城市老鼠与乡村老鼠

城市老鼠吃得非常节制，这儿尝一点，那儿啃一点，她的举止分明在表示，她吃这些简单的食物仅仅是为了礼貌。

The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple food only to be polite.

饭后，两位朋友进行了长谈，或者说，是城市老鼠在讲述她在城里的生活，而乡村老鼠在一旁倾听。随后，她们在树篱下的舒适巢穴中睡下，安稳地睡到了天亮。

After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the Town Mouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouse listened. They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerow and slept in quiet and comfort until morning.

睡梦中，乡村老鼠梦见自己成了一只城市老鼠，享受着朋友所描述的城市生活中的一切奢华与快乐。

In her sleep the Country Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuries and delights of city life that her friend had described for her.

因此，第二天当城市老鼠邀请乡村老鼠随她回城时，她欣然应允。

So the next day when the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to go home with her to the city, she gladly said yes.

当她们到达城市老鼠居住的豪宅时，发现餐厅的桌上摆着一场盛宴剩下的残羹冷炙。

When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, they found on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very fine banquet.

桌上有糖果、果冻、糕点和美味的奶酪，确实是老鼠能想象到的最诱人的食物。但就在乡村老鼠准备啃咬一小块精致的糕点时，她听见一只猫在门外大声喵喵叫并抓挠着门板。

There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, delicious cheeses, indeed, the most tempting foods that a Mouse can imagine. But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble a dainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch at the door.

两只老鼠惊恐万分，匆忙逃向藏身处，在那里一动不动地躲了许久，连大气都不敢出。

In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place, where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring to breathe.

当她们终于冒险回到宴席边时，门突然开了，仆人们进来收拾桌子，后面还跟着家犬。

When at last they ventured back to the feast, the door opened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table, followed by the House Dog.

乡村老鼠在城市老鼠的窝里只待了片刻，便匆匆收拾好她的地毯包和雨伞准备离开。

The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse’s den only long enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella.

“你或许拥有我所没有的奢华与珍馐，”她匆匆离去时说道，“但我更喜欢我在乡下的粗茶淡饭和简单生活，以及随之而来的安宁与保障。”

“You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not,” she said as she hurried away, “but I prefer my plain food and simple life in the country with the peace and security that go with it.”

宁静的贫困胜过充满恐惧与不安的富足。

Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.