The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse
Aesop Fable: The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse
A country mouse invited a Town Mouse, an intimate friend,
to pay him a visit and partake of his country fare. As they
were on the bare plowlands, eating there wheat-stocks and
roots pulled up from the hedgerow, the Town Mouse said
to his friend, "You live here the life of the ants, while in
my house is the horn of plenty. I am surrounded by every
luxury, and if you will come with me, as I wish you would,
you shall have an ample share of my dainties." The Country
Mouse was easily persuaded, and returned to town with
his friend.
On his arrival, the Town Mouse placed before him bread,
barley, beans, dried figs, honey, raisins, and, last of all,
brought a dainty piece of cheese from a basket. The Country
Mouse, being much delighted at the sight of such good
cheer, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms and lamented
his own hard fate. Just as they were beginning to eat, someone
opened the door, and they both ran off squeaking, as
fast as they could, to a hole so narrow that two could only
find room in it by squeezing. They had scarcely begun their
repast again when someone else entered to take something
out of a cupboard, whereupon the two Mice, more frightened
than before, ran away and hid themselves.
At last the Country Mouse, almost famished, said to his
friend: "Although you have prepared for me so dainty a
feast, I must leave you to enjoy it by yourself. It is surrounded
by too many dangers to please me. I prefer my
bare plowlands and roots from the hedgerow, where I can
live in safety, and without fear."
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