城市老鼠和乡下老鼠

Once upon a time, there was a mouse in the country, who had a friend living in the city.

　　One day the country mouse invited the city mouse to his house. He brought out the best dinner that he could find in the fields, and entertained his guest.

　　When dinner was over, the city mouse said, "Your meal isn't good. Why do you live in this dirty hole? Why don't you come with me to the city? There you'll have all kinds of good things to eat and a happy time. You're wasting your life."

　　At last the country mouse agreed to go to the city that night. They started off together, and about midnight they reached the great house where the city mouse lived.

　　In the dining room a rich feast was spread, and the city mouse ran about on the table, and entertained his country friend. The country mouse was surprised at the good things and ate till he was full.

　　All at once, the door to the room was flung open, and a crowd of people came in. A big dog followed them. The dog barked loudly and ran about in the room. The mice ran into a little hole to escape, and the poor country mouse was almost scared to death.

　　The next day, just when the two mice began to eat, they heard a noise. They heard a cat coming. They hid in the little hole. A cat came in and looked for the mice for a while and then went away. The country mouse was scared again.

　　As soon as he was able to speak, he said, "Well! If this is city life, I have seen enough of it. I want to get home to my quiet country house. Good-bye!"

　　从前，乡下有一只老鼠，牠有个朋友住在城市里。

　　有一天，乡下老鼠邀请城市老鼠来牠家里。牠拿出在田里所能找到最丰盛的晚餐，来招待他的客人。
　　用完晚餐时，城市老鼠说：『你这一顿饭菜很差。你为什么要住在这肮脏的洞穴里呢？何不跟我到城市里去？在那儿你将会有各种好料可以吃，而且过得很快乐。你现在是在虚度光阴。』

　　最后，乡下老鼠同意当夜就到城市去。他们一道出发，大约在半夜时，他们抵达了城市老鼠居住的豪宅。
　　在饭厅里，一场盛宴已被摆好了。城市老鼠在餐桌周围跑来跑去，款待他的乡下朋友。乡下老鼠对那些佳肴大为惊讶，并吃了个大饱。

　　突然间，房门大开，一群人走了进来。一只巨犬跟在他们后面。这只狗狂吠并在房里四处跑。两只老鼠跑到一个小洞里躲起来，那只可怜的乡下老鼠几乎吓得半死。
　　隔天，正当这两只老鼠刚要吃东西时，他们听见一阵吵闹声。他们听见有一只猫来了。他们就躲入小洞里。一只猫进来搜寻那两只老鼠，找了一会儿就离开了。那乡下老鼠又受了惊吓。

　　当他可以说话时，马上说道：『哼！假如这就是城市生活，那么我见识够了。我要回家，回到我那宁静的乡下房子里。再见！』