bles as to the
short ones. It takes about as long to pronounce a short vowel plus a
consonant as it does to pronounce a long vowel or a diphthong, and so
these quantities are considered equally long. For example, it takes
about as long to say /cur'-ro:\ as it does /cu:'-ro:\, and so each of
these first syllables is long. Compare /mol'-lis\ and /mo:'-lis\,
/a:-mis'-si:\ and /a:-mi'-si:\.

ACCENT

_14._ Words of two syllables are accented on the first, as /me:n'-sa\,
/Cae'-sar\.

_15._ Words of more than two syllables are accented on the penult if the
penult is long. If the penult is short, accent the antepenult. Thus
/mo-ne:'-mus\, /re'-gi-tur\, /a-gri'-co-la\, /a-man'-dus\.

NOTE. Observe that the position of the accent is determined by the
length of the _syllable_ and not by the length of the vowel in the
syllable. (Cf. Sec. 13.2, Note.)

_16._ Certain little words called _enclit'ics_[5] which have no separate
existence, are added to and pronounced with a preceding word. The most
common are /-que\, _and_; /-ve\, _or_; and /-ne\, the question sign.
The syllable before an enclitic takes the accent, regardless of its
quantity. Thus /populus'que\, /dea'que\, /re:gna've\, /audit'ne\.

[Footnote 5: Enclitic means _leaning back_, and that is, as you see,
just what these little words do. They cannot stand alone and so they
lean back for support upon the preceding word.]

HOW TO READ LATIN

_17._ To read Latin well is not so difficult, if you begin right.
Correct habits of reading should be formed now. Notice the quantities
carefully, especially the quantity of the penult, to insure your getting
the accent on the right syllable. (Cf. Sec. 15.) Give every vowel its
proper sound and every syllable its proper length. Then bear in mind
that we should read Latin as we read English, in phrases rather than in
separate words. Group together words that are closely connected in
thought. No good reader halts at the end of each word.

_18._ Read the stanzas of the following poem by Longfellow, one at a
time, first the English and then the Latin version. The syllables
inclosed in parentheses are to be slurred or omitted to secure
smoothness of meter.

EXCELSIOR [[HIGHER]]! [6]

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

Cade:bant noctis umbrae, dum
Ibat per vi:cum