Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Canis et Umbra (Barlow)

SOURCE: Aesop’s Fables in Latin: Ancient Wit and Wisdom from the Animal Kingdom. For more information - including vocabulary lists and grammar comments - see the page for this fable at the Aesopus Ning.

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


MACRONS. Here is the text with macrons:

Canis quīdam, trānāns fluvium, vorābundā fauce vehēbat carnem, splendente sōle, et (ut plērumque fit) umbra carnis lūcēbat in aquīs. Quam avidē captāns, quod in rictū ōris erat perdiderat. Quō infortūniō perculsus, hūc illūc vagōs circumtulit ocellōs et, tandem animum recipiēns, sīc ēlātrāvit; “Miserae dēerat cupiditātī modus! Satis superque esset nī dēsipuissem. Iam tōta spēs et rēs in fundō periērunt.”



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):

Canis quidam, tranans flúvium, vorabúnda fauce vehébat carnem, splendénte sole, et (ut plerúmque fit) umbra carnis lucébat in aquis. Quam ávide captans, quod in rictu oris erat perdíderat. Quo infortúnio percúlsus, huc illuc vagos circúmtulit océllos et, tandem ánimum recípiens, sic elatrávit: “Míserae déerat cupiditáti modus! Satis supérque esset, ni desipuíssem. Iam tota spes et res in fundo periérunt.”



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:

Canis quidam, tranans fluvium, vorabunda fauce vehebat carnem, splendente sole, et (ut plerumque fit) umbra carnis lucebat in aquis. Quam avide captans, quod in rictu oris erat perdiderat. Quo infortunio perculsus, huc illuc vagos circumtulit ocellos et, tandem animum recipiens, sic elatravit: “Miserae deerat cupiditati modus! Satis superque esset, ni desipuissem. Iam tota spes et res in fundo perierunt.”



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