FABLE XLVII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once upon a time. A Country Mouse lived in a small field. His home was small and cozy. His friend City Mouse came to visit. Country Mouse was a good host. He gave City Mouse berries and seeds. City Mouse ate the yummy food.
City Mouse did not like the quiet field. "This place is boring," he said. "The city has big houses. It has much yummy food. Come with me to the city. It is very fun there. You will like it more. We can eat many good things."
City Mouse asked, "Will you come?" Country Mouse felt curious. He thought about the yummy food. He wanted to see the big houses. "Yes, I will go," Country Mouse said. "Let us go tonight. It sounds fun."
They went to the city. The city was big and noisy. Many lights shone there. They found a very big house. It was dark inside. They sneaked in.
City Mouse showed Country Mouse much food. There were cakes and cheese. Sweet things were on the floor. They ate on a soft, pretty rug. Country Mouse was amazed. He never saw so much food. It was a big feast. City Mouse was happy to share.
Country Mouse ate the yummy food. He thought, "This is very good!" He felt happy. He felt excited. This new place was fun. He liked the sweet taste.
Suddenly, a big sound came. A door opened. The mice jumped. They ran fast. They wanted to hide. Country Mouse was scared. His heart beat fast. He shook a little.
Big dogs barked loudly. "Woof! Woof!" they cried. Country Mouse shook. He was very scared. He hid under a chair. The dogs made much noise. He thought, "This is not safe here. It is too loud. I do not like it."
The dogs went away. Country Mouse was still scared. He looked at City Mouse. "I want my quiet home," he said. "It is safe there. This city is too scary. I must go home now. My small home is best. It is peaceful." He went back home. His small home felt safe. Country Mouse learned: quiet, safe home is best.
Original Story
FABLE XLVII.
THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE CITY MOUSE.
An honest, plain, sensible country Mouse is said to have entertained at his hole one day a fine Mouse of the town. Having formerly been playfellows together, they were old acquaintances, which served as an apology for the visit. However, as master of the house, he thought himself obliged to do the honours of it, in all respects, and to make as great a stranger of his guest as he possibly could. In order to this, he set before him a reserve of delicate grey pease and bacon, a dish of fine oatmeal, some parings of new cheese, and, to crown all with a dessert, a remnant of a charming mellow apple.
In good manners, he forebore to eat any of it himself, lest the stranger should not have enough; but, that he might seem to bear the other company, sat and nibbled a piece of wheaten straw very busily. At last, says the spark of the town, "Old croney, give me leave to be a little free with you. How can you bear to live in this nasty, dirty, melancholy hole here, with nothing but woods and meadows, mountains and rivulets about you? Do you not prefer the busy world to the chirping of birds, and the splendour of a court to the rude aspect of an uncultivated desert? Come, take my word for it, you will find it a change for the better. Stand not considering, but away this moment. Remember, we are not immortal, and therefore have no time to lose. Make sure of to-day, and spend it as agreeably as you can; you know not what may happen to-morrow."
In short, these and such like arguments prevailed, and his country friend was resolved to go to town that night. So they both set out upon their journey, proposing to sneak in after the close of the evening. They did so, and about midnight made their entry into a certain great house, where there had been an extraordinary entertainment the day before, and several tit-bits, which some of the servants had purloined, were hid under a seat of a window. The country guest was immediately placed in the midst of a rich Persian carpet; and now it was the courtier's turn to entertain, who, indeed, acquitted himself in that capacity with the utmost readiness and address, changing the courses as elegantly, and tasting everything first as judiciously, as any clerk of the kitchen. The other sat and enjoyed himself like a delighted epicure, tickled to the last degree with this new turn of his affairs; when, on a sudden, a noise of somebody opening the door made them start from their seats and scuttle in confusion about the dining-room. Our country friend, in particular, was ready to die with fear at the barking of a huge Mastiff or two, which opened their throats just about the same time, and made the whole house echo.
At last, recovering himself, "Well," says he, "if this be your town life, much good may you do with it; give me my poor, quiet hole again, with my homely but comfortable grey pease."
MORAL.
Poverty and safety are preferable to luxury and danger.
Story DNA
Moral
Poverty and safety are preferable to luxury and danger.
Plot Summary
A country mouse hosts his city friend with a simple meal. The city mouse, finding country life dull, convinces his friend to visit the city. They sneak into a grand house and enjoy a lavish feast, but their meal is interrupted by terrifying noises and barking dogs. Frightened by the constant danger, the country mouse immediately decides to return to his peaceful, albeit humble, country home, concluding that safety is preferable to luxury.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This fable is a classic, appearing in various forms across many cultures, notably Aesop's Fables, highlighting universal themes of contentment and safety.
Plot Beats (10)
- A country mouse entertains his old friend, a city mouse, with a simple meal of pease, oatmeal, cheese, and apple.
- The country mouse politely refrains from eating much, ensuring his guest has enough.
- The city mouse expresses disdain for the country mouse's quiet, rural life and extols the virtues of the city.
- The city mouse convinces his country friend to accompany him back to the town that very night.
- They journey to the city and sneak into a grand house after dark.
- The city mouse treats his country guest to a lavish feast of leftovers from a previous entertainment, laid out on a Persian carpet.
- The country mouse enjoys the luxurious meal, delighted by the new experience.
- Suddenly, a door opens, and the mice are startled, scattering in confusion.
- The barking of large Mastiff dogs fills the house, terrifying the country mouse.
- The country mouse, recovering from his fright, declares his preference for his safe, humble country hole over the dangerous luxury of the city.
Characters
The Country Mouse
A small, lean field mouse, slightly dusty from his rural dwelling. His fur is a muted, earthy brown, well-suited for camouflage in natural environments. He is of average mouse height and build, with nimble paws and a long, thin tail.
Attire: None, as he is an animal, but his natural fur is his 'attire'.
Wants: Initially, to be a good host and later, to experience the 'better' life promised by his friend. Ultimately, his motivation is to find safety and peace.
Flaw: Easily persuaded by the allure of luxury and the persuasive arguments of others, and prone to extreme fear in unfamiliar, dangerous situations.
He starts content, is persuaded to seek a more luxurious life, experiences extreme fear and discomfort, and ultimately returns to his original, simpler life, valuing safety over luxury.
Honest, plain, sensible, humble, easily swayed, fearful, content with simplicity.
The City Mouse
A sleek, well-fed house mouse, slightly larger and more robust than his country counterpart, with a glossy grey coat. His movements are quick and confident, reflecting his urban environment.
Attire: None, as he is an animal, but his glossy fur suggests a life of ease.
Wants: To enjoy the finest things in life, to convince his friend of the superiority of city life, and to maintain his luxurious existence.
Flaw: Perhaps a bit reckless, underestimating the fear his friend would experience, and possibly overly focused on material pleasures.
He remains largely unchanged, continuing his life of luxury and danger, though he successfully (if temporarily) influences his friend.
Sophisticated, persuasive, worldly, hospitable (in his own environment), a bit condescending towards rural life, accustomed to luxury and danger.
Locations
Country Mouse's Hole
A 'nasty, dirty, melancholy hole' in the ground, likely a burrow within a field or forest edge, with a simple, rustic interior.
Mood: Humble, safe, quiet, rustic, somewhat melancholic as described by the city mouse.
The country mouse hosts the city mouse, offering simple fare and receiving an invitation to the city.
Grand House Dining Room
A lavish dining room in a 'great house' with rich furnishings, where an 'extraordinary entertainment' had taken place, leaving behind many 'tit-bits'.
Mood: Luxurious, opulent, initially exciting, then suddenly terrifying and chaotic.
The city mouse entertains the country mouse with stolen delicacies, but their feast is interrupted by loud noises and barking dogs, causing panic.