Agricola 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 42. In LaFontaine, the fable is 5.9, Le Laboureur 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:

Labōrāte, operam date! Num quid aliud minus fallere solet? Agricola haud sānē pauper, cum iam mortem adesse intellegeret, fīliōs advocātōs, remōtis aliīs, ita adlocūtus esse fertur: "Agrum" inquit "nōlīte vēndere, quem maiōrēs nostrī nōbīs relīquērunt. Thēsaurus enim ibi conditus est. Cuius quamquam locum nōndum nōvī, sat sciō fore ut paulō fortius mōlientēs eum aliquandō reperiātis. Statim post messem terram vertite, effodite, scrūtāmini. Nūllus sit locus, ubi nōn aliquid saepius ēgerint manūs vestrae." Patre igitur mortuō fīliī agrum hinc atque illinc undique effodiunt, et tantā quidem industriā, ut multō maiōrēs inde frūctūs illō annō percēperint. Argentī sānē nihil erat conditī. At pater sapientissimus, quī eōs thēsaurum docēret esse industriam.

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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):

Laboráte, óperam date! Num quid áliud minus fállere solet? Agrícola haud sane pauper, cum iam mortem adésse intellégeret, fílios advocátos, remótis áliis, ita adlocútus esse fertur: "Agrum" inquit "nolíte véndere, quem maióres nostri nobis reliquérunt. Thesaúrus enim ibi cónditus est. Cuius quamquam locum nondum novi, sat scio fore ut paulo fórtius moliéntes eum aliquándo reperiátis. Statim post messem terram vértite, effódite, scrutámini. Nullus sit locus, ubi non áliquid saépius égerint manus vestrae." Patre ígitur mórtuo fílii agrum hinc atque illinc úndique effódiunt, et tanta quidem indústria, ut multo maióres inde fructus illo anno percéperint. Argénti sane nihil erat cónditi. At pater sapientíssimus, qui eos thesaúrum docéret esse indústriam.

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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:

Laborate, operam date!
Num quid aliud
minus fallere solet?
Agricola
haud sane pauper,
cum iam mortem adesse intellegeret,
filios advocatos,
remotis aliis,
ita adlocutus esse fertur:
"Agrum" inquit "nolite vendere,
quem
maiores nostri nobis reliquerunt.
Thesaurus enim
ibi conditus est.
Cuius quamquam locum
nondum novi,
sat scio
fore ut
paulo fortius molientes
eum aliquando reperiatis.
Statim post messem
terram vertite, effodite, scrutamini.
Nullus sit locus,
ubi non aliquid
saepius egerint manus vestrae."
Patre igitur mortuo
filii
agrum
hinc atque illinc
undique effodiunt,
et tanta quidem industria,
ut multo maiores inde fructus
illo anno perceperint.
Argenti sane nihil erat conditi.
At pater sapientissimus,
qui eos thesaurum doceret
esse industriam.

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

Lupus et Hystrix (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 24 in the collection. This is a fable from Abstemius.
You can find the word list for this fable online at NoDictionaries.com, and use it interactively.

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

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Hystrice vescendī pervāsit forte cupīdo
Summa Lupum; ēsuries īnsatiāta premit.
Ast illa hirsūtīs spīnīs mūnīta manēbat
Undique; nōn ardēns audet adīre Lupus.
Intereā, bellō cum vincere nescit apertō,
Quod superest illī, fraude dolōque petit.
"Tempore nē pācis cūrēs tua tēla tulisse;
Nam, nisi Mars īnstat, nōn sua mīles habet:"
Īnsidiātor ait; cuī tālia rettulit Hystrix,
"Quā lupus est, illīc tēla tenēre decet."

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

Forte, cupīdo summa Hystrice vescendī Lupum pervāsit; ēsuries īnsatiāta premit. Ast Hystrix illa hirsūtīs spīnīs undique mūnīta manēbat; Lupus ardēns adīre nōn audet. Intereā, cum vincere nescit bellō apertō, fraude et dolō petit (quod illī superest). "Nē cūrēs tua tēla tulisse pācis tempore; nam, nisi Mars īnstat, mīles sua tela nōn habet" īnsidiātor ait; cuī Hystrix tālia rettulit: "Quā lupus est, illīc tēla tenēre decet."

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

Forte, cupído summa Hýstrice vescéndi Lupum pervásit; esúries insatiáta premit. Ast Hystrix illa hirsútis spinis úndique muníta manébat; Lupus ardens adíre non audet. Intérea, cum víncere nescit bello apérto, fraude et dolo petit (quod illi súperest). "Ne cures tua tela tulísse pacis témpore; nam, nisi Mars instat, miles sua tela non habet" insidiátor ait; cui Hystrix tália réttulit: "Qua lupus est, illic tela tenére decet."

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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.

Hystrice· vescen·dī per·vāsit· forte cu·pīdo
Summa Lup~;· ēsuri·es || īnsati·āta pre·mit.
Ast il·l~ hirsū·tīs spī·nīs mū·nīta ma·nēbat
Undique;· nōn ar·dēns || audet a·dīre Lu·pus.
Intere·ā, bel·lō cum· vincere· nescit a·pertō,
Quod supe·rest il·lī, || fraude do·lōque pe·tit.
Tempore· nē pā·cis cū·rēs tua· tēla tu·lisse;
Nam, nisi· Mars īn·stat, || nōn sua· mīles ha·bet:
Īnsidi·ātor a·it; cuī· tālia· rettuli·t Hystrix,
Quā lupus· est, il·līc || tēla te·nēre de·cet.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) showing a high-spirited hedgehog:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Forte, cupido summa Hystrice vescendi Lupum pervasit; esuries insatiata premit. Ast Hystrix illa hirsutis spinis undique munita manebat; Lupus ardens adire non audet. Interea, cum vincere nescit bello aperto, fraude et dolo petit (quod illi superest). "Ne cures tua tela tulisse pacis tempore; nam, nisi Mars instat, miles sua tela non habet" insidiator ait; cui Hystrix talia rettulit: "Qua lupus est, illic tela tenere decet."

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Capra et Lac: In desciscentes (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 141 in the collection. Although the proverbial "Scyrian goat" does not make an appearance in Aesop's fables, you can find the motif in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.10.20 Capra Scyria.

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

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons (note that the o is short in profundit):

Quod fīne ēgregiōs turpī maculāveris orsūs,
In noxamque tuum verteris officium;
Fēcistī quod capra, suī mulctrālia lactis
Cum ferit, et propriās calce profundit opēs.

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

Quod orsūs ēgregiōs fine turpī maculāveris, et in noxam officium tuum verteris, fēcistī quod capra, cum lactis suī mulctrālia ferit et opēs propriās calce profundit.

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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):

Quod orsus egrégios fine turpi maculáveris, et in noxam offícium tuum vérteris, fecísti quod capra, cum lactis sui mulctrália ferit et opes próprias calce profúndit.

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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.

Quod fī·n~ ēgregi·ōs tur·pī macu·lāveris· orsūs,
In no·xamque tu·um || verteris· offici·um;
Fēcis·tī quod· capra, su·ī mulc·trālia· lactis
Cum ferit,· et propri·ās || calce pro·fundit o·pēs.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Quod orsus egregios fine turpi maculaveris, et in noxam officium tuum verteris, fecisti quod capra, cum lactis sui mulctralia ferit et opes proprias calce profundit.

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Canis et Thesaurus (Phaedrus)

SOURCE: For a complete edition of Phaedrus with macrons, see the edition by J.H. Drake at GoogleBooks. This is fable 1.27 in Phaedrus. For parallel versions, see Perry 483.

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:

Haec rēs avārīs esse conveniēns potest,
et quī, humilēs nātī, dīcī locuplētēs student.
Hūmāna effodiēns ossa thēsaurum canis
invēnit, et, violārat quia Mānēs deōs,
iniecta est illī divitiārum cupiditās,
poenās ut sānctae religiōnī penderet.
Itaque, aurum dum custōdit oblītus cibī,
famē est cōnsūmptus. Quem stāns vulturius super
fertur locūtus "Ō canis, meritō iacēs,
quī concupistī subitō rēgālēs opēs,
triviō conceptus, ēdūcāte stercore."

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

Haec rēs avārīs conveniēns esse potest, et hīs quī, humilēs nātī, dīcī locuplētēs student. Canis, ossa hūmāna effodiēns, thēsaurum invēnit, et, quia deōs Mānēs violārat, divitiārum cupiditās illī iniecta est, ut poenās penderet religiōnī sānctae. Itaque, dum aurum custōdit, cibī oblītus, famē cōnsūmptus est. Vulturius, stāns super canem, fertur locūtus: Ō canis, stercore ēdūcāte, triviō conceptus, meritō iacēs, quī opēs rēgālēs subitō concupistī.

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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):

Haec res aváris convéniens esse potest, et his qui, húmiles nati, dici locuplétes student. Canis, ossa humána effódiens, thesaúrum invénit, et, quia deos Manes violárat, divitiárum cupíditas illi iniécta est, ut poenas pénderet religióni sanctae. Ítaque, dum aurum custódit, cibi oblítus, fame consúmptus est. Vultúrius, stans super canem, fertur locútus: O canis, stércore educáte, trívio concéptus, mérito iaces, qui opes regáles súbito concupísti.

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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):

Haec rēs· avā·rīs es·se con·veniēns· potest,
et qu~ humi·lēs nā·tī, dī·cī locu·plētēs· student.
Hūmā·n~ effodi·ēns os·sa thē·saurum· canis
invē·nit, et,· violā·rat quia· Mānēs· deōs,
iniec·t~ est il·lī divi·tiā·rum cupi·ditās,
poenās· ut sānc·tae reli·giō·nī pen·deret.
Itaqu~ au·rum dum· custō·dit ob·lītus· cibī,
fam~ est· cōnsūmp·tus. Quem· stāns vul·turius· super
fertur· locū·tus Ō· canis,· meritō· iacēs,
quī con·cupis·tī subi·tō rē·gālēs· opēs,
triviō· concep·tus, ē·dūcā·te ster·core.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches:
Haec res avaris conveniens esse potest, et his qui, humiles nati, dici locupletes student. Canis, ossa humana effodiens, thesaurum invenit, et, quia deos Manes violarat, divitiarum cupiditas illi iniecta est, ut poenas penderet religioni sanctae. Itaque, dum aurum custodit, cibi oblitus, fame consumptus est. Vulturius, stans super canem, fertur locutus: O canis, stercore educate, trivio conceptus, merito iaces, qui opes regales subito concupisti.

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Aquila et Pica (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 26 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:

Pica aquilam rogābat ut sē inter suōs familiārēs et domesticōs acciperet, quando id mererētur cum corporis pulchritūdine, tum ad mandāta peragenda linguae volūbilitāte. Cui aquila, "Hoc facerem (rēspondit), nī vererer, nē quae intrā tēgulās fiunt, tuā loquacitāte cuncta efferrēs." Haec fābula monet linguācēs et garrulōs domī nōn habendōs.

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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):

Pica áquilam rogábat ut se inter suos familiáres et domésticos accíperet, quando id mererétur cum córporis pulchritúdine, tum ad mandáta peragénda linguae volubilitáte. Cui áquila, "Hoc fácerem (respóndit), ni vérerer, ne quae intra tégulas fiunt, tua loquacitáte cuncta efférres." Haec fábula monet linguáces et gárrulos domi non habéndos.

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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:

Pica
aquilam rogabat
ut se
inter suos familiares et domesticos
acciperet,
quando id mereretur
cum
corporis pulchritudine,
tum
ad mandata peragenda
linguae volubilitate.
Cui aquila,
"Hoc facerem (respondit),
ni vererer,
ne quae intra tegulas fiunt,
tua loquacitate cuncta efferres."
Haec fabula monet
linguaces et garrulos
domi non habendos.

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

Vulpes ac Lupus et Equus (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 Aarne-Thompson type 47E. In LaFontaine, the fable is 12.17, Le Renard, le Loup et le Cheval.

READ OUT LOUD. Choose which marked text you prefer to practice with - macrons or accent marks - and read the text out loud until you feel comfortable and confident. Then, try reading the unmarked text at the bottom. It should be easy for you after practicing with the marked texts. :-)

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MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Vulpēs, quae adulēscēns illa quidem erat, sed callidissima, cum prīmum in vitā suā equum cōnspexisset, lupō cuidam parum expertō, "Accurre" inquit "nam animal nesciō quod pulcherrimum ac maximum in nostrīs campīs pāscitur. Quod illud modo vīdī, etiam nunc vehementer laetor." Tum alter "Estne" inquit "istud validius quam nōs? Mōnstrā mihi sōdēs eius velut imāginem." Cui vulpēs ita respondit: "Sī vel pictor essem vel dīcendī studiōsus adulēscēns, gaudium iam nunc sentīrēs, quod paulō post sentiēs, ubi illud videris. Venī modo! Haud sciō an hanc nōbīs praedam mīserit Fortūna." Itaque veniunt ad equum in pāscua missum. Ille autem huius modī amīcōs tantī fēcit, ut sēmitā abitūrus esset. "Domine" inquit vulpēs "grātum nōbīs, servīs tuīs, fēceris, sī nōmen tuum ēdideris." Cui equus, haud sānē stultus, "Nōmen" inquit "legitōte ipsa et amīcus iste. Potestis enim; quia sūtor meus nōmen circā soleās īnscrīpsit." Vulpēs tamen veniam ob īnscītiam suam petīvit: "Parentēs" inquit "meī ut pauperēs, quippe quibus nihil prōrsus praeter latebram esset, mē ērudiendam haud cūrāvērunt. Hic autem lupus dīvitēs parentēs fēcērunt ut legere disceret." Lupus igitur, cui valdē placēbat adūlātiō illīus, appropinquāvit. Sed, dum sē iactat, dentēs perdidit quattuor. Nam equus, ubi gravius calcēs remīsit, in fugam sē dedit. Lupō autem miserō atque cruentō, humī sē volventī, "Frāter" inquit illa, "hoc sānē illud vērum esse probat quod mihi ōlim dīxērunt prūdentēs. Ecce, tibi in mālā ita īnscrīpsit illud animal: Ignōtō nihil cōnfīdat sapiēns!"

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

Vulpes, quae aduléscens illa quidem erat, sed callidíssima, cum primum in vita sua equum conspexísset, lupo cuidam parum expérto, "Accúrre" inquit "nam ánimal néscio quod pulchérrimum ac máximum in nostris campis páscitur. Quod illud modo vidi, étiam nunc veheménter laetor." Tum alter "Estne" inquit "istud valídius quam nos? Monstra mihi sodes eius velut imáginem." Cui vulpes ita respóndit: "Si vel pictor essem vel dicéndi studiósus aduléscens, gaúdium iam nunc sentíres, quod paulo post sénties, ubi illud víderis. Veni modo! Haud scio an hanc nobis praedam míserit Fortúna." Ítaque véniunt ad equum in páscua missum. Ille autem huius modi amícos tanti fecit, ut sémita abitúrus esset. "Dómine" inquit vulpes "gratum nobis, servis tuis, féceris, si nomen tuum edíderis." Cui equus, haud sane stultus, "Nomen" inquit "legitóte ipsa et amícus iste. Potéstis enim; quia sutor meus nomen circa sóleas inscrípsit." Vulpes tamen véniam ob inscítiam suam petívit: "Paréntes" inquit "mei ut paúperes, quippe quibus nihil prorsus praeter látebram esset, me erudiéndam haud curavérunt. Hic autem lupus dívites paréntes fecérunt ut légere dísceret." Lupus ígitur, cui valde placébat adulátio illíus, appropinquávit. Sed, dum se iactat, dentes pérdidit quáttuor. Nam equus, ubi grávius calces remísit, in fugam se dedit. Lupo autem mísero atque cruénto, humi se volvénti, "Frater" inquit illa, "hoc sane illud verum esse probat quod mihi olim dixérunt prudéntes. Ecce, tibi in mala ita inscrípsit illud ánimal: Ignóto nihil confídat sápiens!"

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UNMARKED TEXT. Here is the unmarked text - after practicing with the marked text that you prefer, you should not have any trouble with the unmarked text; I've inserted spaces between the segments to make it easier to follow:

Vulpes,
quae adulescens illa quidem erat,
sed callidissima,
cum primum in vita sua
equum conspexisset,
lupo cuidam parum experto,
"Accurre" inquit
"nam animal nescio quod
pulcherrimum ac maximum
in nostris campis pascitur.
Quod illud modo vidi,
etiam nunc vehementer laetor."
Tum alter "Estne" inquit
"istud validius quam nos?
Monstra mihi sodes
eius velut imaginem."
Cui vulpes ita respondit:
"Si vel pictor essem
vel dicendi studiosus adulescens,
gaudium iam nunc sentires,
quod paulo post senties,
ubi illud videris.
Veni modo!
Haud scio
an hanc nobis praedam
miserit Fortuna."
Itaque veniunt
ad equum in pascua missum.
Ille autem
huius modi amicos tanti fecit,
ut semita abiturus esset.
"Domine" inquit vulpes
"gratum nobis, servis tuis, feceris,
si nomen tuum edideris."
Cui equus, haud sane stultus,
"Nomen" inquit
"legitote ipsa et amicus iste.
Potestis enim;
quia sutor meus
nomen circa soleas inscripsit."
Vulpes tamen
veniam ob inscitiam suam petivit:
"Parentes" inquit "mei ut pauperes,
quippe quibus
nihil prorsus praeter latebram esset,
me erudiendam haud curaverunt.
Hic autem lupus
divites parentes fecerunt
ut legere disceret."
Lupus igitur,
cui valde placebat adulatio illius,
appropinquavit.
Sed, dum se iactat,
dentes perdidit quattuor.
Nam equus,
ubi gravius calces remisit,
in fugam se dedit.
Lupo autem
misero atque cruento,
humi se volventi,
"Frater" inquit illa,
"hoc sane illud verum esse probat
quod mihi olim dixerunt prudentes.
Ecce, tibi in mala
ita inscripsit illud animal:
Ignoto nihil confidat sapiens!"

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

Taurus et Hircus (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 20 in the collection. For more versions, see Perry 217.

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:

Fortibus afflictīs, generōsī, parcite, cīvēs!
Quōs Fortūna premit, turpe nocēre fuit.
Bōs celerī passū cupiēns fūgisse Leōnem
Obvius est Hircō; cōnstitit ille viā.
Cornibus adversīs et proelia fronte gerēbat;
Cuī rapidīs verbīs Bōs fugitīvus ait;
"Nōn tua frōns horrenda mihī, nōn, improbe, cornū.
Quī sequitur, sōlus territat iste Leo.
Bellua sī longē, quam tū plūs fortis, abesset,
Sanguine mox vestrō sparsa fuisset humus."

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

Cīvēs generōsī, fortibus afflictīs parcite! Turpe nocēre fuit quōs Fortūna premit. Bōs celerī passū Leōnem fūgisse cupiēns Hircō obvius est; Hircus viā cōnstitit; fronte et cornibus adversīs proelia gerēbat; cuī Bōs fugitīvus rapidīs verbīs ait: "Improbe! Tua frōns nōn mihī horrenda, tuum cornū nōn horrendum. Iste Leo, quī me sequitur, sōlus territat. Sī bellua, plūs fortis quam tū, longē abesset, mox humus sanguine vestrō sparsa fuisset."

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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):

Cives generósi, fórtibus afflíctis párcite! Turpe nocére fuit quos Fortúna premit. Bos céleri passu Leónem fugísse cúpiens Hirco óbvius est; Hircus via cónstitit; fronte et córnibus advérsis próelia gerébat; cui Bos fugitívus rápidis verbis ait: "Ímprobe! Tua frons non mihi horrénda, tuum cornu non horréndum. Iste Leo, qui me séquitur, solus térritat. Si béllua, plus fortis quam tu, longe abésset, mox humus sánguine vestro sparsa fuísset."

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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.

Fortibus· afflic·tīs, gene·rōsī,· parcite,· cīvēs!
Quōs For·tūna pre·mit, || turpe no·cēre fu·it.
Bōs cele·rī pas·sū cupi·ēns fū·gisse Le·ōnem
Obvius· est Hir·cō; || cōnstitit· ille vi·ā.
Cornibus· adver·sīs et· proelia· fronte ge·rēbat;
Cuī rapi·dīs ver·bīs || Bōs fugi·tīvus a·it;
Nōn tua· frōns hor·renda mi·hī, nōn,· improbe,· cornū.
Quī sequi·tur, sō·lus || territat· iste Le·o.
Bellua· sī lon·gē, quam· tū plūs· fortis, a·besset,
Sanguine· mox ves·trō || sparsa fu·isset hu·mus.

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

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Cives generosi, fortibus afflictis parcite! Turpe nocere fuit quos Fortuna premit. Bos celeri passu Leonem fugisse cupiens Hirco obvius est; Hircus via constitit; fronte et cornibus adversis proelia gerebat; cui Bos fugitivus rapidis verbis ait: "Improbe! Tua frons non mihi horrenda, tuum cornu non horrendum. Iste Leo, qui me sequitur, solus territat. Si bellua, plus fortis quam tu, longe abesset, mox humus sanguine vestro sparsa fuisset."

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Miles 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 40 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:

Mīles equum habēns optimum, ēmit alium nequāquam illī bonitāte parem, quem multō dīligentius quam priōrem nūtriēbat; tunc priōrī sīc ait: "Cūr mē dominus quam tē impēnsius cūrat, cui neque pulchritūdine nec rōbore neque vēlōcitāte comparandus sim?" Cui ille, "Est haec (inquit) hominum nātūra, ut semper in novōs hospitēs benigniōrēs sint." Haec fābula indicat hominum āmentiam, quī nova, etiamsi dēteriōra sint, solent veteribus antepōnere.

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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):

Miles equum habens óptimum, emit álium nequáquam illi bonitáte parem, quem multo diligéntius quam priórem nutriébat; tunc prióri sic ait: "Cur me dóminus quam te impénsius curat, cui neque pulchritúdine nec róbore neque velocitáte comparándus sim?" Cui ille, "Est haec (inquit) hóminum natúra, ut semper in novos hóspites benignióres sint." Haec fábula índicat hóminum améntiam, qui nova, etiámsi deterióra sint, solent vetéribus antepónere.

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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:

Miles
equum habens optimum,
emit alium
nequaquam illi bonitate parem,
quem multo diligentius
quam priorem nutriebat;
tunc priori sic ait:
"Cur me dominus
quam te impensius curat,
cui
neque pulchritudine nec robore
neque velocitate
comparandus sim?"
Cui ille,
"Est haec (inquit)
hominum natura,
ut semper in novos hospites
benigniores sint."
Haec fabula indicat
hominum amentiam,
qui nova,
etiamsi deteriora sint,
solent veteribus anteponere.

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IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing two horses engaged in conversation. :-)

Cucurbita et Pinus: In momentaneam felicitatem (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 125 in the collection. Although there is not a fable about the gourd and the pine tree in Aesop's fables, compare a debate between the olive and the fig tree in Perry 413.

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:

Āëriam propter crēvisse cucurbita pīnum
Dīcitur, et grandī luxuriasse comā:
Cum rāmōs complexa, ipsumque ēgressa cacūmen.
Sē praestāre aliīs crēdidit arboribus.
Cuī pīnus, Nimium brevis est haec glōria: nam tē
Prōtinus adveniet, quae male perdet, hiems.

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

Cucurbita dīcitur crēvisse propter pīnum āëriam , et comā grandī luxuriasse: cum rāmōs complexa et cacūmen ipsum ēgressa, crēdidit sē praestāre aliīs arboribus. Cuī pīnus: Nimium brevis haec glōria est, nam prōtinus adveniet hiems, quae tē male perdet.

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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):

Cucúrbita dícitur crevísse propter pinum aëriam , et coma grandi luxuriásse: cum ramos compléxa et cacúmen ipsum egréssa, crédidit se praestáre áliis arbóribus. Cui pinus: Nímium brevis haec glória est, nam prótinus advéniet hiems, quae te male perdet.

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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.

Āëri·am prop·ter crē·visse cu·curbita· pīnum
Dīcitur,· et gran·dī || luxuri·asse co·mā:
Cum rā·mōs com·plex~, ip·sumqu~ ē·gressa ca·cūmen.
Sē prae·stār~ ali·īs || crēdidit· arbori·bus.
Cuī pī·nus, Nimi·um brevis· est haec· glōria:· nam tē
Prōtinus· adveni·et, || quae male· perdet, hi·ems.

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a 1534 edition of the emblems:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Cucurbita dicitur crevisse propter pinum aëriam , et coma grandi luxuriasse: cum ramos complexa et cacumen ipsum egressa, credidit se praestare aliis arboribus. Cui pinus: Nimium brevis haec gloria est, nam protinus adveniet hiems, quae te male perdet.

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Corvus et Lupi (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 19 in the collection. This is not part of the classical Aesopic tradition; if anyone has information about early editions of this fable, let me know! You can find the word list for this fable online at NoDictionaries.com, and use it interactively.

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

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VERSE MACRONS. Here is the verse text with macrons:

Cum turmā comitem Corvō placet īre Lupōrum;
Nempe Lupī praedam per iuga montis agunt.
Praeda tamen capta est; tunc importūnior īnstat
Corpus avis; partem postulat esse suam:
Quippe comes fuerat fīdus. Cuī rettulit ūnus,
"Nec comes es, neque pars carnis, avāre, tua est.
Non sequeris nōsmet: praedamque dapēsque petēbās;
Perfide, nōn volumus verba, sed acta, Lupī.
Sī, tibi tam cārōs, mortī nōs fāta dedissent,
Nonne forent grātō corpora nostra cibō?"

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

Corvō placet cum Lupōrum turmā comitem īre; nempe Lupī praedam per montis iuga agunt. Praeda tamen capta est; tunc avis importūnior corpus īnstat; postulat partem esse suam - quippe comes fīdus fuerat. Cuī Lupus ūnus rettulit: "Avāre, nec comes es, nec pars carnis tua est. Nōsmet nōn sequeris, et praedam et dapēs petēbās. Perfide, nos Lupī non verba volumus, sed acta. Sī fāta nōs, tibi tam cārōs, mortī dedissent, nonne corpora nostra cibō grātō forent?"

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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):

Corvo placet cum Lupórum turma cómitem ire; nempe Lupi praedam per montis iuga agunt. Praeda tamen capta est; tunc avis importúnior corpus instat; póstulat partem esse suam - quippe comes fidus fúerat. Cui Lupus unus réttulit: "Aváre, nec comes es, nec pars carnis tua est. Nosmet non séqueris, et praedam et dapes petébas. Pérfide, nos Lupi non verba vólumus, sed acta. Si fata nos, tibi tam caros, morti dedíssent, nonne córpora nostra cibo grato forent?"

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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.

Cum tur·mā comi·tem Cor·vō place·t īre Lu·pōrum;
Nempe Lu·pī prae·dam || per iuga· montis a·gunt.
Praeda ta·men cap·t~ est; tunc· impor·tūnior· īnstat
Corpus a·vis; par·tem || postulat· esse su·am:
Quippe co·mes fue·rat fī·dus. Cuī· rettulit· ūnus,
Nec comes· es, neque· pars || carnis, a·vāre, tu~· est.
Non seque·ris nōs·met: prae·damque da·pēsque pe·tēbās;
Perfide,· nōn volu·mus || verba, sed· acta, Lu·pī.
Sī, tibi· tam cā·rōs, mor·tī nōs· fāta de·dissent,
Nonne fo·rent grā·tō || corpora· nostra ci·bō?

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IMAGE. Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) showing a wolf and a crow:

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What follows is an unmarked version of the prose rendering to faciliate word searches: Corvo placet cum Luporum turma comitem ire; nempe Lupi praedam per montis iuga agunt. Praeda tamen capta est; tunc avis importunior corpus instat; postulat partem esse suam - quippe comes fidus fuerat. Cui Lupus unus rettulit: "Avare, nec comes es, nec pars carnis tua est. Nosmet non sequeris, et praedam et dapes petebas. Perfide, nos Lupi non verba volumus, sed acta. Si fata nos, tibi tam caros, morti dedissent, nonne corpora nostra cibo grato forent?"

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