,
ecce, idem, qui semper fui,
sum rusticus!

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

Aesopus et Petulans (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 3.5 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 497.

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:

Successus ad perniciem multōs dēvocat.
Aesōpō quīdam petulāns lapidem impēgerat.
"Tantō" inquit "melior!" Assem deinde illī dedit
sīc prōsecūtus: "Plūs nōn habeō mehercule,
sed unde accipere possīs mōnstrābō tibi.
Venit ecce dīves et potēns; huic similiter
impinge lapidem, et dīgnum accipiēs praemium."
Persuāsus ille fēcit quod monitus fuit,
sed spēs fefellit impudentem audāciam;
comprēnsus namque poenās persolvit cruce.

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

Successus multōs dēvocat ad perniciem. Quīdam petulāns lapidem Aesōpō impēgerat. Inquit: "Tantō melior!" Deinde assem illī dedit, sīc prōsecūtus: "Plūs nōn habeō, mehercule, sed tibi mōnstrābō unde accipere possīs. Ecce: dīves et potēns venit; similiter lapidem huic impinge, et praemium dīgnum accipiēs." Ille, persuāsus, fēcit quod monitus fuit, sed spēs audāciam impudentem fefellit; namque comprēnsus, cruce poenās persolvit.

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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):

Succéssus multos dévocat ad perníciem. Quidam pétulans lápidem Aesópo impégerat. Inquit: "Tanto mélior!" Deinde assem illi dedit, sic prosecútus: "Plus non hábeo, mehércule, sed tibi monstrábo unde accípere possis. Ecce: dives et potens venit; simíliter lápidem huic impínge, et praémium dignum accípies." Ille, persuásus, fecit quod mónitus fuit, sed spes audáciam impudéntem feféllit; namque comprénsus, cruce poenas persólvit.

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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.

Succes·sus ad· pernici·em mul·tōs dē·vocat.
Aesō·pō quī·dam petu·lāns lapi·d~ impē·gerat.
Tant~ in·quit meli·or! As·sem dein·d~ illī· dedit
sīc prō·secū·tus: Plūs· nōn habe·ō m~er·cule,
sed un·d~ accipe·re pos·sīs mōn·strābō· tibi.
Venit ec·ce dī·ves et· potēns;· huic simi·liter
impin·ge lapi·d~, et dīg·n~ accipi·ēs prae·mium.
Persuā·sus il·le fē·cit quod· monitus· fuit,
sed spēs· fefel·lit im·puden·t~ audā·ciam;
comprēn·sus nam·que poe·nās per·solvit· cruce.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a Roman as coin stamped with the emperor Caligula:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Successus multos devocat ad perniciem. Quidam petulans lapidem Aesopo impegerat. Inquit: "Tanto melior!" Deinde assem illi dedit, sic prosecutus: "Plus non habeo, mehercule, sed tibi monstrabo unde accipere possis. Ecce: dives et potens venit; similiter lapidem huic impinge, et praemium dignum accipies." Ille, persuasus, fecit quod monitus fuit, sed spes audaciam impudentem fefellit; namque comprensus, cruce poenas persolvit.

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Mus 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 3 in the collection. For parallel versions, see Perry 384.

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:

Rāna ferox agilī bellum cum Mūre gerēbat,
Vincendī studiō saevus uterque fuit.
Mūs parit īnsidiīs animōsam vincere Rānam,
At quae nōn vincī vīribus ūsa potest.
Saevit uterque suum sīc dum sēcūrus in hostem,
Quō nihil exceptō posse nocēre putat:
Imprōvīsus adest, rapidēque hōs Milvuus aufert,
Atque cibum rōstrō dīlaniante facit.
Nōn scelerāta diū poenās audācia vītat,
Quās solet illa gravēs, auspice ferre Deō.
Līte movent stultī dum bella domestica cīvēs,
Hinc externus opem, quā valet hostis, habet.

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

Rāna ferox cum Mūre agilī bellum gerēbat; uterque vincendī studiō saevus fuit. Mūs īnsidiīs Rānam animōsam vincere parit, at Rana, vīribus ūsa, vincī nōn potest. Dum uterque sēcūrus in hostem suum sīc saevit, putat nihil nocēre posse, hoste exceptō; Milvuus imprōvīsus adest et rapidē hōs aufert, atque rōstrō dīlaniante cibum facit. Nōn diū audācia scelerāta poenās vītat; illa poenās gravēs ferre solet, auspice Deō. Dum līte cīvēs stultī bella domestica movent, hinc hostis externus opem, quā valet, 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):

Rana ferox cum Mure ágili bellum gerébat; utérque vincéndi stúdio saevus fuit. Mus insídiis Ranam animósam víncere parit, at Rana, víribus usa, vinci non potest. Dum utérque secúrus in hostem suum sic saevit, putat nihil nocére posse, hoste excépto; Mílvuus improvísus adest et rápide hos aufert, atque rostro dilaniánte cibum facit. Non diu audácia sceleráta poenas vitat; illa poenas graves ferre solet, aúspice Deo. Dum lite cives stulti bella doméstica movent, hinc hostis extérnus opem, qua valet, 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.

Rāna fe·rox agi·lī bel·lum cum· Mūre ge·rēbat,
Vincen·dī studi·ō || saevus u·terque fu·it.
Mūs parit· īnsidi·īs ani·mōsam ·vincere· Rānam,
At quae· nōn vin·cī || vīribus ·ūsa po·test.
Saevit u·terque su·um sīc· dum sē·cūrus in· hostem,
Quō nihil· excep·tō || posse no·cēre pu·tat:
Imprō·vīsus a·dest, rapi·dēqu~ hōs· Milvuus ·aufert,
Atque ci·bum rōs·trō || dīlani·ante fa·cit.
Nōn scele·rāta di·ū poe·nās au·dācia ·vītat,
Quās solet· illa gra·vēs, || auspice· ferre De·ō.
Līte mo·vent stul·tī dum ·bella do·mestica· cīvēs,
Hinc ex·ternus o·pem, || quā valet· hostis, ha·bet.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story from the 1574 edition of Osius:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Rana ferox cum Mure agili bellum gerebat; uterque vincendi studio saevus fuit. Mus insidiis Ranam animosam vincere parit, at Rana, viribus usa, vinci non potest. Dum uterque securus in hostem suum sic saevit, putat nihil nocere posse, hoste excepto; Milvuus improvisus adest et rapide hos aufert, atque rostro dilaniante cibum facit. Non diu audacia scelerata poenas vitat; illa poenas graves ferre solet, auspice Deo. Dum lite cives stulti bella domestica movent, hinc hostis externus opem, qua valet, habet.

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Canis Carnem Ferens (Walter)

SOURCE: The text is online as the "Anonymus Neveleti" at the Latin Library, and the text is sometimes attributed to Walter of England. This is poem 5 in the collection. For parallel versions, see 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:

Nat canis; ōre gerit carnem, caro porrigit umbram.
Umbra cohaeret aquīs; hās canis urget aquās.
Spem carnis plūs carne cupit, plūs fēnore signum
Fēnoris. Ōs aperit, sīc caro spesque perit.
Nōn igitur dēbent prō vānīs certa relinquī.
Nōn sua sī quis avet, mox caret ipse suīs.

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

Canis nat; ōre carnem gerit, caro umbram porrigit. Aquīs umbra cohaeret; canis hās aquās urget. Spem carnis plūs carne cupit, signum fēnoris plūs fēnore. Ōs aperit, sīc caro perit et spes. Certa igitur relinquī nōn dēbent prō vānīs. Sī quis sua nōn avet, ipse mox caret suīs.

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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 nat; ore carnem gerit, caro umbram pórrigit. Aquis umbra cohaéret; canis has aquas urget. Spem carnis plus carne cupit, signum fénoris plus fénore. Os áperit, sic caro perit et spes. Certa ígitur relínqui non debent pro vanis. Si quis sua non avet, ipse mox caret suis.

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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.

Nat canis·; ōre ge·rit car·nem, caro· porrigit· umbram.
Umbra co·haeret a·quīs; || hās canis· urget a·quās.
Spem car·nis plūs· carne cu·pit, plūs· fēnore· signum
Fēnoris.· Ōs ape·rit, || sīc caro· spesque pe·rit.
Nōn igi·tur dē·bent prō· vānīs· certa re·linquī.
Nōn sua· sī quis a·vet, || mox caret· ipse su·īs.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) by Walter Crane:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Canis nat; ore carnem gerit, caro umbram porrigit. Aquis umbra cohaeret; canis has aquas urget. Spem carnis plus carne cupit, signum fenoris plus fenore. Os aperit, sic caro perit et spes. Certa igitur relinqui non debent pro vanis. Si quis sua non avet, ipse mox caret suis.

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Lanius et Simius (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 3.4 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 496.

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:

Pendēre ad lanium quīdam vīdit sīmium
inter relicuās mercēs atque obsōnia;
quaesīvit quidnam saperet. Tum lanius iocāns
"Quāle" inquit "caput est, tālis praestātur sapor."
Rīdiculē magis hōc dictum quam vērē aestimō;
quandō et fōrmōsōs saepe invēnī pessimōs,
et turpī faciē multōs cōgnōvī optimōs.

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

Quīdam ad lanium vīdit sīmium pendēre, inter mercēs relicuās atque obsōnia; quaesīvit quidnam saperet. Tum lanius, iocāns, inquit: "Quāle caput est, tālis sapor praestātur." Hōc dictum aestimō magis rīdiculē quam vērē; quandō et invēnī saepe fōrmōsōs pessimōs, et cōgnōvī optimōs multōs faciē turpī.

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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):

Quidam ad lánium vidit símium péndere, inter merces relícuas atque obsónia; quaesívit quidnam sáperet. Tum lánius, iocans, inquit: "Quale caput est, talis sapor praestátur." Hoc dictum aéstimo magis ridícule quam vere; quando et invéni saepe formósos péssimos, et cognóvi óptimos multos fácie turpi.

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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.

Pendē·r~ ad lani·um quī·dam vī·dit sī·mium
inter· relicu·ās mer·cēs at·qu~ obsō·nia;
quaesī·vit quid·nam sape·ret. Tum· lanius· iocāns
Quāl~ in·quit caput· est, tā·lis prae·stātur· sapor.
Rīdicu·lē magis· hōc dic·tum quam· vēr~ aes·timō;
quand~ et· fōrmō·sōs sae·p~ invē·nī pes·simōs,
et tur·pī faci·ē mul·tōs cōg·nōv~ op·timōs.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a squirrel monkey:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Quidam ad lanium vidit simium pendere, inter merces relicuas atque obsonia; quaesivit quidnam saperet. Tum lanius, iocans, inquit: "Quale caput est, talis sapor praestatur." Hoc dictum aestimo magis ridicule quam vere; quando et inveni saepe formosos pessimos, et cognovi optimos multos facie turpi.

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Sacerdos et Pira (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 46 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:

Sacerdōs quīdam gulōsus extrā patriam ad nuptiās profisciscēns, ad quās fuerat invītātus, reperit in itinere pirōrum acervum, quōrum nē ūnum quidem attigit, quamvīs magnā affectus famē: quīn potius ea lūdībriō habēns lōtiō cōnspersit, indignābātur enim huiusmodī cibōs in itinere offerrī, quī ad lautās accēdēbat epulās. Sed cum in itinere torrentem quendam ita imbribus auctum offendisset, ut sine vītae perīculō eum trānsīre nōn posset, domum redīre cōnstituit. Revertēns autem iēiūnus, tantā est oppressus famē, ut nisi pira illa, quae ūrīnā cōnsperserat, comēsset, cum aliud nōn invenīret, extinguerētur. Haec fābula monet, nihil esse contemnendum, cum nihil sit tam vīle et abiectum, quod aliquando ūsuī esse nōn possit.

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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):

Sacérdos quidam gulósus extra pátriam ad núptias profiscíscens, ad quas fúerat invitátus, réperit in itínere pirórum acérvum, quorum ne unum quidem áttigit, quamvis magna afféctus fame: quin pótius ea ludíbrio habens lótio conspérsit, indignabátur enim huiúsmodi cibos in itínere offérri, qui ad lautas accedébat épulas. Sed cum in itínere torréntem quendam ita ímbribus auctum offendísset, ut sine vitae perículo eum transíre non posset, domum redíre constítuit. Revértens autem ieiúnus, tanta est oppréssus fame, ut nisi pira illa, quae urína conspérserat, comésset, cum áliud non inveníret, extinguerétur. Haec fábula monet, nihil esse contemnéndum, cum nihil sit tam vile et abíectum, quod aliquándo úsui esse non possit.

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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:

Sacerdos quidam gulosus
extra patriam
ad nuptias profisciscens,
ad quas fuerat invitatus,
reperit in itinere
pirorum acervum,
quorum ne unum quidem attigit,
quamvis magna affectus fame:
quin potius
ea ludibrio habens
lotio conspersit,
indignabatur enim
huiusmodi cibos in itinere offerri,
qui ad lautas accedebat epulas.
Sed cum in itinere
torrentem quendam
ita imbribus auctum offendisset,
ut sine vitae periculo
eum transire non posset,
domum redire constituit.
Revertens autem ieiunus,
tanta est oppressus fame,
ut nisi pira illa,
quae urina consperserat,
comesset,
cum aliud non inveniret,
extingueretur.
Haec fabula monet,
nihil esse contemnendum,
cum nihil sit
tam vile et abiectum,
quod aliquando usui esse
non possit.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing some pears fallen from the tree:

Mus et Ostrea (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 454. In LaFontaine, the fable is 8.9, Le Rat et l'Huître.

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:

Mūrem quendam valdē stultum, quī campum habitābat, larum familiārium aliquandō pertaedēbat. Itaque campō segetibusque relictīs prōdiit, ut terrās peragrāret. Vix casam dēserverat, cum "Orbis" inquit "terrārum quam immānis est! Hīc ecce Appennīnus, illīc Caucasus!" Nam talpae acervum montem dūcēbat. Paucīs post diēbus in regiōnem pervēnit, ubi aestus multās ostreās in lītore relīquerat, quae illī velut nāvēs longae prīmō procul vidēbantur. "Profectō" inquit "patris meī mē miseret, quī ignāvissimus itinera facere numquam ausus sit. Contrā ego maritimum illud quod dīcunt imperium iam vīdī; loca dēserta percurrī, neque quicquam bibī." Tālia enim, quae ā lūdī magistrō quōdam didicerat, nunc, dum rūrī vagātur, prōferēbat, illīs mūribus scīlicet haud similis quī librīs rōdendīs sapientiam summīs tantum dentibus didicerint. Inter tot ostreās clausās ūna erat, quae hiāns ac Favōniō dulcī sōlisque calōre gaudēns aurīs captandīs sē reficiēbat. Alba erat atque crassa, sapōrisque, ut appārēbat, singulāris. Quam mūs noster cōnspicātus "Quidnam" inquit "videō? Cibī profectō genus est, quō, nisi fefellerit color, mē aut nunc hilarum reddam aut numquam!" Tum omnia bella spērāns appropinquāvit; et, dum collum extendit, velut plagā captus est. Illa enim subitō sē clausit. Ecce, quid facit īnscītia! Haec fābula primum inexpertōs docet minimās rēs admīrārī, tum capī nōn numquam quī captet.

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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):

Murem quendam valde stultum, qui campum habitábat, larum familiárium aliquándo pertaedébat. Ítaque campo segetibúsque relíctis pródiit, ut terras peragráret. Vix casam desérverat, cum "Orbis" inquit "terrárum quam immánis est! Hic ecce Appennínus, illic Caúcasus!" Nam talpae acérvum montem ducébat. Paucis post diébus in regiónem pervénit, ubi aestus multas óstreas in lítore relíquerat, quae illi velut naves longae primo procul videbántur. "Profécto" inquit "patris mei me míseret, qui ignavíssimus itínera fácere numquam ausus sit. Contra ego marítimum illud quod dicunt impérium iam vidi; loca desérta percúrri, neque quicquam bibi." Tália enim, quae a ludi magístro quodam didícerat, nunc, dum ruri vagátur, proferébat, illis múribus scílicet haud símilis qui libris rodéndis sapiéntiam summis tantum déntibus didícerint. Inter tot óstreas clausas una erat, quae hians ac Favónio dulci solísque calóre gaudens auris captándis se reficiébat. Alba erat atque crassa, saporísque, ut apparébat, singuláris. Quam mus noster conspicátus "Quidnam" inquit "vídeo? Cibi profécto genus est, quo, nisi feféllerit color, me aut nunc hílarum reddam aut numquam!" Tum ómnia bella sperans appropinquávit; et, dum collum exténdit, velut plaga captus est. Illa enim súbito se clausit. Ecce, quid facit inscítia! Haec fábula primum inexpértos docet mínimas res admirári, tum capi non numquam qui captet.

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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:

Murem quendam valde stultum,
qui campum habitabat,
larum familiarium
aliquando pertaedebat.
Itaque
campo segetibusque relictis
prodiit, ut terras peragraret.
Vix casam deserverat,
cum "Orbis" inquit "terrarum
quam immanis est!
Hic ecce Appenninus, illic Caucasus!"
Nam talpae
acervum montem ducebat.
Paucis post diebus
in regionem pervenit,
ubi aestus
multas ostreas in litore reliquerat,
quae illi
velut naves longae
primo procul videbantur.
"Profecto" inquit
"patris mei me miseret,
qui ignavissimus
itinera facere numquam ausus sit.
Contra ego
maritimum illud quod dicunt imperium
iam vidi;
loca deserta percurri,
neque quicquam bibi."
Talia enim,
quae
a ludi magistro quodam
didicerat,
nunc, dum ruri vagatur,
proferebat,
illis muribus scilicet haud similis
qui
libris rodendis
sapientiam
summis tantum dentibus didicerint.
Inter tot ostreas clausas
una erat,
quae hians
ac Favonio dulci solisque calore gaudens
auris captandis
se reficiebat.
Alba erat atque crassa,
saporisque, ut apparebat, singularis.
Quam mus noster conspicatus
"Quidnam" inquit "video?
Cibi profecto genus est,
quo, nisi fefellerit color,
me aut nunc hilarum reddam
aut numquam!"
Tum omnia bella sperans
appropinquavit;
et, dum collum extendit,
velut plaga captus est.
Illa enim subito se clausit.
Ecce, quid facit inscitia!
Haec fabula
primum inexpertos docet
minimas res admirari,
tum capi non numquam
qui captet.

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