The Town Rat and the Country Rat

								
A Rat from town, a country Rat
     Invited in the civilest way;
For dinner there was just to be
     Ortolans and an entremet.

Upon a Turkey carpet soft
     The noble feast at last was spread;
I leave you pretty well to guess
     The merry, pleasant life they led.

Gay the repast, for plenty reigned,
     Nothing was wanting to the fare;
But hardly had it well begun
     Ere chance disturbed the friendly pair.

A sudden racket at the door
     Alarmed them, and they made retreat;
The City Rat was not the last,
     His comrade followed fast and fleet.

The noise soon over, they returned,
     As rats on such occasions do;
"Come," said the liberal citizen,
     "And let us finish our ragout."

"Not a crumb more," the rustic said;
     "To-morrow you shall dine with me;
Don't think me jealous of your state,
     Or all your royal luxury;

"But then I eat so quiet at home,
     And nothing dangerous is near;
Good-bye, my friend, I have no love
     For pleasure when it's mixed with fear."
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