Thursday, May 28, 2009

Vacca, Ovis, Capella et Leo (Gildersleeve)

SOURCE: A Latin Reader by Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve. For more information and other versions, see the links list for Perry 339 and also the page at Aesopica.net, as well as the page 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:

Vacca, ovis, capella societātem fēcerant cum leōne. Paulō post cēpērunt cervum permāgnum. Leō statim quattuor partēs fēcit; tum ita locūtus est: Ego prīmam partem sūmō, quia leō sum; alteram mihi tribuētis, quia fortitudine excellō; tertia mihi dēbētur, quia validior sum, quam vōs. Restat quarta pars: at nē quis vestrum audeat eam tangere.


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):

Vacca, ovis, capélla societátem fécerant cum leóne. Paulo post cepérunt cervum permágnum. Leo statim quáttuor partes fecit; tum ita locútus est: Ego primam partem sumo, quia leo sum; álteram mihi tribuétis, quia fortitúdine excéllo; tértia mihi debétur, quia valídior sum, quam vos. Restat quarta pars: at ne quis vestrum aúdeat eam tángere.


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:

Vacca, ovis, capella
societatem fecerant cum leone.
Paulo post
ceperunt cervum permagnum.
Leo statim
quattuor partes fecit;
tum ita locutus est:
"Ego primam partem sumo,
quia leo sum;
alteram mihi tribuetis,
quia fortitudine excello;
tertia mihi debetur,
quia validior sum, quam vos.
Restat quarta pars:
at ne quis vestrum
audeat eam tangere.
"


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