Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. |
| 有一次，一只城里的老鼠去看望乡下的表弟， |
He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. |
| 这个表弟虽然很粗俗，却很爱这位城里的表哥并由衷的欢迎接待它。 |
Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. |
| 它拿出了所有的好东西，如各种豆子、熏肉、奶酪和面包，让表哥尽情享受。 |
The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: "I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, |
| 城里老鼠很不屑地说：“表弟，我真不明白，你怎么能够受得了这么差的食物？ |
but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. |
| 当然，在乡下你也不能期望过高，跟我去城里吧，让我告诉你什么才是生活， |
When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life." |
| 只要你到城里住上一个星期，你就会奇怪竟然还能忍受着乡下的生活。 |
No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night. |
| 不久之后，两只老鼠就离开乡下连夜赶到城里老鼠的家。 |
"You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, |
| 城里老鼠很有礼貌的说：“长途跋涉之后你一定饿了吧？” |
and took his friend into the grand dining-room. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice. |
| 然后把它带到豪华餐厅。这里刚刚举行了一场盛宴，还有不少剩饭。一会儿功夫，两只老鼠就吃完了果冻、蛋糕和其它好吃的食物。 |
Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?" said the Country Mouse. "It is only the dogs of the house," |
| 忽然传来一阵怒吠咆哮声。乡下老鼠问：“那是什么？”城里老鼠回答：“哦，是这个家的几只狗”。 |
answered the other. "Only!" said the Country Mouse."I do not like that music at my dinner." |
| 乡下老鼠反问道：“只是几只狗？我可不喜欢吃饭的时侯听到这种‘音乐’ ”。 |
Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, Cousin," said the Country Mouse, "What! going so soon?" said the other. |
| 话刚说完，门被撞开了，两只大狗冲了进来，老鼠们不得不放下食物，落荒而逃。乡下老鼠边跑边说：“再见吧，表哥！”。另一只老鼠说：“什么！你这么快就要走？” |
"Yes," he replied;"Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear." |
| 乡下老鼠回答说：“是的，在平静中享受豌豆和熏肉还有不少美食剩下。 |
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7.The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (城里老鼠和乡下老鼠) 