Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Canis Custos - Gellert (Gradatim)

SOURCE: A New Gradatim by Melville Clarence Smart (1901) at GoogleBooks. For more information and other versions, see Ashliman's pages about Llewellyn and His Dog Gellert.

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:

Cambricus ōlim, ācer vēnātor, fidēlem habēbat canem, nōmine Gelertum. Dum ipse in silvīs abest, canem saepe relinquēbat parvī fīlī custōdem. Aliquandō mōre suō Gelertus dominum reducem cum laetō clāmōre salūtābat. At subitō dominus pectus ēius et dentēs sanguine cruentōs notat; perterritus cūnās parvī fīlī petit. Ēheu! puerum nōn videt sed undique cruōrem, foedī certāminis indicium. Statim caecō furōre canem, malī auctōrem, iaculō trānsfīgit. Gelertus cum gemitū exspīrat. Simul dominus in recessū aedium īnfantem videt salvum atque incolumem. Sed haud procul ab eō locō iacēbat ingēns lupus. Fidēlis enim custōs vītam īnfantis ita servāverat.



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):

Cámbricus olim, acer venátor, fidélem habébat canem, nómine Gelértum. Dum ipse in silvis abest, canem saepe relinquébat parvi fili custódem. Aliquándo more suo Gelértus dóminum réducem cum laeto clamóre salutábat. At súbito dóminus pectus eius et dentes sánguine cruéntos notat; pertérritus cunas parvi fili petit. Eheu! púerum non videt sed úndique cruórem, foedi certáminis indícium. Statim caeco furóre canem, mali auctórem, iáculo transfígit. Gelértus cum gémitu exspírat. Simul dóminus in recéssu aédium infántem videt salvum atque incólumem. Sed haud procul ab eo loco iacébat ingens lupus. Fidélis enim custos vitam infántis ita serváverat.



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:

Cambricus olim, acer venator, fidelem habebat canem, nomine Gelertum. Dum ipse in silvis abest, canem saepe relinquebat parvi fili custodem. Aliquando more suo Gelertus dominum reducem cum laeto clamore salutabat. At subito dominus pectus eius et dentes sanguine cruentos notat; perterritus cunas parvi fili petit. Eheu! puerum non videt sed undique cruorem, foedi certaminis indicium. Statim caeco furore canem, mali auctorem, iaculo transfigit. Gelertus cum gemitu exspirat. Simul dominus in recessu aedium infantem videt salvum atque incolumem. Sed haud procul ab eo loco iacebat ingens lupus. Fidelis enim custos vitam infantis ita servaverat.



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) by C.B. Barber: