Thursday, March 11, 2010

Hirundo et Formicae (Potts)

SOURCE: Aditus Faciliores, by A. W. Potts and C. Darnell at GoogleBooks. This is not a classical Aesop's fable, but it is a great example of how one size does NOT fit all!

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:

Hirundo ōlim formīcās labōrantēs cōnspexit. Diū labōrem admīrāta, Quid (inquit) agitis, formīcae? Brevī redībit hiems, rēspondērunt illae. Itaque aestāte grāna in horrea nostra condimus, nē famē pereāmus. Optimē habet, dīxit hirundo: prūdentiam istam et ipsa imitābor. Quō dictō, huc illuc volitāns grāna et cibum sub tignīs in hiemem condēbat. Altera tamen hirundo, Operam (inquit) perdis. Sub adventum hiemis in aliās terrās mēcum mīgrābis et grāna ista aliīs relinquēs: nōn poteris enim ea tēcum portāre. Nōn igitur omnēs sunt omnibus imitandī.


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):

Hirúndo olim formícas laborántes conspéxit. Diu labórem admiráta, Quid (inquit) ágitis, formícae? Brevi redíbit hiems, respondérunt illae. Ítaque aestáte grana in hórrea nostra cóndimus, ne fame pereámus. Óptime habet, dixit hirúndo: prudéntiam istam et ipsa imitábor. Quo dicto, huc illuc vólitans grana et cibum sub tignis in híemem condébat. Áltera tamen hirúndo, Óperam (inquit) perdis. Sub advéntum híemis in álias terras mecum migrábis et grana ista aliis relínques: non póteris enim ea tecum portáre. Non ígitur omnes sunt ómnibus imitándi.


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:

Hirundo olim
formicas laborantes conspexit.
Diu laborem admirata,
Quid (inquit) agitis, formicae?
Brevi redibit hiems,
responderunt illae.
Itaque aestate
grana in horrea nostra condimus,
ne fame pereamus.
Optime habet,
dixit hirundo:
prudentiam istam
et ipsa imitabor.
Quo dicto,
huc illuc volitans
grana et cibum
sub tignis in hiemem condebat.
Altera tamen hirundo,
Operam (inquit) perdis.
Sub adventum hiemis
in alias terras
mecum migrabis
et grana ista
aliis relinques:
non poteris enim
ea tecum portare.
Non igitur omnes
sunt omnibus imitandi.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing some ants hard at work: