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, barley1, beans, dried figs2, honey, raisins3, 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 lamented4 his

　　own hard fate. Just as they were beginning to eat, someone

　　opened the door, and they both ran off squeaking5, 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 famished6, 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."