The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

英语自学网

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."