A plain Country Mouse was one day unexpectedly visited at his hole,
by a fine Mouse of the town, who had formerly been his play-fellow.
The honest rustic, pleased with the honour, resolved to entertain his
friend as sumptuously as possible. He set before him a reserve of
delicate grey pease and bacon, a dish of fine oatmeal, some parings
of new cheese, and to crown all with a dessert, a remnant of a
charming mellow apple. When the repast was nearly finished, the spark
of the town, taking breath, said, Old Crony, give me leave to be a
little free with you; how can you bear to live in this melancholy
hole here, with nothing but woods, and meadows, and mountains, and
rivulets about you? Do you not prefer the conversation of the world
to the chirping of birds, and the splendour of the court, to the rude
aspect of a wild like this? With many flowery arguments, he at last
prevailed upon his country friend to accompany him to town, and about
midnight they safely entered a certain great house, where there had
been an entertainment the day before. Here it was the courtier’s turn
to entertain, and placing his guest on a rich Persian carpet, they
both began to regale most deliciously, when on a sudden the noise of
somebody opening the door, made them scuttle in confusion about the
dining-room. The rustic in particular was ready to die with fear at the
many hair-breadth escapes which followed. At last, recovering himself,
Well, says he, if this be your town-life, much good may it do you. Give
me my poor quiet hole again, with my homely, but comfortable grey pease.