text_original: French expeditions to Italy since the days of Charles VIII. had been conspicuously unsuccess  ful, and the Neapolitans were proverbially fickle. It was quite likely that the appearance of a French fleet off Naples might lead to a reaction in favour of Spain.
text_transcription: FRENCH EXPEDITIONS TO ITALY SINCE THE DAYS OF CHARLES THE EIGHTH HAD BEEN CONSPICUOUSLY UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE NEAPOLITANS WERE PROVERBIALLY FICKLE IT WAS QUITE LIKELY THAT THE APPEARANCE OF A FRENCH FLEET OF NAPLES MIGHT LEAD TO A REACTION IN FAVOR OF SPAIN
phonemes: fɹˈɛntʃ ˌɛkspədˈɪʃənz tʊ ˈɪɾəli sˈɪns ðə dˈeɪz ʌv tʃˈɑːɹlz ɹˌoʊmən ˈeɪt. hɐdbɪn kənspˈɪkjuːəsli ʌnsəksˈɛs fˈʌl, ænd ðə niːpˈɑːlɪtənz wɜː pɹəvˈɜːbɪəli fˈɪkəl. ɪt wʌz kwˈaɪt lˈaɪkli ðætðɪ ɐpˈɪɹəns əvə fɹˈɛntʃ flˈiːt ˈɔf nˈeɪpəlz mˌaɪt lˈiːd tʊ ɐ ɹɪˈækʃən ɪn fˈeɪvɚɹ ʌv spˈeɪn.