Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Gallus Vulpinam Pellem Fugiens (Abstemius)

SOURCE: You can find both the first and second "hecatomythia" of Abstemius in Nevelet's monumental Aesop published in 1610, available at GoogleBooks. You can find out more about Abstemius at the Aesopus wiki. This is fable 126 in Abstemius. Perry only includes a few sporadic fables from Abstemius in his index, and there is no Perry number for this fable.

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:

Gallus ā vulpe captus, magnā difficultāte illīus manūs ēvāserat. Hic paulō post vīsā vulpis pelle, vehementer territus fugiēbat, quī cum ā cēterīs irrīdērētur avibus, quod inānī timōre concuterētur. Sī inter vulpis unguēs, ut egō, inquit, fuissētis, pedum vestīgia, nēdum pellem illīus timērētis. Fābula indicat ē magnīs perīculīs ēlapsōs, quaeque minima formīdāre solēre.


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):

Gallus a vulpe captus, magna difficultáte illíus manus eváserat. Hic paulo post visa vulpis pelle, veheménter térritus fugiébat, qui cum a céteris irriderétur ávibus, quod ináni timóre concuterétur. Si inter vulpis ungues, ut ego, inquit, fuissétis, pedum vestígia, nedum pellem illíus timerétis. Fábula índicat e magnis perículis elápsos, quaeque mínima formidáre solére.


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:

Gallus a vulpe captus,
magna difficultate
illius manus evaserat.
Hic
paulo post
visa vulpis pelle,
vehementer territus fugiebat,
qui
cum a ceteris irrideretur avibus,
quod inani timore concuteretur.
Si inter vulpis ungues, ut ego,
inquit, fuissetis,
pedum vestigia,
nedum pellem illius
timeretis.
Fabula indicat
e magnis periculis elapsos,
quaeque minima
formidare solere.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a fox pelt - I don't think I blame the rooster for being scared: