A city Rat, one night
Did with a civil stoop
A Country Rat invite
To end a turtle soup.
Upon a Turkey carpet
They found the table spread,
And sure I need not harp it
How well the fellows fed.
The entertainment was
A truly noble one;
But some unlucky cause
Disturbed it when begun
It was a slight rat-tat,
That put their Joys to rout;
Out ran the City Rat;
His guest, too, scampered out.
Our rats but fairly quit,
The fearful knocking ceased,
"Return we," said the cit,
"To finish there our feast."
"No," said the Rustic Rat;
"To-morrow dine with me.
I'm not offended at
Your feast so grand and free,
"For I've no fare resembling;
But then I eat at leisure,
And would not swap for pleasure
So mixed with fear and trembling."