Aesop’s Fables, THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

A Town Mouse and a Country Mouse were acquaintances, and the Country Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in the fields. The Town Mouse came, and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots, the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavour. The fare was not much to the taste of the guest, and presently he broke out with "My poor dear friend, you live here no better than the ants. Now, you should just see how I fare! My larder is a regular horn of plenty. You must come and stay with me, and I promise you you shall live on the fat of the land." So when he returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him, and showed him into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and dates. The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it, and sat down to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided: but before they had well begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly uncomfortable hole. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out again; but some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. This was too much for the visitor. "Good-bye," said he, "I'm off. You live in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers; whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in peace."

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE LA SOURIS DE LA VILLE ET LA SOURIS DE LA CAMPAGNE

A Town Mouse and a Country Mouse were acquaintances, and the Country Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in the fields. Une souris des villes et une souris des champs se connaissaient, et la souris des champs invita un jour son amie à venir la voir chez elle, dans les champs. The Town Mouse came, and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots, the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavour. La souris de la ville arriva, et ils s'assirent à un dîner composé d'épines d'ormeaux et de racines, ces dernières ayant une saveur nettement terreuse. The fare was not much to the taste of the guest, and presently he broke out with "My poor dear friend, you live here no better than the ants. Le repas n'était guère au goût de l'invité, et il se mit à dire : "Mon pauvre ami, vous ne vivez pas mieux ici que les fourmis. Now, you should just see how I fare! Maintenant, vous devriez voir comment je me débrouille ! My larder is a regular horn of plenty. Mon garde-manger est une véritable corne d'abondance. You must come and stay with me, and I promise you you shall live on the fat of the land." Tu dois venir et rester avec moi, et je te promets que tu vivras de la graisse de la terre". So when he returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him, and showed him into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and dates. The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it, and sat down to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided: but before they had well begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly uncomfortable hole. Les deux souris s'enfuirent en courant et se cachèrent dans un trou étroit et très inconfortable. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out again; but some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. Un peu plus tard, quand tout fut calme, ils se risquèrent de nouveau à sortir, mais quelqu'un d'autre entra, et ils repartirent en sabordant. This was too much for the visitor. "Good-bye," said he, "I'm off. You live in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers; whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in peace." Vous vivez dans le luxe, je le vois bien, mais vous êtes entouré de dangers, alors que chez moi, je peux déguster en toute tranquillité un simple repas de racines et de maïs."