Monday, May 17, 2010

Vulpes et simia (Syntipas)

SOURCE: The following Latin translations of Syntipas's Greek fables are by Christian Frederick Matthaei and were published in 1781; the book is available at GoogleBooks. This is fable 14 in Syntipas. For other versions, see Perry 14.

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:

Vulpes et sīmia eundem in locum faciēbant iter. Cum per sepulcra eās via dūceret, sīmia ad vulpem, "Omnēs (inquit) quōs hīc sepultōs vidēs, parentum meōrum lībertī erant." "Callidē," rēspondet vulpes, "mentīta es. Nec enim hōrum quisquam, quī humātī sunt, tē potest convincere."


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):

Vulpes et símia eúndem in locum faciébant iter. Cum per sepúlcra eas via dúceret, símia ad vulpem, "Omnes (inquit) quos hic sepúltos vides, paréntum meórum libérti erant." "Cállide," respóndet vulpes, "mentíta es. Nec enim horum quisquam, qui humáti sunt, te potest convíncere."


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:

Vulpes et simia
eundem in locum
faciebant iter.
Cum per sepulcra
eas
via duceret,
simia ad vulpem,
"Omnes (inquit)
quos hic
sepultos vides,
parentum meorum
liberti erant."
"Callide," respondet vulpes,
"mentita es.
Nec enim horum quisquam,
qui humati sunt,
te potest convincere."



IMAGE. Here is an illustration for the story (image source) - just imagine this chimp going on about his illustrious family heritage and all his freedmen: