The City Rat and the Country Rat
Fable de Jean de la Fontaine
 Fables of la Fontaine > Book I > The City Rat and the Country Rat |
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| A city rat, one night, Did, with a civil stoop, A country rat invite To end a turtle soup. On 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," cried the cit, To finish there our feast. "No," said the rustic rat; "Tomorrow dine with me. I'm not offended at Your feast so grand and free, "For I have no fare resembling; But then I eat at leisure, And would not swap, for pleasure So mixed with fear and trembling." |
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