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The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
城里老鼠和乡下老鼠
Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country.
现在你必须知道，从前有一只城里老鼠去拜访他在乡下的表弟。
He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome.
这个表弟很简朴，但是他喜欢他这位城里的朋友，并且热情款待了他。
Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely.
豆子、培根、奶酪和面包，这些是他全部的食物，但他都慷慨地拿了出来。
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, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live.
城里老鼠对乡下的食物嗤之以鼻，说：“我真不明白，表弟，你怎么能忍受这么差的食物。当然了，你不能指望乡下有更好的食物。跟我来，我教你怎么生活。
When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life."
等你在城里待了一个星期后，你就会奇怪自己当初怎么能忍受得了乡下的生活。”
No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night.
说到做到：两只老鼠动身进城，在深夜到达了城里老鼠的住处。
"You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining-room.
“经过长途跋涉，你会想吃一些点心的。”彬彬有礼的城里老鼠说着，带他的朋友走进了豪华餐厅。
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.
在那里，他们发现了一顿精致盛宴的剩余食物，很快两只老鼠就吃起了果冻和蛋糕，食物都很美味。
Suddenly they heard growling and barking.
突然，他们听到了咆哮声和狗吠声。
"What is that?" said the Country Mouse.
“那是什么？”乡下老鼠说。
"It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other.
“那不过是家养的狗。”另一个回答说。
"Only!" said the Country Mouse.
“只是！”乡下老鼠说。
"I do not like that music at my dinner."
“我不喜欢在吃饭时听那种音乐。”
Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.
就在这时，门突然开了，进来了两只大藏獒，两只老鼠不得不跳下来跑掉。
"Good-bye, Cousin," said the Country Mouse, "What! going so soon?" said the other.
“再见，表哥，”乡下老鼠说，“什么！这么快就要走了？”另一个说。
"Yes," he replied; "Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear."
“是的，”他回答道；“宁可安安心心地吃蚕豆和咸肉，也不愿胆战心惊地享用糕饼和啤酒。”
