Friday, August 7, 2009

Senex et Mors (Via Latina)

SOURCE: Via Latina. For more information and other versions, see the links list for Perry 60.

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:

Senex in silvā līgna cecīderat, iīsque sublātīs domum redīre coepit. Cum aliquantum viae prōgressus esset, onere et viā dēfatīgātus, fascem dēposuit, et sēcum aetātis et inopiae mala contemplātus, Mortem clārā vōce invocat quae ipsum ab omnibus hīs malīs līberet. Tum Mors, senis precibus audītīs, subitō adstitit, et quid vellet percontātur. At Senex, quem iam vōtōrum suōrum paenitēbat, Nihil, inquit, sed requirō, quī onus paululum allevet, dum ego rūrsus subeō.



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):

Senex in silva ligna cecíderat, iísque sublátis domum redíre coepit. Cum aliquántum viae progréssus esset, ónere et via defatigátus, fascem depósuit, et secum aetátis et inópiae mala contemplátus, Mortem clara voce ínvocat quae ipsum ab ómnibus his malis líberet. Tum Mors, senis précibus audítis, súbito ádstitit, et quid vellet percontátur. At Senex, quem iam votórum suórum paenitébat, Nihil, inquit, sed réquiro, qui onus paúlulum állevet, dum ego rursus súbeo.



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:

Senex in silva ligna ceciderat, iisque sublatis domum redire coepit. Cum aliquantum viae progressus esset, onere et via defatigatus, fascem deposuit, et secum aetatis et inopiae mala contemplatus, Mortem clara voce invocat quae ipsum ab omnibus his malis liberet. Tum Mors, senis precibus auditis, subito adstitit, et quid vellet percontatur. At Senex, quem iam votorum suorum paenitebat, Nihil, inquit, sed requiro, qui onus paululum allevet, dum ego rursus subeo.



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