The Town Rat and the Country Rat

"The Town Rat and the Country Rat" is a fable by Jean de La Fontaine that tells the story of a country Rat who visits a town Rat in the city. The town Rat offers to show the country Rat how to live in luxury, but their meal is interrupted by dogs. In the end, the country Rat decides to return to his peaceful, simpler life in the countryside. The tale serves as a lesson on the values of simplicity and peace over luxury coupled with unease.

• Fable

								
A Rat from town, a country Rat
     Invited in the civilest way;
For dinner there was just to be
     Ortolans and an entremet.

Upon a Turkey carpet soft
     The noble feast at last was spread;
I leave you pretty well to guess
     The merry, pleasant life they led.

Gay the repast, for plenty reigned,
     Nothing was wanting to the fare;
But hardly had it well begun
     Ere chance disturbed the friendly pair.

A sudden racket at the door
     Alarmed them, and they made retreat;
The City Rat was not the last,
     His comrade followed fast and fleet.

The noise soon over, they returned,
     As rats on such occasions do;
"Come," said the liberal citizen,
     "And let us finish our ragout."

"Not a crumb more," the rustic said;
     "To-morrow you shall dine with me;
Don't think me jealous of your state,
     Or all your royal luxury;

"But then I eat so quiet at home,
     And nothing dangerous is near;
Good-bye, my friend, I have no love
     For pleasure when it's mixed with fear."
								Rate this book:0.0 / 0 votes