Sunday, October 25, 2009

Capra et Lupus (Via Latina)

SOURCE: Via Latina: An Easy Latin Reader. For more information and other versions, see the links list for Perry 157, a story sometimes told about a wolf, as here, and sometimes about a lion.

NoDictionaries.com: You can find the word list for this fable online, and use it interactively (here are some tips on how to make best use of the tool).

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:

Lupus capram in altā rūpe stantem cōnspicātus, Cūr nōn, inquit, relinquis nūda illa et sterilia loca, et hūc dēscendis in herbidōs campōs, qui tibi laetum pābulum offerunt? Cuī respondit capra: Mihi nōn est in animō dulcia tūtis praepōnere.


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):

Lupus capram in alta rupe stantem conspicátus, Cur non, inquit, relínquis nuda illa et sterília loca, et huc descéndis in hérbidos campos, qui tibi laetum pábulum ófferunt? Cui respóndit capra: Mihi non est in ánimo dúlcia tutis praepónere.



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:

Lupus
capram in alta rupe stantem
conspicatus,
"Cur non (inquit) relinquis
nuda illa et sterilia loca,
et huc descendis
in herbidos campos,
qui
tibi laetum pabulum offerunt?"
Cui respondit capra:
"Mihi non est in animo
dulcia
tutis praeponere.
"


IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) from a 19th-century edition of the fables: